 Fix Up & Sell Your Home
No one knows for sure just how long it will take to sell a home, but everybody agrees that the better the condition of the home, the more of a chance you have to sell the house quickly. Here are some tips that can make that happen:
1. Clean everything that can be seen and places that are not normally seen.
2. Shampoo the rugs, wax the floors, wash walls, windows, blinds and draperies.
3. Make it light. Don't scrimp on light bulbs. Make it easy to see in corners.
4. Feature your home's best amenities. Light up the area or place the furniture so it points out special things such as a fireplace, a balcony, maybe a picture window.
5. Clean out drawers, cupboards and closets that are going to be inspected.
6. Create the feeling of more space by storing (off premises) some larger pieces of furniture that can make a room look crowded.
7. Place the remaining furniture so that prospective buyers can flow easily from room to room.
8. Remove all types of debris from all light fixtures.
9. Remove portraits, posters, signs and family photos from walls. Create a feeling of spaciousness.
10. Keep all shades and draperies open to admit as much light as possible.
11. Place plants in strategic spots in any room. The bigger the better, to make the room look glamorous.
12. Hang mirrors where they will reflect outdoor light. This will make a room look larger.
13. Let the kitchen look warm and welcoming. Keep your sink shining all the time and free of dishes.
14. If you are painting, use safe neutral tones. Add splashes of color with throw pillows, pictures and crockery.
15. Keep bathrooms scrubbed, and well equipped with soaps and neatly hung towels.
16. Remove all stains from dripping faucets.
17. Degrease your oven. Let the kitchen smell fresh and fragrant.
18. Keep counter tops clean but not empty. Adorn them with attractive canisters.
19. Clean the refrigerator.
20. Spruce up all around the outside of the house.
21. Put a flowering pot on the front step and keep it watered.
22. Fill potholes in your drive way.
23. Tidy up walkways.
24. Clean off your outdoor furniture and remove all rust.
25. Clear out the garage of everything but cars.
26. Straighten gutters, the TV antenna, the fence and other things that sag.
27. Fix doorbells and leaky faucets, tighten loose doorknobs and oil squeaking hinges.
28. Repair broken windows and shutters.
Financing Your Home >Credit Card Mania
Most people know that a checkered credit history can disqualify you for a home loan, and maxed-out credit cards can do the same thing. But what most people don't know is that merely having a large number of credit cards, even with low balances and a history of timely payments, can disqualify you for a home mortgage loan just as quickly.
According to credit experts, having a number of credit cards can be just as detrimental to the granting of further credit as a history of late payments. Lenders look at it this way: If you have ten credit cards, each with a limit of $5,000, that means you have the potential to run up $50,000 in debt virtually any time you choose. That mere possibility makes you a greater risk, from their point of view.
The moral of the story? If you are planning to apply for a home loan in the future, keep only those credit cards you actually need to use and cancel the others.
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| Q |
Which hazardous substance is contained in sixty-four million houses and apartments?
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| A |
HUD estimates that 64 million homes and apartments built before 1978 contain lead-based paint.
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