Real Estate Information Archive

How to Help Your Home Stand Out and Sell Faster

In today’s buyers market, home-selling clients are always asking me what they can do to help their homes stand apart from the competition. As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network(R), I have seen how effective home staging can make all the difference in not only a quicker sale but a more profitable sale, as well.

First, it’s important to realize that home staging does not refer to the usual steps taken when your home is placed on the market, like painting the front door, taking away personal photos, and baking something in the oven. Staging, rather, is the professional merchandising of your home, which helps create an instant connection with potential buyers as they walk through the door. Just as new homebuilders create a model home for buyers to envision themselves living in, home staging does the same for your existing home.

Here are some important facts to be aware of before embarking on the home-staging process:

1. Make sure your home stager is knowledgeable about real estate and, in particular, your local market. Knowing what other homes in your area sold quickly provides the stager with important clues as to what buyers are attracted to.

2. Real estate agents, especially Top 5 Members like me, are excellent sources for referrals on home stagers in your area. Be sure to ask your neighbors as well.

3. Staging seeks to minimize the furniture in any given room in order to create the right spacing, while displaying as much floor space as possible. Be prepared with a convenient storage solution before you begin the staging process.

4. According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSPR), there is a growing trend toward eco-friendly home staging, where stagers provide specific “green” materials to sellers. This creates unique appeal to today’s environmentally conscious consumers.

5. Home staging is also on the rise among short sale and foreclosure properties where homes might be in need of special care. If you are in a financially challenged situation and need to sell your home, talk to your real estate professional about staging. Certain lenders are working with stagers in order to expedite these types of sales.

In the current real estate climate, homes must be merchandised and marketed wisely. Please e-mail me to find out how staging can make a significant impact on the outcome of your home sale…and please forward this email to anyone else who might be in need of home staging.

 The IRS has now updated their posting for the First Time Home Buyers Credit form that has to be used for sales after November 6^th (date of new enactment).  Originally the form was going to be ready in December.  Then it was “January 8^th”.  Now they are saying “Soon”.  When the form does become available you can access it at www.irs.gov and the link is on the upper left-hand side under “Top Forms and Publications”.  It is Form 5405.  Even if you use a tax preparer it would be good for the taxpayer to review the new requirements so they can gather the necessary info for the preparer.

If you’re like most people, one thing that always makes your New Year’s resolution list is, “Get more organized.” In today’s hectic and often challenging lifestyle pace, staying organized provides an important sense of control and ensures you stay on track toward important goals.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I know that organization is the key to success, both at home and on the job.  Here are 10 tips for kicking off a well-organized year:

•Box it up right – Begin by stowing away the holiday décor in well-marked and sorted boxes. Try using empty wine cartons (you can probably get them free from your local liquor store) for fragile ornaments, and buy a few plastic storage cases that can be stacked and stored out of the way.

•Make some lists – Add any new names to your card and gift list, so that you are ready for next year.

•Get a new calendar – first, transfer in all birthdays and other important dates you want to be sure to remember.

•Schedule it – then begin scheduling annual medical, dental and veterinarian appointments for the family and pets, and note any other dates you want to remember, such as car maintenance, registration times, etc.

•Get it on sale – Get a head start on next year by taking advantage of after-holiday sales on wrapping paper, cards and gifts.

•Budget for next year – Take a look at your receipts to see how much you spent this year; then divide by twelve and begin a savings plan to help you get there stress-free.

•Hidden agenda – Designate a private spot for storing gifts you buy when they are on sale during the year. Keep a note in your wallet listing what you buy and for whom.

•Be tax ready – Create a folder or storage box for all receipts, check stubs, and other materials you will need when tax season rolls around. Make this the year you throw everything into the designated file or box.

•Be car ready – Keep a box in your trunk to hold blankets, umbrellas, diapers, flashlight and anything else you may want to have handy in an emergency.

•Check on your resolutions – Keep a written list of what you want to accomplish this year: losing weight, eating better, exercising, or even being more organized. Check the list each month to see how well you are doing.

While it seems impossible at times, staying organized is simpler than you think—and the rewards are tremendous—so forward these great tips to your family and friends. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2010 and be sure to e-mail me for any real estate-related assistance you may need in the New Year.

The Mike Parker Team just joined Listhub.com......what does this mean for you???  WELL, now our listings not only have their own website, virtual tour and are featured on  www.nkyhomes.com, www.mikeparker.com, www.cincy-nkyhomes.com, realtor.com, the Northern Kentucky MLS, Trulia, You Tube, Craiglist, Oodle, Hotpads.com, CLRSearch.com, Zillow.com  .....now we are also pushing your listing to the following websites:

Yahoo! Real Estate
AOL Real Estate 
FrontDoor
HomeAwayRealEstate.com
HomeWinks
Property Pursuit
Property Shark
RealtyTrac
TweetLister.com
Google Maps
Cyberhomes 
HomeFinder
Vast
CLRSearch.com
Homes&Land Homes.com
InvestorLoft
LakeHomesUSA.com
MyREALTY.com
PropBot
Enormo
Second Space
OpenHouse.com
Overstock.com
eRealInvestor
MyNewPlace.com

Did you also know that *87% of home-buyers search the Internet for a new home, 38 million people search the internet each month for real estate information and *1 in 3 buyers find the home they end up buying on the Internet!!!  By distributing your listing information to a wide array of premier consumer real estate websites, we are making sure we are maximizing every opportunity to attract potential  qualified buyers to the table!!

*Data taken from the 2008 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Click Here to view our fantastic featured properties

Interested in selling?  Click Here for a complimentary Current Market Analysis. 

It's that time of year again!!  Christmas is in the air and the kids are getting more excited each day as they anticipate Santa's arrival!!!  Make their holiday by having Santa call your house for FREE!!!  Courtesy of Cincinnati Bell, you can sign up to have a personalized call from Santa!  I do it each year and my kids LOVE it!!  The best part about it is you can have Santa call your home as many times as you would like!!!  Very Cool!!!  Click Here and sign up today!!!  Happy Holidays!

Come One....Come All...Bring Your Family and Your Friends!!!!! 

Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed an extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit. Yesterday, the House of Representatives approved the agreement reached in the Senate.  The bill has now passed both chambers and is awaiting the President's signature. 

The following explains the expansions and extentions of the tax credit:

1. The $8,000 tax credit will be extended and available for first-time purchases before May 1, 2010.

2. A new $6,500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010. To qualify for this provision, buyers must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.

3. Prospective purchasers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete   the transaction.

4. Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.

If you know of anyone in the market to buy or sell or you are interested in taking advantages of these incredible tax credits, please contact us today!!  We can help you find your new home in both the Greater Cincinnati areas and Northern Kentucky area!!!  Remember now is the time to buy, interest rates are very low and prices are down!! 

Halloween safety tips from the Florence, KY Police Department:

• Be sure walking areas are well-lit and free of obstacles.
• Keep candle-lit jack-o'-lanterns and away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.
• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children.
• For older children going alone, plan the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk when available.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters.
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!!!!!

Well it's that time of the year again.  Gather up the kids and head on out for an evening full of Halloween fun!!  Pumpkin patches are perfect for the little ones and a fun day with the family!!  Haunted Houses are not for the faint of heart and are sure to give you chills and thrills.  The following lists will surly please all members of the family!!

Pumpkin Patches

Benton Farms

11946 Old Lexington Pike
Walton, KY 41094
859-485-7000

Shaw Farms

513-575-2022
Milford, OH

Daniels Petting Farm & Pumpkin Patch

1850 WALTON NICHOLSON PIKE
WALTON, KY 41094
859-363-8623

Parky's Farm
10037 Daly Road
Cincinnati, OH 45231
Phone: 513-521-3276

Haunted Houses

BENTON FARMS
Haunted House
Weekends In October
11946 Old Lexington Pike
Walton, KY 41094
859-485-7000

USS Nightmare
Wednesdays and Thursdays 7pm - 11pm
Friday & Saturday 7pm - 1am...... Sun. 7pm - 11pm
Through November 1st .....

Located on the river at Newport on the Levee

St. Rita Haunted House
October 2nd -November 1st
Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

Free Parking
The Haunted House is located on the school grounds.

Kings Island
Mason, OH
Halloween Haunt

Junction Nightmare
EnterTrainment Junction
7379 Squire Court
West Chester, OH 45069
Phone: (513)898-8000

Haunted Hayride
Sandyland Acres
Petersburg, KY
This hayride has won numerous haunt awards and offers individual and group rates.
859-689-4283 or 859-322-0516

Dent Haunted Schoolhouse
5963 Harrison Ave.
Cincinnati OH 45248
Every Friday and Saturday, The Dent Schoolhouse is open from 7:30 pm to 12:00 pm. On every Sunday The Dent Schoolhouse is open from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Land of Illusion
5 terrorizing events, choose one or enter them all!!  All at your own risk of coarse!!
8762 Thomas Rd.
Middletown, OH 45042
Open until November 1, 2009

HallZOOween
Discover the "creepy and the crawly," weekends in October, at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden during the annual HallZOOween celebration. Little ghouls and boys, ages 12 and under, can enjoy three spooktacular weekends of fun, from 12 - 5 p.m.