Wednesday, November 28, 2007BY CAMI JONER, Columbian staff writer
It's been four months since Lori and Fred Clark put their Vancouver house up for sale and joined thousands of sellers in pursuit of a shallow pool of buyers.
While they haven't had any offers for their one-story ranch, the Clarks say they're willing to wait out the market. However, they've taken down the "For Sale" sign that was once in their tidy front yard because they're fed up with curiosity seekers who seem to think the sign gives them license to peer into windows and trample through gardens. They've also cut their price.
The rest of the story; http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/11/11282007_Sellers-Dilemma.cfm
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
5 Simple Ways to Increase a Home's Value
Good home maintenance is key to creating and preserving a home’s value. Not to mention, it also impresses potential buyers. Here are five basic steps that every home owner ought to take — before spending money on dream bathrooms or gourmet kitchens.
1. Safety. Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and in good working order. Check fuel-burning appliances to make sure they are properly vented and no gas connections leak. Make sure the electrical system is adequate. Flickering lights and popping breakers are the sign of a problem. Anchor handrails and grab bars adequately.
2. Preventive maintenance. Repair any leaks in the roof, seal gaps in the siding, paint bare wood, replace damaged decking, patch cracks in concrete, and caulk around tubs and showers.
3. Conserve energy. Install a programmable thermostat, weatherstrip doors and windows, fix leaking faucets, upgrade insulation, and replace leaky windows.
4. Go green. Consider environmentally friendly materials for windows, doors, siding, decking, fencing, roofing, flooring, and insulation.
5. Improve comfort. Get rid of clutter, open up spaces, update window treatments to allow in more light, and organize closets and storage.Source: The Associated Press, James and Morris Carey (12/29/07)
1. Safety. Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and in good working order. Check fuel-burning appliances to make sure they are properly vented and no gas connections leak. Make sure the electrical system is adequate. Flickering lights and popping breakers are the sign of a problem. Anchor handrails and grab bars adequately.
2. Preventive maintenance. Repair any leaks in the roof, seal gaps in the siding, paint bare wood, replace damaged decking, patch cracks in concrete, and caulk around tubs and showers.
3. Conserve energy. Install a programmable thermostat, weatherstrip doors and windows, fix leaking faucets, upgrade insulation, and replace leaky windows.
4. Go green. Consider environmentally friendly materials for windows, doors, siding, decking, fencing, roofing, flooring, and insulation.
5. Improve comfort. Get rid of clutter, open up spaces, update window treatments to allow in more light, and organize closets and storage.Source: The Associated Press, James and Morris Carey (12/29/07)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Where the Truth about Today’s Market Really Lies
Where the Truth about Today’s Market Really LiesBy Eugene L. Meyer
RISMEDIA, Jan. 3, 2008—The latest news on the real estate front was either calmly reassuring or deeply alarming, depending on your point of view. The lead paragraph on the National Association of Realtors’ Nov. 21 release reported that home sales prices actually rose in most metropolitan markets. The Associated Press lead, however, emphasized the negative statistic that the number of home sales had fallen in 46 states during the third quarter. Both were correct. http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-01-02/where-the-truth-about-todays-market-really-lies/
RISMEDIA, Jan. 3, 2008—The latest news on the real estate front was either calmly reassuring or deeply alarming, depending on your point of view. The lead paragraph on the National Association of Realtors’ Nov. 21 release reported that home sales prices actually rose in most metropolitan markets. The Associated Press lead, however, emphasized the negative statistic that the number of home sales had fallen in 46 states during the third quarter. Both were correct. http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-01-02/where-the-truth-about-todays-market-really-lies/
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