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When Is the Best Time to Move Your Children?
Companies
are relocating more employees today than at any time in history. In fact, in many of the
nation's firms, new employees begin their careers with the understanding -- either overt
or implied -- that they could at some point in the future be asked to relocate. And in
today's competitive corporate environment, as top companies vie for prospective applicants
with the high-tech skills they demand, corporations have determined that dangling certain
benefits are necessary in order to sweeten the pot, so to speak. Companies have moved
beyond merely paying the moving expenses of new hires and current employees relocating to
another branch office. Recognizing the national movement to strike a balance between work
and family, employers are helping the spouses of transferring employees find jobs, helping
their children locate quality education, and offering other benefits to help ease the
transition and keep employees' job satisfaction at a high level.
CONTINUED >>>
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Ten Low-cost Ideas to Make Your Home More Saleable
It's
the little things as well as the big things that count when you are selling your home. You
never know what will capture a buyer's fancy and what will turn them off. Most buyers
predictably respond to the same things - clean, clutter-free homes in good repair. Your
agent may have already suggested that you paint the house, or that you do some major
repairs. Those are big ticket items, but what can you do on a small scale to get your home
ready to compete on the market?
There are a few time-honored tricks you can use to make sure
your buyer sees what you want them to see, and overlook what you want them to overlook.
Keeping your home in tip-top shape for showings will insure that your buyer will offer a
higher amount than for a home that isn't showtime-ready.
Always look at a home from the buyer's perspective. Be
objective and honest with yourself. If something bothers you about your home, chances are
good it will bother the buyer, too. Do what you can to get rid of the problem. You want to
keep objections about your home to a minimum. Preparing a home for market means you'll be
putting some elbow grease into it, so get ready.
CONTINUED >>>
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Is There Any Room To
Haggle With The Builder?
Is
everything truly negotiable in real estate? You can "make your best deal" on a
car, and you can counter offer on a re-sale (used) home, but what gives these days on new
homes? Is there any room to haggle with the builder? How often are offers on newly
constructed homes entertained or even tolerated in a market like this?
To be honest, not often. But I guess what goes around comes
around. I can clearly recall the days of huge buyer incentives (a free swimming pool with
a home purchase?!), no lot premiums, and sales people saying things like "If you
could make a commitment to buy this home today, what would it take to make a deal?"
And that market lasted, and lasted, and lasted. Today the tables are turned and, of
course, no one knows if this "seller's market" will last as long as the
"buyer's market" did. All new home builders know is the usual "supply and
demand" thing. Factors such as land costs, material costs and labor costs are
skyrocketing, so negotiation is all but out of the question in many new home communities.
For builders, turning a profit isn't a bad idea, either, after such a long draught.
So what are the exceptions to the rule, and what can you do
to make a "sweeter deal" in a market like this?
CONTINUED >>>
Angela Burdick combines many years' experience, a thorough understanding
of the real estate market, and cutting-edge technology to provide buyers and sellers with
competent advice and proven results. |
View Aprils Issue
View Mays
Issue
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There's
something lenders don't want to tell you, a little secret that can save homeowners
thousands of dollars. 