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.

10 Great Ways to Avoid Back-to-School Clutter

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  10 Great Ways to Avoid Back-to-School Clutter

  The new school year is always stressful, so don’t let back-to-school clutter make matters worse. Here are ways to cut down on clutter chaos. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Chris Voigt's September Real Estate Newsletter

It's time to celebrate!  Christmas in September?  Not even close, but my favorite day of the year is finally here.  That's right, it's back to school time. Summer is winding down, we've geared everybody up with the latest and greatest in school supplies and it's time to turn the kids over to the teachers until next July.  Thank goodness!  The first day of school is my favorite day of the year. Maybe you have a "Calvin", who is less than thrilled about heading back to school.  Or, perhaps you have a "Susie", who is looking forward to it with gusto.  Either way, fall is synonymous with change and new beginnings. If you think moving to a new home is in your future, now is a good time to discuss the real estate market. I would be happy to sit down with you, even if only to help you review your situation, and to advise you of any issues or opportunities you should be aware of. Then, once I am up-to-date with your specifics, I can assess your selling potential and evaluate your buying prospects, according to current conditions, as well as future trends. So, whenever you’re ready to put a plan together, I want you to feel free to give me a call anytime. I also want to pass along some important information regarding the STAR tax program.  If you are a homeowner in New York State, you will want to review this important information on the STAR tax program. New legislation requires all homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption to register with the New York State Tax Department in order to receive the exemption in 2014 and subsequent years. Enjoy the first day of school and the fresh new beginnings that come with the fall season! 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     What Do Buyers Want to Pay for Your Home? If you’re selling your home, you’ll have a very personal perspective on what it‘s worth. You’ll remember all the hours you put into making the backyard flower garden beautiful, or the work you put into renovating the basement, or the money you spent on installing new hardwood floors in the livingroom and hallways. It’s natural to want these improvements factored into the asking price. However, potential buyers don’t have that same perspective. Although they may appreciate the improvements made to the home, buyers will only be interested in paying current market value for your property. That’s the price for which comparable homes with comparable features are currently selling in your area. Buyers don’t see all the hours you spent on improvements and renovations. What they see, instead, are the final features: the hardwood floors, the freshly painted bedrooms, the sparkling new master ensuite. Features like these will certainly help sell your home faster and for the best price — but that price will likely be close to the current market value. Now, it’s tempting to try to set a list price high above the current market value in the hopes that some buyer will appreciate all the time and money put into the property. But that strategy rarely, if ever, works. In most cases, pricing your home higher than comparable properties on the market only discourages potential buyers from viewing it. Buyers expect to pay market price. The good news is that the current market value of your home may be a lot higher than you think. The only way to know for sure is to have an experienced REALTOR® look at it and provide you with an estimate. Want to find out the current market value of your home? Call today.   Don’t Speak Too Soon If you get an offer for your property that you consider too low, resist the urge to react in a negative way. It’s normal to feel disappointed, or even insulted. Just try not to show it.  Why? Because even a low offer signals, at the very least, interest. That means the other party might still consider a higher counter offer. And, they’ll be much more receptive to that counter offer if the atmosphere is positive.   Are You Adequately Insured? With so much news about hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods, we are becoming more and more aware of the unpredictable power of nature, and the indisputable importance of insurance. Although we may forget about our home insurance policy for extended periods of time, we should examine it carefully at least once a year, in case we need to make an unexpected claim. It’s also a good idea to keep a photographic and/or videotape record of valuables (with copies saved off premises) to more accurately estimate the cost to replace important possessions, including: Furnishings and equipment Technical hardware, software and accessories Possessions, including books, art, antiques Documents and business materials Personal mementos, hobby equipment, tools, etc. Loss of time and/or revenue (for self-employed home office or small business) Insurance should serve the purpose of providing good value while protecting material goods and looking after family needs. To prevent irreplaceable loss and enormous disappointment, investigate the details of your policy today, and make sure you fully understand the fine print.   notable, quotable... quotes!   “You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.”  Brian Tracy   “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”  Ambrose Redmoon   “Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.” Doug Ivester   Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. ©IXACT Contact Solutions Inc. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click unsubscribe.

Chris Voigt's August Real Estate Newsletter

Hopefully your summer has been enjoyable. With any luck, you’ll be able to stretch it a bit longer so you can get together with family or get reacquainted with old friends you may not have had the chance to spend time with this summer. Many people like to squeeze in one last family vacation during the month of August before the kids head back to school.  If that's the case for you, I wish you the best of luck as you load up the family truckster and head out for some rest and relaxation. Typically, people like to talk about change when fall rolls around. So, if you happen to be thinking about moving in the next few months, or maybe looking for reliable real estate advice, I would be very appreciative if you called. You can be assured I will assist you with professional guidance and attentive service. Have a great month of August! 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 What Should You Expect From Your Realtor? You probably know that a Realtor does more than just post a FOR SALE sign on your front lawn, or guide potential buyers through your home. But how much more? What exactly will a real estate agent do for you? Taking the time upfront to understand what to expect from your agent will help to reduce misunderstandings, and make the selling process less mysterious and stressful. You'll be able to anticipate what's going to happen next, be prepared to ask the right questions along the way, and be aware of whether your Realtor is meeting expectations. Typically, you should expect a good real estate agent to: Explain the Listing Agreement to you. (This is your contract with the real estate firm.) Describe the home selling process, and answer all your questions and concerns. Prepare a realistic appraisal based on the expected market value of your home by comparing it to similar property sales in your area. Provide you with advice on how to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, especially during showings and open houses. Create a comprehensive marketing plan to promote your home. Screen enquiries, schedule appointments, and show your home to potential buyers. Field offers from potential buyers, deal with counter-offers, and negotiate the best terms and selling price possible for your home. Help you throughout the entire selling process to make it as easy and stress-free as possible. These services should be the minimum you expect from a good agent. The best agents will actually do more. They will be there for you in the weeks, months, and even years after the sale to make sure everything continues to go smoothly in your new home. Identifying Your Home’s Unique Features It is surprising how often homeowners fail to recognize the unique value their individual property holds. The distinct property characteristics that set a home apart from other homes provide important selling perspectives that often become decision-making factors for interested buyers. The key is to understand your home’s most “marketable” features - those which hold the greatest importance to most homeowners. Consider them the “micro market values” by which you must compete, should you ever decide to sell your property. So, before you actually decide to list your home, you should be aware of its features. To get a better perspective on them, and their importance to you, ask yourself the following question about: Your Community and Your Neighborhood Does your community hold certain advantages that protect it from minor economic swings, or disadvantages that make it more vulnerable? Beyond traditional patterns, does your neighborhood experience unique cycles throughout the year which affect the value (or perceived value) of homes? Can you identify other factors which can affect the community market values, such as population fluctuations, local culture or lifestyles, municipal services, noticeable pollution levels, or recent government decisions? Your Property and Your Home Is your property situated in a desirable setting (eg. near recreational facilities, schools or community services, shopping or commercial developments, or major transit routes)? Does your home have the potential for a major improvement, such as an extra room or an expanded entrance? Is there potential for other property upgrades, such as a new garage, or a unique landscaping arrangement? Make The Most of Your Home’s Advantage When you’ve identified your home’s greatest advantages, consider capitalizing on its best features! Even minor home improvements have a positive influence on the way your home is perceived, sometimes in direct comparison to other homes. In the end you will help your home sell faster and at a price that recognizes its true potential. Tips for Checking References You have no doubt heard this tip before: Always check references before you hire a mover, lawyer, decorator, contractor, or other home professional. But for some people, picking up the phone and calling strangers to ask for a reference can feel awkward or even intimidating. Here are a few tips that can help: Call in the early evenings. This is the most convenient time for most people. Explain that you are checking references and that the professional or company you are considering hiring suggested you call. Ask if this is a convenient time to speak. Ask if they were satisfied with the services. Ask if there were any surprises with the final bill. Ask if they have recommended that professional or company to their friends? Thank them for their time. notable, quotable... quotes! “One of the marks of excellent people is that they never compare themselves with others. They only compare themselves with themselves and with their past accomplishments and future potential.”  Brian Tracy “I am aware that success is more than a good idea. It is timing too.”  Anita Roddick “Never mistake motion for action.” Ernest Hemingway Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. ©IXACT Contact Solutions Inc. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click unsubscribe.

Chris Voigt's July Real Estate Newsletter

I hope you are enjoying the early part of the summer so far and are ready to celebrate the 4th of July.  In addition to being a great time of year to celebrate, it's also a busy time of year for families - vacations and home projects seem to dominate everyone's schedule during the summer months. Have you set some goals that you would like to accomplish over the remainder of this year?  Some of your goals may involve work you would like to get done in or around your property. If that’s the case, give me a call. I may be able to recommend a contractor from my network of reputable home professionals. And, if you’re thinking of moving, or even considering the possibility, I can answer your questions and show you what’s available on the market. Whatever your goals are for this year, I hope you achieve them.  I also hope you have time to "celebrate" and enjoy your family, friends, and summer recreation!  As the cartoon above says, "It's time to pursue a little happiness..." Have a great July! 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 5 Minute Tips for Preparing Your Home for Viewing Obviously, your home should look its best when potential buyers arrive. However, time is not always on your side. There may be times when you have only a few minutes to get things ready. What you do with those minutes can mean the difference between an interested buyer… and one who crosses your home off the list. Here are some things you can do to help your home look its best in just five minutes or less: Put away coats, hats, and shoes. Clean up, especially around the foyer. You don't want clutter to be the first thing a buyer sees. Turn on all lights and lamps. A home that is bright looks larger. Put on some soft music. Easy listening is the best choice. Don't play rock or jazz music because some people might dislike it. Think elevator music. Make sure the toilet lids are down. Even when a washroom is sparkling clean, a raised toilet seat gives the impression – however incorrectly – that things are less than hygienic. Relocate the pets. Put pets in the backyard or basement, or at least segregate them in a separate room. Better still, take them away from your home entirely. Close the garage doors. Most garages don't look great on the inside. Hide the waste bins. Keep them out of sight. Wash the dishes. If possible, don't leave them on a drying rack. Put them away. Put away personal items. Put family pictures, bills, and other personally identifying information away. You want the buyers to visualize themselves living in your home, not you. Open all curtains and blinds. This makes rooms look bigger and brighter, even at night. Give Buyers the Red Carpet Treatment You don't have to roll an actual red carpet down your walkway every time you show your home. (But it wouldn't hurt!) The most important thing is to make sure the journey to your front door is a pleasant one. That's when buyers form their first impressions. Make sure the walkway is swept clean and is clear. The last thing you want is for a buyer to trip on a broken paving stone, or get matted clumps of freshly-cut grass stuck to their pant legs! Improving Indoor Air Quality There’s an old saying: What you can’t see won’t hurt you. But, that’s not true. Less than ideal air quality in your home can result in allergies, colds, languor, and even sleepless nights. Here are some tips that can help: Let in the fresh air. Weather permitting, open windows and doors to help circulate stale indoor air with fresher outdoor air. Change the furnace filter. According to studies, most filters on forced air heating systems in homes do not get changed regularly. Tip: Change the filter when you change the batteries in your smoke detectors – at least twice a year. Easy on the household cleaners.Cleaners that are tough on stains can also have the same effect on your health. So use them with care. After cleaning any surface, wipe the residue dry with a clean absorbent cloth. Keep things dry. Mold spores thrive on moisture. So make sure bathroom fans adequately remove humidity. A fan should be strong enough so that a piece of paper clings to the intake. notable, quotable... quotes! “I think the great livers, the people who are fully self-actualizing and alive, are the great givers.”  Mark Victor Hansen “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”  Zig Ziglar “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.” Sandra Carey Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. ©IXACT Contact Solutions Inc. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click unsubscribe.