DOES YOUR HOME HAVE HIDDEN QUALITIES?

Many home sellers forget that their home is more than meets the purchaser’s eye. They no longer remember that behind the smart décor there is attention to detail and quality workmanship. But these features often cost a lot even though they aren’t immediately apparent to purchasers. Could they add value to a home? Most purchasers like to take their time to compare properties for sale before making a decision, so making sure your agent has access to information about even the improvements that aren’t obvious and visible may not only add dollars to the price of your home, but also determine a purchaser’s choice in favour of your property over the one round the corner. There are very few purchasers who don’t gravitate to good workmanship or attention to detail in maintenance. It’s true that in a very active market, purchasers often make their decisions based only on a quick analysis of the major features of the home; they don’t have the time to pay attention to detail because they will lose the property to a buyer who is prepared to move faster. When the market slows down, however, they have a lot more time to be fussy about even the smallest details in the effort to ensure they are making a good buy.  http://www.localpropertynews.net/articles/sellers-buyers/20100601_hidden_qualities.htm

Hidden improvements can include things like insulation, sound-proofing, plumbing and electrical work, soil improvement and so on. Purchasers often use this kind of information simply to help them to confirm their soundness of their choice; the quality of the maintenance and attention to detail makes them feel comfortable and secure in the knowledge that their choice is a sound one. Most agents will prompt vendors to tell them about the improvements they have made over the years, but it is a good idea to have a list ready for the agent’s very first visit, in case you forget something. It also helps the agent to accurately appraise the value of the property in the first place.

DOES YOUR HOME HAVE HIDDEN QUALITIES?

Many home sellers forget that their home is more than meets the purchaser’s eye. They no longer remember that behind the smart décor there is attention to detail and quality workmanship. But these features often cost a lot even though they aren’t immediately apparent to purchasers. Could they add value to a home? Most purchasers like to take their time to compare properties for sale before making a decision, so making sure your agent has access to information about even the improvements that aren’t obvious and visible may not only add dollars to the price of your home, but also determine a purchaser’s choice in favour of your property over the one round the corner. There are very few purchasers who don’t gravitate to good workmanship or attention to detail in maintenance. It’s true that in a very active market, purchasers often make their decisions based only on a quick analysis of the major features of the home; they don’t have the time to pay attention to detail because they will lose the property to a buyer who is prepared to move faster. When the market slows down, however, they have a lot more time to be fussy about even the smallest details in the effort to ensure they are making a good buy.  http://www.localpropertynews.net/articles/sellers-buyers/20100601_hidden_qualities.htm

Hidden improvements can include things like insulation, sound-proofing, plumbing and electrical work, soil improvement and so on. Purchasers often use this kind of information simply to help them to confirm their soundness of their choice; the quality of the maintenance and attention to detail makes them feel comfortable and secure in the knowledge that their choice is a sound one. Most agents will prompt vendors to tell them about the improvements they have made over the years, but it is a good idea to have a list ready for the agent’s very first visit, in case you forget something. It also helps the agent to accurately appraise the value of the property in the first place.

DOES YOUR HOME HAVE HIDDEN QUALITIES?

Many home sellers forget that their home is more than meets the purchaser’s eye. They no longer remember that behind the smart décor there is attention to detail and quality workmanship. But these features often cost a lot even though they aren’t immediately apparent to purchasers. Could they add value to a home? Most purchasers like to take their time to compare properties for sale before making a decision, so making sure your agent has access to information about even the improvements that aren’t obvious and visible may not only add dollars to the price of your home, but also determine a purchaser’s choice in favour of your property over the one round the corner. There are very few purchasers who don’t gravitate to good workmanship or attention to detail in maintenance. It’s true that in a very active market, purchasers often make their decisions based only on a quick analysis of the major features of the home; they don’t have the time to pay attention to detail because they will lose the property to a buyer who is prepared to move faster. When the market slows down, however, they have a lot more time to be fussy about even the smallest details in the effort to ensure they are making a good buy.

Hidden improvements can include things like insulation, sound-proofing, plumbing and electrical work, soil improvement and so on. Purchasers often use this kind of information simply to help them to confirm their soundness of their choice; the quality of the maintenance and attention to detail makes them feel comfortable and secure in the knowledge that their choice is a sound one. Most agents will prompt vendors to tell them about the improvements they have made over the years, but it is a good idea to have a list ready for the agent’s very first visit, in case you forget something. It also helps the agent to accurately appraise the value of the property in the first place.

The Race - a self esteem poem

attributed to Dr. D.H. "Dee" Groberg

Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face, 

my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. 

A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, 

excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell. 

They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race 

or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. 

Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son, 

and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire, 

to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire. 

One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, 

was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.” 

But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip, 

the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped. 

Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace, 

and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. 

As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now. 

Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, 

which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!” 

He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all, 

and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall. 

So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, 

his mind went faster than his legs.  He slipped and fell again. 

He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace. 

“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”

But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face 

with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!” 

  

So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last. 

“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!” 

Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten 

but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again. 

Defeat!  He lay there silently.  A tear dropped from his eye. 

“There’s no sense running anymore!  Three strikes I’m out! Why try? 

I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.” 

But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all, 

for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 

Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place! 

You were not meant for failure here!  Get up and win that race!” 

So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit, 

and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit. 

So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been, 

still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win. 

Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. 

Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place, 

head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace. 

But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, 

the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. 

And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, 

you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd. 

And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.” 

“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”

And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face, 

the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. 

For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. 

And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. 

And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face, 

another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”

THINK LIKE AN INVESTOR

While it’s unlikely that experienced home buyers will buy a home that they don’t like, the same is not true of experienced property investors. Yet many novice property investors report that they have difficulty buying something they don’t ‘like’ even if it is a good sound investment.

Many investors make it harder for themselves than they need to by being unnecessarily emotional about their purchases. They see their investment properties as an extension of their own home and indulge in the same feelings of pride of ownership. It is not uncommon for novice investors to turn down a property with terrific investment potential and strong rental demand just because they themselves couldn’t live in it. Some end up buying what they consider to be a ‘nicer’ property, only to find that the tenants have different priorities and will choose more basic accommodation in order to be say, closer to amenities or to save on rent. Remember that many renters need to use public transport, and that the proximity of shops, schools and transport may weigh more heavily with prospective tenants than a flash kitchen. Not only that, buying something that you need to charge above median rent for may end up in increased vacancy as tenants (often saving for a home of their own) would rather economise now for benefits further down the track.

The strongest demand for both re-sale and rental is usually, by very definition, around the median price in any marketplace or location. Those who choose to invest in the luxury end of the market are usually the first to be hit by any economic downturn. Much of the luxury rental accommodation available is leased by corporations who, in poorer economic times, can no longer justify the cost of accommodating employees in high rent areas. And high income earners are unlikely to commit to large mortgages or rents in a climate of economic uncertainty with the possibility that salaries or jobs could be under revision. 

Median priced properties - those in what you could call middle range of the market - are not as badly affected and usually give their owners the best long term return. If they lose some demand from their usual occupiers because young people move back home or families scale down to smaller or cheaper accommodation, they pick up tenants or purchasers who can no longer afford the luxury markets. 

http://www.localpropertynews.net/articles/investment/20100501_think_investor.htm


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