Chris Voigt's October Real Estate Newsletter

There are only a few months left in this calendar year, so it’s no wonder people are already talking about 2014. While at this time of year, three months doesn’t seem like very long, a lot can happen in that length of time.If you’re like millions of people, you dream of the day when you will be debt free. The economic recession has prompted many families to restrict spending in order to take control of their finances, pay down outstanding debt and make saving a priority. For many people, eliminating household debt feels unattainable; however, with the right tools, anyone can take control of their spending  and begin to build wealth. This month, I’m including some tips to help you break the cycle of debt and achieve financial freedom. Please click here to access this valuable information.  The first page outlines steps you can take to create a budget and save money. Page two details a plan to eliminate debt from credit cards and loans in a fraction of the time it would traditionally take. Feel free to share this information with your family or friends who are looking to get out of debt and improve their financial security.  If you’re curious about how the market is doing, or where it’s likely to be going, just give me a call. It’s always good to touch base on real estate activity and trends, and I’m happy to answer any questions you have, anytime you like.  In the meantime, please enjoy these Halloween Jokes! What's a vampire's favorite fruit? Neck-tarines! What kind of mistakes to ghosts make? Boo-boos! Knock-knock Who's there? Boo Boo who? Hey, don't cry, it's just a costume! What two places to ghosts like to go swimming? Lake Erie and the Dead Sea What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frost-bite! What did the guy on Twitter give out for Halloween? Tricks or Tweets What do you call a monster who eats too fast? A gobblin' goblin! Who did the monster take out on a Halloween date? His ghoul-friend Have a great month!  Christian Voigt Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Realty USA 914 Maple Road Williamsville, NY  14221 716-345-5251 cvoigt@realtyusa.com Go "Like" my Facebook page Oh, by the way...if you know of someone who would appreciate the kind of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number. I'll be happy to follow up and take great care of them. Uncommon Tips for Making Your Home Show Better Most people know the basics of preparing a home for a viewing or an open house: make sure everything is clean and tidy, mow the lawn, sweep the walkway, etc. But there are a number of lesser known tips — tips you often don’t hear about — that can make your home even more attractive and desirable to potential buyers. In the kitchen, for example, it’s obvious that the stove, sink, and countertops should be spotless. But did you know that grinding a lemon will help eliminate any lingering odors? You should also arrange the contents of your cabinets and refrigerator to face forward. In the bathrooms, make sure the toilet lids are closed. Hang matching towel sets. Moving onto the bedrooms, check that nothing is lying around. Even a shirt draped neatly over a chair can appear messy to some people. In the kids’ rooms, the toys should be “staged”, not just flung around. For example, set up a train set like an appealing store display. Don’t just have bits and pieces scattered on the floor. If possible, move half the contents of all closets into storage. This makes a big difference in how spacious they’ll appear. Turn on everything: all the lights (even the one above the stove), the fireplace, the backyard fountain. And here’s another uncommon tip. House plants look their best — brighter, more upright and alive — approximately four hours after you water them. Finally, put on some easy listening tunes to create a pleasant auditory background. Keep the volume low. No one should have difficulty talking above the music. All these tips take just minutes to implement, but they can make a big difference in how your home shows. Studies prove that a well prepped home will often sell faster, and for a higher price, so it’s worth the effort. Need more tips on prepping your home for sale? Call today. Under What Conditions Should You Accept a Conditional Offer? Ideally, you want a firm offer for your home. That means the buyer offers you a certain price, and you can either accept or reject it. Sometimes, however, a buyer will make a conditional offer. For example, you may be offered your full asking price — but only on the condition that the buyer can sell their current home or secure appropriate financing within a specified period of time. Should you accept a conditional offer, despite the risk that it may “fall through”? There’s no easy answer. That’s why you should discuss these types of offers with your real estate agent in advance. A good REALTOR® will help you determine the conditions under which you should accept a conditional offer. Are Your Doors and Locks Safe? Burglary is among the greatest concerns of most families and homeowners, yet home security is something many of us take for granted. Typically, it is only when we become aware of a disturbing incident – or suffer the personal trauma of being a victim – that we actually take steps towards making our homes more secure. The more common access areas, such as front, rear and garage doors are the preferred points of entry for a burglar. A proper security assessment will require a careful professional examination to identify the home’s unique critical areas. Make An Entrance Examination Every homeowner should take a close look at the obvious entry points of the home, and ensure they provide adequate protection for family members and their possessions. Typically, burglars seek the easiest and least visible point for illegal entry, such as garage doors and back doors. These doors are usually in darker or covered locations, and often can be compromised simply by breaking a glass panel or applying a swift kick to a weak area. Remember, if you make it difficult for thieves to enter your home, you can effectively discourage burglars and protect your possessions. Don’t invite burglars by offering an easy target. After all, if a break-and-enter requires too much work, skill or tools, the burglar will likely move on. Standard Doors & Frames A door is only as secure as its most vulnerable point, and the average door lock is often secured in only a lightweight doorjamb molding, which might be torn away with a firm kick. Your door and frame should be as strong as possible, and firmly fixed to wall studs. The hinges and "strike area" (where the lock is embedded into the door frame) should be installed with long, heavy-duty screws. Ensure your entrance doors are made of strong solid-core wood or heavy-gage metal, and consider installing an extra chain lock and a wide-angle peephole. Patio Doors & Security Bars Sliding glass doors are secured by latches not bolts, so they’re more vulnerable to being forced open from the outside. However, such movement can be restricted by inserting a rigid bar or blocker into the slider track, or installing a hinged security bar that swings into place between the sliding panel (when closed) and the frame on the fixed panel side. Unfortunately, sliding doors can be lifted up and off their tracks and removed despite a bar, blocker, or latch lock. To prevent this, you should install an anti-lift pin that goes through the slider (when closed) and the fixed door panel. There are numerous locking and blocking devices available in most good quality hardware stores that will prevent a sliding door from being lifted or forced horizontally. Think About Security Every Day In addition to more secure doors and locks, it is also a good idea to be mindful of other security precautions, such as adequate outside lighting set to motion detection, and variable indoor lighting set to random timers. In addition to more secure hardware and equipment, better habits can go a long way to prevent criminals targeting your home. Make sure you don’t tip off burglars with obvious signs of absence such as an open garage, or stacked newspapers and mail. The more you think about security in your everyday life, the more you can do to protect your life from intrusion. notable, quotable... quotes! “Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.” Margaret Mead “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”  Winston Churchill “Failure isn’t in not reaching your goal, but in having no goal to reach.” Benjamin Mays Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. ©IXACT Contact Solutions Inc.