This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter.

This month’s issue includes topics such as:

“Sell Faster When You Understand The Buyers Mindset”;
“Exterior Remodeling Proves Best Bang for Your Buck”;
“Homebuyer Tax Credit Boosts Economy”;
“Is Your Credit Score as High as You Think?”;
“What To Take And What To Leave Behind When Downsizing”

Just Click on the Newsletter tab.

If you would like to receive a newsletter from Lowe’s and a 10% off for supplies at Lowe’s, send me an email with your name, address, and email address.

Did you know? At the end of December, there were 31 residential homes listed, 2 expired listings, and 1 home sold for $179,900. If you would like more details, please contact me at juliegem at charter.net.

Before putting your home up for sale, it pays to take a good look around. Is your home décor out of date? Will it appeal to prospective buyers, or send them running out the door?
Barbara Ballinger, architecture coach and columnist for the Style, Staged and Sold blog, says that while vintage features may appeal to some buyers, they could cost you a sale. Here are a few designs that could turn off potential buyers.
• Excessively bold or dark paint or tile colors, such as deep plum or jet black
• Walls painted with lacquered or high-gloss finish, faux- and sponge-painted walls, and wallpaper
• Worn, cracked laminate countertops and backsplashes
• Outdated bathrooms with small sinks, short toilets, squat bathtubs and tight shower spaces
• Stained and worn wall-to-wall carpet or worn linoleum
• Bedrooms decorated with a theme that is incorporated through the carpeting, walls, ceilings, light fixtures and furnishings
• Too many mirrored walls, ceilings and doors in a single room
• Ceilings with too many recessed lighting spot
From Council of Residential Specilists-10/2009

* Add salt to water softener. Check smoke/fire/CO alarms.
* Check all sindows for dryness and weathering along sills and
framing. clean and apply varnish or paint to cracking areas.
* Clean and inspect furnace. Change air filters.
* Change storms/screens. Check door weatherstripping.
* Clear leaves from gutters, downspouts and window wells.
* Trim any dead brush, shrubbery and tree limbs.
* Open all dampers on lower return vents for forced air heating
efficiency.

JulieGem Tip- Wash tomatoes, remove core out(optional). Place in gallon freezer bag. Freeze. To use, remove the number needed for your cooking, run under cold water-The skin will fall off! Put into your hotdish and cook.

In the Town of Bristol, Sun Prairie had 3 sales of residential houses in the month of August. The average days on market was 52. For September, the Town of Bristol, Sun Prairie has 39 active listings with 127 average days on the market. This information came from the South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service.

In this challenging real estate market, curb appeal is particularly important for a home seller. Here are some tips for hiring a landscaper who will do a good job at a reasonable price.
Review a portfolio. A neighbor’s recommendation is a good starting point, but it is also worthwhile to examine other jobs the landscaper has done and ask for references. Hiring someone who isn’t reliable, doesn’t finish the job or who uses unhealthy plants is a costly mistake.
Consider maintenance. Asking for a low-maintenance design will ensure that even if the home owner isn’t able to spend hours on the task, the lawn will continue to look good.
Know what good landscaping is worth. It can’t hurt to let a potential buyer know what the value of the trees and shrubs are.

From: Real Estate Update