Top Seller Mistakes

Selling a home involves more than putting up a “For Sale” and waiting for the offers to roll in. But what, exactly, does it take to make the process as simple and successful as possible? The first step is knowing what NOT to do by avoiding the following most common mistakes home sellers make:

 ---Not choosing the right REALTOR®.

Common mistakes people make in choosing a REALTOR® include: picking someone based on personal relationships instead of professional credentials, choosing the agent that recommends the highest listing price or choosing the agent with the lowest commission.

--Over-improving the house.

Don't improve the house above the general level of other neighborhood homes and make sure remodels don't end up making the house much more pricey than the rest of the neighborhood. Avoid unusual improvements like adding second stories that don't fit in with the neighborhood.

--Making staging mistakes.

Be ruthless in depersonalizing the house. Repaint atypically colored walls, put in neutral flooring, and put away collections, family photos and other mementos. Be equally ruthless in decluttering the whole house, including storage spaces. Clear out unnecessary furniture, pack away nonessentials, and put items in an off-site storage facility. Do a deep cleaning before showing—hire a cleaning service if necessary. And remember to keep up with maintenance cleaning while the house is being shown.

--Neglecting curb appeal.

Most people won't even come inside to look it they get a negative impression from the street. Give as much attention to staging the outside of the house as you do the inside.

--Not removing evidence of a pet.

It's tough, but keep your pet away during showings. Deep clean carpets, upholstery and wall treatments or replace them entirely. Remove all evidence of fur throughout the whole house. Patch up walls, screens and other spots pets have scratched up. Remove stains and marks from a bathroom or kitchen cat litter box. Clean and deodorize wood floors and, if pet smells persist, strip and revarnish, seal or paint. Getting the airducts cleaned can also help with odor issues. Have a non-pet owner stop by to assess your de-petting success.

 

--Limiting showings.

Buyers need to be able to see the house so sellers have to be flexible to get the most potential buyers through the door. Some buyers do a sweep of house tours during a specific time period and if a home isn't available, it won't make the schedule.

--Going to showings

Owners who attend showings tend to hover; inhibiting buyers and making them feel uncomfortable. Owner also may find it difficult to hear people talking their homes without taking comments personally and can reject good buyers for emotional reasons. 

--Trying to hide problems or failure to make required disclosures.

Be clear and honest in disclosing all problems. You can still be sued after the sale if problems are later uncovered. 

--Not making repairs.

A house that needs more work becomes less appealing than its competition. If a home needs a major overhaul, it immediately reduces the pool of people willing to look at it. Offering a credit to buyers upon closing to make repairs tends to be less effective than just making the repair beforehand.

--Making mistakes with offers.

Don't ignore early offers. If the house is priced correctly and gets an offer in line with what you're asking, take it. Be ready to act immediately--a house get the most attention and highest offers in the first weeks after it's listed. Also don't blindly accept the highest offer. When all aspects of a contract are considered, the highest bid might not actually be the most advantageous.

--Not trusting the REALTORS® advice.

You know your home, but a REALTOR® knows how to sell it. Take advantage of their experience and listen to their advice on things like staging, pricing, and repairs.

 --Not paying attention to the legal and financial details.

Even with a REALTOR® onboard, you need to stay involved with the process. Make sure you read contracts, understand offers and know what you are and aren't agreeing to.

--Not getting a house inspection.

Although a buyer will get an inspection too, getting one first ensures you'll be forewarned of any major defects.

--Expecting an unrealistic price.

Pricing mistakes include: pricing too high, not understanding the local market, not heeding a REALTOR®’s advice, setting the price according to money you want or need for another purchase, and not being willing to lower the price when necessary.

--Unwillingness to negotiate.

Like it or not, negotiation will be necessary throughout the entire process on things like what repairs will be made, what fixtures and appliances might stay with the house and the dates when things will happen. Being stubborn will slow the process and can cut into your profits. Failure to negotiate on price, for example, can mean losing a sale during the crucial first weeks when the best offers will come it. 

6 Upgrades That Give You the Best Bang For Your Buck

Selling your home? A few classic — and relatively inexpensive — changes can make a big difference when it comes to how much you’re able to collect from potential buyers.

If you want maximum effect for maximum profit, these six strategic upgrades will give you the biggest return on your investment:

1. Kitchen

Realtors will tell you time and time again: kitchens and baths (see No. 2) are what sell a home. A dated kitchen can be a big turnoff, so make sure yours is updated and inviting.

When it comes to spiffing up your kitchen for resale, you don’t need to splurge to get buyers’ attention. All you need to do is bring the space to the point of “builder-grade luxury” — stainless steel appliances instead of basic white, for example, and granite countertops instead of laminate.

Yes, you could theoretically spend almost any amount on appliances and granite, but remember: You’re going for “builder-grade.” That means you should install an affordable variety of granite countertop (such as Napoli, Baltic Brown or St. Cecilia) with a basic beveled edge. Don’t splurge on higher-end cuts of granite or more ornate beveling; leave that for your own personal custom home.

Want to do a kitchen remodel on the cheap? Simply refinish and repaint the cabinetry and add updated hardware (such as new hinges and handles). That alone can transform the look of the room.

Whatever you do, opt for colors and styles that are likely to appeal to the widest range of homebuyers. You may adore the idea of a bright red retro kitchen, but it could seriously put off some buyers.

2. Bathroom

When it comes to bathrooms, many buyers want the “spa” experience so help them envision themselves relaxing in the tub.

First, let’s start with basic upgrades, like replacing old, pink 3×3 ceramic tile with modern pieces. (For an inexpensive tile, try white subway-style ceramic, or opt for 12×12 porcelain in a neutral tone.) Replacing your plastic tub surround with a tiled shower also makes a big difference, and for about an extra $100 – $150, you can also add a recessed alcove (a built-in wall niche).

As with a kitchen remodel, you want to consider which changes will have maximum impact. You may not need to replace that old pedestal sink. Instead, you can just change out the faucet fixture — upgrade from brass to chrome — and hang some luxurious towels next to it. You may not need to replace the quirky floor tile if you choose a new paint color for the walls that will play it up, rather than clash with it.

Make sure the colors and styles you choose are as universally appealing as possible. Neutral colors never offend. If you want a dash of extra character, light blues, serene greens, and fresh pops of white are your best bet for an inviting bathroom. (A few well-placed candles and fancy soaps don’t hurt, either.)

3. Paint

One of the easiest upgrades to achieve the “wow” factor is to simply repaint your rooms.

Neutral shades like whites, creams, and tans will help buyers envision themselves in your space, since these read as more of a “blank canvas” than bolder shades. Earth tones will help mute any “louder” furniture you may have and can play well with hardwood floors. A surprising pop of bright color, like a cheerful yellow, can help brighten up small, dark spaces like half-baths and alcoves.

4. Flooring

Like paint color, good flooring can drastically change the look and feel of your rooms.

Hardwood is always appealing to a wide range of buyers, as are high-quality laminate options and affordable, eco-friendly choices like bamboo and cork. If you’ve got hardwood under your carpeting, your best bet is to restore it. If you already have exposed hardwood floors but they’re looking a little worse for wear, it’s time to invest in a good sanding and refinishing.

Kitchens and baths do well with tile or laminate flooring, which are both visually appealing and easy to clean. Carpeting is still acceptable in bedrooms, especially if it’s plush, in great condition, and in a neutral color.

But more and more buyers are turning away from carpeting altogether, so if you’re in doubt about whether to replace your carpets or install different flooring, hardwood (or its more-affordable cousin, bamboo) is your best bet.

5. Staging

Staging helps buyers imagine themselves living there. It’s also relatively inexpensive — you can often just rearrange the furniture you already have to make it show better.

First, make sure your home is free of clutter. Remove any overly personal touches (like family photos or children’s artwork on the fridge). Arrange furniture is in a way that flows well — buyers will feel claustrophobic if they need to navigate around big pieces as they move from room to room.

In your living room, arrange seating and tables into inviting “conversation” areas. Designate spaces for particular tasks, like placing an armchair in that empty bedroom nook to frame it as a cozy reading spot. Make sure all areas of a room are well-lit and that your accessories and artwork are the right scale for the space.

6. Curb Appeal

Don’t neglect the outside of your home — if buyers don’t like what they see when they first pull up, they may not even step inside to see all the great work you’ve done.

To make the outside of your home as appealing as possible, make sure all walkways are clear, the landscaping is neat and tidy, and everything is in good repair. This may mean repainting your siding, fixing those loose shutters, and finally sealing those cracks in the driveway. Or it could be as simple as mowing the lawn, blowing the leaves, and planting a few colorful annuals.

Add one or two “homey” final touches, like an festive wreath on the front door, a new welcome mat, and an outdoor seating area. Your home will feel extra-inviting — and just may get a quick offer.

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Be Wise to These 5 Big Credit Myths

Those “a-ha!” moments. Key takeaways. Life lessons. Whatever you may call them, everyone has them at some point, where we look back and say, “I wish I would have known that sooner! Why didn’t someone tell me?” It often seems like credit and finances are a part of life where realizations come about that way. And there’s no bigger time to think about your credit than when you’re buying a house.

Each person’s financial journey is different—but there are ways to be smart about credit that can be useful to people at many different points in their life. Here are just a few of the most widespread credit myths that persist; knowing the truth about these can help you evaluate your options and stay energized about your finances.

1. Myth: There’s only one credit score

Your credit score is a measure that lenders use to determine your creditworthiness on a scale from low to high. These scores differ in small but important ways according to which credit scoring model is used, and the factors that it considers from within your credit information. Seeing how your scores differ can be an effective way to capture a better sense of your total credit picture at a given time, like when you’re considering a major purchase such as a home.

2. Myth: Checking your credit report can hurt your score

One of the most common misconceptions about your credit score is that by requesting a copy of it, you’ll damage it. When you apply for a new line of credit and a lender looks at your credit report, an inquiry known as a hard inquiry will appear. Having too many of these on your report may indicate that you’re seeking credit from many places and trying to overspend: not a good sign.

But, if you’re looking at your own credit report, the inquiry is known as a soft inquiry, and these have no impact on your credit score. Be confident that examining your own information is a good thing, and your score won’t suffer from your interest in it.

3. Myth: There’s nothing you can do about something bad on your credit report

Your credit report is an accumulation of information about how you use credit. A common misconception is that information on your credit report is permanent—but that’s not true. Items that cause concern, like late payments or accounts in collections, eventually come off your report. Your credit report doesn’t show each transaction since you opened your first credit account (unless that happened in the recent past). Most credit scoring formulas show the most recent, and most relevant information in your report.

If there are things on your report that you don’t recognize, it may be evidence of fraudulent activity. If that’s the case, each credit bureau has a process for reporting the suspicious activity. Checking your report regularly can help you stay on top of any fraudulent activity that criminals may attempt.

4. Myth: You can avoid credit problems by only using cash

Cash is great for many of life’s smaller purchases, but for life’s larger expenses – like a home – you likely won’t be able to pay in cash. Those are the times you’ll need to use credit. To get the best rates from your lender, your credit score will have to be in good shape. Don’t run from your credit problems by trying to avoid using credit altogether. Keeping your credit utilization low and making sure to use credit wisely can show that you’re responsible with your finances. Then, when you’re ready to make a big purchase, your credit score can support your creditworthiness to potential lenders.

5. Myth: If you have bad credit, you will never be approved for a loan

If your credit isn’t at its best, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be approved for a loan you may need now. It could mean that you likely won’t be eligible for the best rates that the lender can offer, however. Having to pay back more in interest on a loan you’re seeking now may be the reminder you need to keep better tabs on your credit score. It’s never too late to start learning about how to take care of your credit for the future. In the long run, it may be able to save you money—your future self will thank you!

4 Mental Traps to Avoid When Buying Your Next Home

You’ve decided that you’re ready to buy a home — but you find yourself overcome with fears and anxieties. Or, on the other hand, perhaps you’re bubbling with a bit too much excitement.

Before you sign on the dotted line, pause for a moment and ask yourself if you’re falling into one of these common homeowner mental traps:

Trap #1: Assuming That Buying is Always Better Than Renting

The idea that renting a home equals “throwing money away” is one of the most pervasive myths floating around.

In reality, the decision to buy vs. rent should be based on factors such as the average housing and rent prices in your location, the amount of time you’ll live in that dwelling, your tax bracket, the mortgage rate for which you qualify, property tax, HOA and insurance rates in your area, projected appreciation in your area, inflation assumptions, and more.

Here’s a simple example: Assuming you’ll live somewhere for three years, if you can buy a home for $100,000 that would otherwise cost $1,000 per month in rent, buying may be the better option. If, however, you need to pay $650,000 to buy a home you could rent for $1,000, renting might truly be the better choice.

Trap #2: Believing Your Current Needs Reflect Your Future Needs

Let’s imagine that you’re part of a child-free couple that likes to travel, lives with minimal possessions, and doesn’t want to spend too much time maintaining your home. You might choose a small home that fits your lifestyle, while disregarding the school district during your decision-making process.

But will you still have the same priorities in five years?

Remember that you’re buying a home to suit your future needs, not just your current ones. Purchase a home that you’ll be able to “grow into” or “shrink into” as the size of your family either expands or contracts. Anticipate other factors such as maintenance, HOA fees, proximity to jobs (and potential future job sites), school district, yard size, neighborhood safety and walkability.

Perhaps today, you want a swimming pool — but in three years, when your youngest child moves off to college, you want the freedom to travel without needing to worry about pool and yard maintenance. Or maybe you don’t need a yard today, but in a few years, you’d like to adopt a dog.

Trap #3: Fear of Getting “Priced Out of the Market”

Home prices have skyrocketed in the past five years. It can be tempting to believe that prices will continue to rise indefinitely, and that if you don’t purchase a home today, you’ll get “priced out” of the housing market.

Conversely, it’s also tempting to believe that if you buy now, you’ll definitely flip your home for a profit when it’s time to sell.

Neither of those are foregone conclusions. The housing market, like all industries, is cyclical: Prices rise and fall. In addition, housing is local: price and appreciation activity in Kansas City, Missouri doesn’t necessarily reflect activity in Jacksonville, Florida.

Leave speculation aside. Purchase a home based on your family’s budget and needs, not your guesses about what the future may or may not hold.

Trap #4: Believing All Renovations Are Profitable

Are you selling your current home in order to move into a different one? If so, you might be in the midst of renovating. Many homeowners update their kitchen, bathrooms, landscaping, and other features in order to make their home more attractive to buyers.

But that doesn’t mean you’ll recoup the cost of your renovations. While some updates might fetch you a higher price, other updates simply lack a return-on-investment. Replacing peeling laminate countertops with builder-grade granite might help you house sell faster, but upgrading to a rare style of granite with an ornate beveled edge probably won’t translate to a thicker bottom line.

Bottom Line

There are plenty of myths and assumptions about the housing market. If you believe too deeply into these ideas, you run the risk of overspending.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking “housing prices will always rise,” “renovations will always pay off,” or — worst of all —”this time, it’s different.” Focus on purchasing a home that you cherish that fulfills your needs and wants, both now and in the future. And enjoy your new space!

MISSION MAINSTREET GRANTS

5 Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Trends That Will Last

To help you get ahead of and sort out the kitchen and bathroom trends — pity the last fool to install an avocado appliance in the 1970s — HouseLogic.com went to this month's trend central, the International Builder's Show. Our takeaway: For gosh sake, enjoy your home; remodel so that you love where you live.

Still, with a couple of exceptions, these five kitchen and bath trends offer lasting value:

1. Kitchen cleanliness.

By clean, we're talking design, not germs. Kitchens are going clean, contemporary, and horizontal (open shelves, long and horizontal pulls, thick countertops). Even in a classic kitchen, go with simple, flat cabinets rather than highly carved cabinet details, says designer MaryJo Camp of Design Camp, Denver, N.C.  

Tip: This is a trend to get on board with. A simple, tidy, fresh appearance will have broad appeal if you decide to sell.

2. Color is out.

This year, colors are cycling out, Camp says, except for black and white used together. 

Tip: Practically speaking, black and white are hard to keep looking good. Black kitchens show every scratch and white cabinets show every speck of dirt.

Regardless, color is fickle; choose what's best for your space.

 

3. Dark wood is where it's at.

If you've had white cabinets, you know they show every speck of dirt, which can drive you crazy unless you have a cleaning fetish. Combine those white cabinets with another up-and-coming trend: dark wood. Or if your budget can handle the hit, go with specialty woods like mahogany or zebra wood that can make an island look like a piece of furniture.

Tip: Alternatively, you could invest your money in more kitchen storage and functionality than trendy decorative elements that might not stand the test of time.

4. Appliances that blend in.

The more open our kitchens get, the more we want them to look like the rest of the house. That's fueling a trend away from the big pro range and ginormous stainless-steel refrigerator and toward concealed, high-performance refrigerators and dishwashers. Induction cooktops, which use less electricity than electric cooktops, are growing in popularity, Camp said.

Tip: When you buy appliances, look for the Energy Star label or go even deeper on energy performance ratings with Consortium of Energy Efficiency. 

5. Ageless design gets easy.

What the Baby Boom wants, the Baby Boom gets. And Baby Boomers want to live in their homes forever. That's led manufacturers to create DIY remodeling products with built-in universal design features — like toilet paper roll holders strong enough to hold your weight as you arise from the throne.

If you wanted a no-threshold shower five years ago, you had to have it fabricated as a custom piece, said Mary Jo Peterson, a Brookfield, Conn., designer. Today, companies sell no-threshold shower kits with trench-style drains covered with grills so you can roll yourself right in.

4 Reasons your home isn't selling

There's a buzz in the air. The real estate market has improved and may be on the road to recovery. 

But the improvement in the housing market is not treating all home sellers equally. Some well-priced listings in prime locations are selling within a couple of weeks. In other areas, it still takes months to sell, and prices haven't fully stabilized.

There are several factors that could be keeping your home from selling. One is the state of the local housing market. Residential real estate is a local business. National trends, while informative, don't necessarily apply to the state of the market in your neighborhood.

Other factors include: the list price; the condition of your property; or lack of broad marketing exposure.

The housing market is pulling out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. This is fresh in buyers' minds. There are plenty of buyers who think this is the right time to buy, but they're not inclined to make offers on overpriced listings.

Sellers often wonder why buyers won't make an offer at a lower price if they think the list price is high. Buyers don't want to waste their time making an offer if the seller is unrealistic. Making an offer takes a lot of time and emotional energy. Most buyers who have the wherewithal to buy a home don't have time to waste.

There are "bottom feeders" who give sellers lowball offers below market value hoping to get lucky. These buyers also won't pay over the asking price. They want a bargain. You can do better than that if you price your home right for the market.

Here are clues that your listing might be priced too high. You don't receive any showings, or you receive showings but no repeat showings. Buyers usually look at a listing more than once before making an offer. Another possibility is that buyers look at your home and then buy another listing that is priced more in line with the market.

Let your real estate agent know that you want to hear feedback from buyers who have seen your home. If they like the house but not at the price you're asking, that's a clear indication that you should adjust the price if you want to sell.

Some sellers have false expectations about the current picked-up market. In some areas, the improved market means that homes are taking less time to sell, not that prices have increased. 

In other markets, prices have jumped approximately 25 percent from a year ago but are still way below where they were at the peak of the market. If prices dropped 50 percent in your area, they need to increase 100 percent to get back to where they were before the decline. 

For instance, if your home was worth $100,000 in 2006 and dropped 50 percent in value and then increased 50 percent of the lower value, it would be worth $75,000. It needs to increase 100 percent ($50,000 plus $50,000) to recoup your loss.

The condition of your home will influence the market value. You need to lower the price to account for deferred maintenance or a dated decor, or take care of these issues so that you can present your home in move-in condition. You'll then attract more buyers and sell for more.

It's always possible that your home has not been properly marketed. Ask your listing agent to provide you with copies of all advertising. More than 88 percent of today's home buyers use the Internet to find a home.

THE CLOSING: Make sure your listing is receiving wide Internet exposure, including a lot of good-quality photographs.

5 Basic ideas of Modern Home Decor

Simplicity. If you were looking for a word that described what modern home decor was then that would be; it is simplicity. Of course, simple doesn’t mean boring and modern decor with its clean lines, neutral color palette and geometric shapes is anything but boring. Instead, modern home decor can be warm, inviting and completely stylish in just about any home. But how do you achieve modern home decor? Obviously, it isn’t as simple as walking into a store and choosing items that have clean lines. There takes a bit more to that and there are several basic ideas that should be incorporated into a modern decor.

The first idea is to keep it simple. Remember that word that best describes modern design and make sure that you incorporate it into your space. There is no need for the room to simply be four walls and a chair for sitting, we aren’t going to that extreme, but you will want to keep things as uncluttered as it possible. Studies have shown that clutter can lead to stress in your life so keeping your decor simple will help alleviate some of the stresses that you feel.

The second idea of modern home decor is function. Not only should your rooms be simple with those clean lines and minimal artwork and accessories, but it should also be functional. This varies greatly from room to room but when you go into a room, it should be easy to access and use various items in it. So, for instance, a kitchen that is designed with modern decor in mind should have ample workroom and everything should be easy to access.

Technology is the third idea for a modern decor in your home. It is actually a lot more than simply stating “technology” and any electronics that are in your home should work with the space. It is often recommended that all electronics be streamlined, so flat panel televisions, built in DVD players, small flat screen televisions in the kitchen, and computers tied in to a room rather than being a lump in it, are important to keep those lines clean.Open spaces. If you are going with a modern decor, then you will want to utilize our fourth idea by having lots of open space in your home. This may not be possible in some homes that offer closed rooms instead of an open concept but you can create the appearance of open spaces by using color, fabrics and furniture. You can also keep windows coverings that are light in color and airy in feel to create an open feel in to the room, even if it isn’t.

The last idea for creating a modern decor in your home is to add a little bit of character to the space. It can be amazing how one splash of color on an otherwise neutral palette can create such an alarming effect to the room. Don’t hesitate to explore your options with color and make the space one that you will enjoy sharing with every.

Creating a modern decor doesn’t have to be difficult and there is a lot of room to play around with your spaces. All you really need to remember are these five simple rules and before you know it, you will have a modern decor that shines.

Homes of the future

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) recently wrapped up in Las Vegas, and one idea creating a big buzz was “The Connected Home.” This isn’t a particularly new idea, and it has been talked about for years at CES, but it appears as if the technology is finally catching up with the idea, and having your very own connected home is not so very far away.

These new technologies, which include such devices as voice-controlled thermostats, toothbrushes that can tell you whether or not you’re doing a good job on your teeth, and refrigerators that play music are part of a new world of web-connected devices dubbed “The Internet of Things.”

According to the Gartner research firm, by 2020, the Internet of Things will include 26 billion devices, with a market worth of $1.9 trillion.

What can the Internet of Things do for your home? Will these new devices enable your bed to make itself and leave a chocolate on your pillow? Not quite, but some of the new features are pretty handy. Here’s a roundup of some of the new and upcoming products featured at CES, to give you a better idea of what a home of the future will look like. 

Connected Appliances
A Bluetooth-enable refrigerator that allows you to listen to music in your kitchen? A washer/dryer that can be commanded to clean from afar? These are two of the new “connected home” products featured at CES.

Whirlpool® debuted a line of Smart Appliances that give you the option of checking to see that everything is running smoothly at home, even when you’re far away. There is a washer/dryer pair called the “Duet.” You can monitor energy usage and access certain settings when you’re out, but you can’t get it to suck the laundry from the floor and wash it while you’re gone. Each one runs you approximately $1,700.

The refrigerator keeps you up-to-date on temperature settings, and power outages and allows you to manage other features such as your drinking water. This retails for about $2,000.

The $949 smart dishwasher, allows you to monitor energy use and lets you know when certain parts need replacing. 

Samsung is another player in the smart home arena. The company’s platform, called "Samsung Smart Home," debuted at CES and the roll-out along with pricing is planned during the first half of the year.

The initial platform consists of three main services: Device Control, Home View, and Smart Customer Service. With Device Control you can access customized settings for all of your devices from your smartphone—while you’re out of the house—or on your Smart TV when you’re at home. You have the ability to control multiple devices at once, no matter how far you travel. The service will also allow you to use voice commands with your Galaxy Gear or Smart TV remote. You can tell your device that you're "going out," for example, and your connected lights and appliances of choice will turn off as you leave. Smart!

Robotic Vacuums
Robotic vacuums are nothing new, but now they are getting more affordable. Neato Robotics already has a robotic vacuum, but this year they’re launching one that’s more affordable to the masses. In March, you’ll be able to pick up the Neato XV Essential for $379 at Walmart.com

The iRobot Roomba has a new version out as well. It boasts 60 percent more storage space and greater cleaning capacity than the former version and retails for $699.

The company also makes a robotic pool cleaner!

A Smart Crockpot?
It doesn’t get much better than this. A slow cooker that you can control from your smart phone, so your pork ribs are falling perfectly off the bone by the time you arrive home. This is a product from Belkin that launches sometime this spring and is set to retail for $99.99.

Control Your Climate & Beyond
Trane, Herman Miller, and Nest are a sampling of companies who want to help you control the climate of your home from afar. These devices not only adjust your temperature, but look better on your wall than their old counterparts. 

Nest also made the recent leap to the connected smoke detector. The sleek, round-edged square has a pale blue light glowing at its center which acts as a motion detector night light, to help guide your way through a dark hallway. This smart smoke alarm will also alert you to any smoke or fire problems at home when you’re not there. 

A Smart Toothbrush?
The perfect gift for your kids. Now you can see if they actually brushed their teeth and if they did a thorough job! The Kolibree toothbrush claims to be the first “connected toothbrush” that improves your brushing habits. Not only does it track how often your brush your teeth (or not), it claims to know what parts of your mouth you missed or didn’t pay enough attention to.

Wifi Lightbulbs
Controlling your lights while away is another feature of the connected home. Forgot to turn on lights to scare away the burglars? Not a problem. Do it with your smartphone. 

An Intelligent Lock
Another connected home feature of note at CES was the Goji Smartlock. The lock takes a picture of visitors at your front door and can be accessed via your smartphone.

Staging your home for a faster sale, and higher price!

Fran Freedman took down the family photos and most of her artwork. She had the fence in the front yard ripped out, and she got rid of half the clothes in her closet. And that was just for starters. She wasn't redecorating. Rather, she was "staging" her house for a potential home buyer.

With 3.75 million homes on the market — a 7.3-month supply — sellers must work harder these days to attract buyers. Yet oddly enough, the trick to making your home stand out is often to make both the interior and exterior look generic, almost bland. And that's where home staging comes in.

"The philosophy is the buyer must be able to picture themselves living in your home," says Freedman, 65, a lawyer in Philadelphia. "They don't want to see your family photos and your artwork. The décor should be understated so they can say, 'This would be the perfect place for my...' "

Does it work? When Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Los Altos, Calif., looked at nearly 2,800 properties in eight U.S. cities in 2004, they found that the staged homes, on average, sold in half the time that the non-staged homes did. The sellers with staged homes ended up with 6.3% more than their asking price, on average, while sellers with non-staged homes sold for 1.6% more than the asking price.

The cost of hiring a company to stage your home tends to range from $1,800 to $3,800 but can go much higher, depending on the size of the house and the amount of work involved.

Freedman says Tailored Transitions, the company she used, "had a hard time convincing me and my husband to spend the money. People don't spend money on this kind of thing. I'd never heard of staging."

In the end, they spent $2,500 for the interior, $4,000 for the exterior, $500 to rent "props" like less eye-catching artwork and decorative pillows and $500 to move their excess furniture and boxes into storage. In hindsight, she says, it was worth every dime.

They listed their home this month for $949,000, and Freedman says, "I don't know if we would have priced it that high when it wasn't so attractive."

Judee von Seldeneck put her staged home in Philadelphia on the market this month; it sold in one day, for $700,000.

From moving shrubs to planting flowers, to replacing the knobs on kitchen cabinets and ripping up the carpet on the stairs, every change was made to accentuate the house's best features. There were even pumpkins on the porch to lend a homey, inviting look.

Inside, the stagers "put furniture that looked comfortable but not too heavy, not cluttered," says von Seldeneck, CEO of an executive search firm, who's "in my 60s." The books on shelves, colors of the rug, the furniture — all were "geared more toward younger people."

She spent $8,000 on the job and says, "It was the best money I ever spent."

Short of hiring a company to do the work, there are some simple steps any seller can take to stage a home:

•Cleaning. The house should be Q-tip clean. Every surface should sparkle; every groove should be dirt-free. And above all, wash the windows.

•Clutter. Pack up family photos, stacks of paper, medicines on the bathroom counter, the books overflowing the bookcase. Hide trash cans, ashtrays, the laundry hamper, the kitchen sponge, the cat's litter box and food dishes.

"Clutter eats equity," says Barb Schwarz, the self-proclaimed inventor of home staging and author of Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money.

•Color. Dark walls make the house look smaller. Walls should be off-white, or have earthy tones if the room has lots of light. Ideally, the carpet would be "real estate beige." Open or take down the curtains, so the rooms will have as much light as possible. Leave on the lights in darker areas.

•Focal point. To think like a professional stager, stand at the doorway of each room. What features do you want to accentuate? Where's the focal point? (A room should have only one.) So if you have a fireplace and a big-screen TV, take out the TV. Arrange the furniture so the eye is drawn to the focal point.

•Furniture. Most rooms have too much furniture, which makes rooms look smaller. Reduce the number of pillows on the couch to zero, or have an odd number like three. Remove afghans and blankets. Reduce the number of paintings on the walls.

•Dining room. Take out the leaves from your dining table and put no more than four chairs around it. Set the table as if for a meal, and put an appealing centerpiece in the middle. Reduce the number of dishes in the china cabinet, leaving only a few.

•Kitchen. The exterior of the refrigerator should be bare. Store any appliances you don't use daily out of sight. Hide the trash can, and put the sponge and soap under the sink. You can spruce up an outdated kitchen simply by changing the knobs and hinges.

•Master bedroom. Buy a new bedspread, if necessary. Clear off bedside tables and chests of drawers. Hide the alarm clock. For the closets, pack up any clothing you're not using this season. It'll make the space look larger.

•Bathroom. Replace bar soap with liquid. Coordinate all towels using one or two colors. Fold them in thirds and hang them neatly. Clear everything out of the shower except for one bottle of liquid soap and one bottle of shampoo. Clean or replace the shower curtain. Make sure all grout is clean and in good condition. Remove all cloth toilet lid covers, and keep the lid down. Hide the trash can.

•Outside. Keep the lawn mowed and the edges neat. Trim shrubs, especially around windows. Put flowering plants near the front door. Does the house need painting? Consider painting or staining the front door; it's one of the least expensive ways to spruce up the entry. If there's furniture on the porch, make sure it isn't plastic but rather good wicker or wrought iron. Power-wash or stain the deck. Remove or hide old cans and bottles, auto parts, boats and RVs.

"When you start staging your house, emotionally, you need to say goodbye to your house," says Starr Osborne, CEO of Tailored Transitions in Philadelphia, the staging firm Freedman hired. "It's like hotel living. It's not a comfortable experience, but your home will sell more quickly and for better money."

The de-cluttering process is "one of the biggest challenges we find," she says. "Sellers feel it's an indictment of the way they live. You have to remember what you're selling. You're not selling your taste; you're selling tastes the buyer wants to see."

Freedman recalls it was "kind of traumatic" when all her family photos were packed away. Another tough moment was when she stood in front of her closet, wondering what she could throw out.

But in the end, Freedman says, the process was "cathartic." "It made us realize we had too much," she says. "When we move, we won't use it all."

Decorating for the senses

When starting a new decorating project, the big decisions are mostly about how the results will look. And the visuals of a room or house are important. But another big part of how a space feels to us is how we perceive it with our other senses. Think of how a luxuriously soft throw tossed across a worn leather chair makes a reading spot seem extra appealing or how the background scent of eucalyptus makes a spa seem clean and calming. Keeping all the senses in mind when making decorating choices will create spaces that feel more inviting and are a pleasure to inhabit. Here are some ideas:

Taste
Decorating for the sense of taste is all about implication—creating a space where food is enjoyed and celebrated. Make sure your house facilitates easy, communal eating by assessing your dining spaces. Is your table large enough for extra guests and durable enough to handle inevitable food and drink spills? Do sitting areas have handy spots for people to set drinks upon? Do you have room for an outdoor dining space? Other ideas: create a window sill garden with herbs, tiny hot peppers or tomatoes or a lettuce mix for cutting fresh mesclun. Plant a fruit tree that's visible from the kitchen or living room window. Set a warm pot of fragrant herbal tea on a guest's night table at bedtime. And don't forget the time-tested standby—a bowl full of seasonal fresh fruit.

Smell
When appealing to the sense of smell, subtlety is key. Try incorporating the outdoors by using the fresh scents of nature. Hang a eucalyptus cutting on a shower head to release a fresh, clean scent with every steamy shower. Plant a fragrant bush like honeysuckle, rose, or gardenia under a bedroom window to wake up the scent of flowers wafting in. Put a lavender plant in a bedroom or bathroom. Plant a rosemary shrub by the front door—whenever someone brushes by it, it will release its piney scent. Go seasonal with outdoor scents, bringing pine boughs in during December or fresh flowers in spring. Cedar blocks or shelves in a closet smell pleasantly old-fashioned and keep moths away too. Toss scented pine cones into the fire on wintry nights. Or just open a window and let a fresh breeze drift in.

Sight
Whether your taste is classic, mid-century modern or eclectic, there are certain visual rules that apply for all styles: Create a focal point in each space. Use harmonious colors for calm and high contrast for excitement. Group like things together and display objects in odd numbers. Allow for plenty of clear spaces on table tops and other surfaces for the eye to rest. Use a variety of light sources, including natural lighting and task lighting, and incorporate candlelight and light from a fireplace. For a cost-free makeover, walk through the room looking at everything as though seeing it for the first time. Purge art and objects that no longer suit you and rearrange furniture to engage with the space in a fresh way.

Touch
Engage the sense of touch with contrasts. Contrast crisp sheets with a soft warm comforter and big puffy pillows. Set off the smooth tiles of a bathroom with oversized fluffy towel or drape a luxe silky throw over a modernist chair. Add things that can be touched and look fun to touch, like a worn handmade wooden table, a curvy piece of sculpture, or a nubby throw pillow. Think about what flooring would feel best under your feet—the cool minimalist feel of tile or polished cement or the cushy warmth of carpet with thick padding underneath? When putting in new fixtures like door knobs, faucet handles and light switches, consider their feel. Do they move smoothly? Do they have a nice weight to them and feel good in your hand? Consider investing in luxurious items like heated towel racks, a premium showerhead, heated floors, or a quiet ceiling fan to bring in a cool breeze.

Sound
Appealing to the sense of sound is not only about emphasizing pleasant sounds but de-emphasizing or eliminating unpleasant sounds. The most obvious way to bring sound into a space is with music, but other ways include adding water feature, bamboo wind chimes or even just opening a window to bring in the sounds of the outdoors. Run a fan or white noise machine at night to create a peaceful sleeping space and install double-paned windows to mask traffic noises. Soften the sound of large open rooms with textiles and cork flooring. And don't forget ambient noise: oil squeaky doors, fix rattling appliances, knocking pipes, and creaky stairs.

Ways to Invest in Real Estate

If you’re looking to diversify your investments, real estate can be a lucrative venture. There are several ways you can dip your toes into real estate investment waters. Take a look at the categories below to see if one of them is right for you.

Real Estate Investment Groups

If you want to invest in rental properties but don’t want to deal with the day-to-day obligations of being a landlord, real estate investment groups are a great option. A company buys or builds apartments and allows investors to hold the lease on one or more units, while they handle the basics. The company receives a portion of each month’s rent in exchange for its services. Lease holders also typically contribute a percentage of rent to a pool that covers vacancies, providing payment even if the unit stands empty for a month or two.

Be sure to thoroughly research the groups you’re considering. Investment groups are usually safe, but it all depends on who you’re doing business with.

Standard Rentals

Rental properties can cover mortgage payments when tenants are in residence, which then turns to profit once the debt is paid off. Unless you hire a property manager, you’ll be responsible for any maintenance. Figure on spending around 50 percent of your monthly income to keep the property in top shape. 

Property can appreciate between the time of purchase and the final mortgage payment, netting you a tidy profit if the market is right. Work with an area realtor to determine the best time and location to buy and sell.

Real Estate Investment Trusts

REITs are a step further removed from first-hand ownership than investment groups. Around 200 are publicly traded, and their financial records can be easily researched as a result. Trusts or corporations purchase rental properties with investor funds and are required to pay out 90 percent of the taxable profits in dividends. REIT investments provide regular income and are easily liquidated, but you’ll need to do your homework to ensure your investment is sound.

Real Estate Trading

Real estate trading is property investment on steroids. Similar to stock market day trading, it can be both risky and rewarding. Investors hold properties for a 3-4 month period, and then ideally sell for a profit. Real estate traders gamble on undervalued properties and hot commodities to “flip” the investments they’ve made.

If a trader makes the right picks, there’s a lot of money to be made, but one wrong move can send it all crashing down. Because the properties are not held for long periods, most investors don’t keep cash on hand to pay mortgages for extended periods of time, and may have cash tied up in multiple properties.

There’s a less risky way to flip properties, but it is more labor intensive. These investors live in a home while they improve it, and then sell it for a higher price once the renovations are made. Although only one property at a time is typically flipped, there is significantly less risk of failure.

Several methods of real estate investment exist, all with varying levels of risk, reward and involvement. Research your chosen method and the companies involved to make the decision that’s right for your portfolio.