Real Estate and *stuff *

Real Estate and *stuff *

A real person helping real people with real estate

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Where did the whales go?

November 10, 2011 — 1 Comment

Where did the whales go today?  Fred and Ethel are a pair of whales that one lucky member of BNI group get to carry with them for a week in between our meetings.  BNI is largest business networking organization in the world and I would be happy to chat with you about if you are interested in finding our more.  BUT…back to the whales…the whales are awarded to the BNI member with the best 50 second commercial and I won them this week!

I thought it would be fun to see where the whales go for a week…

Here we are leaving the Whale Home Base in West Bolyston.  The whales dutifully come to every meeting at 7am on Thursday mornings for an hour and a half.  We meet in the basement of this church because it’s cheap, nice space.  Big room, lots of tables – great for networking.

 

Here the whales are taking some exterior pictures of a property in Worcester.  This property is being valued by a bank as part of a bankruptcy case.  Part of my job unfortunately consists of performing market evaluations on properties in foreclosure or about to be foreclosed on.  We are expecting to see an increase in foreclosures in the fourth quarter.  This makes the whales sad because there are a number of options for distressed property owners.  If they were able to reach out ahead of time (when their financial trouble start) I can help them!

 

Here the whales are at yet another property in Worcester that they need to process a valuation on.  The whales are getting tired on this rainy Thursday morning because there are 8 properties on their list today.  EIGHT!  In one day!  For just one Realtor!  Multiple that into the number of Realtors there are and it’s staggering.  One in eight homeowners on average across the country are in financial distress and either behind in their mortgage or in foreclosure.  *whew* the whales are shocked at the news and we had a long conversation about the various options for these people…such as modifications, short sales and legal consultation.

The whales stop to refuel.  It’s a little known fact that whales actually survive on caffeine alone for most of the week.  Truly.  I think I saw that on a NatGeo special.

 

 

Ah-ha!  The whales are excited!  We just got word that we have short sale approval on a house in LESS THAN 30 DAYS!  That’s amazing!  These home owners will be free of their financial burden and can start to put the rest of their lives back together by the first of the new year!  What a great way to spend the afternoon!  Processing HUDs, submitting backing information, dotting all the “i”s and crossing all the “t”s.  Another little known fact about whales is that they are detail orientated.  Really…I think I saw that on the same show.

It’s a rainy evening without any appointments for a change and the whales have decided to celebrate their WIN today with the short sale approval by having a cool frosty one while reviewing tomorrow’s schedule and making sure everything is ready.

 

The whales did good today in their first “real” day of real estate with a RE/MAX Realtor!  Let’s see how they do tomorrow!

SOLD!

September 9, 2011

June 17, 2011

July is coming…the sun is out and many of us are taking vacations.  Make sure it’s a great one and that your house is secure!  Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in.

1. Keep your home well-maintained on the outside

Burglars want an easy target. Stand on the street outside your house and ask yourself: Does my property look neglected, hidden, or uninhabited? A front door or walkway that’s obscured by shrubbery offers crooks the perfect cover they need while they break a door or window. To improve security, trim shrubs away from windows and widen front walks.

2. Install motion detector lights

All sides of your house should be well-lit with motion-activated lighting, not just the front. Simple motion-activated floodlights cost less than $50 each, and installing them is an easy DIY job if the wiring is already in place.

3. Store your valuables

Thieves want easy-to-grab electronics, cash, jewelry, and other valuables, though some are not above running down the street with your flat-screen TV. Most make a beeline for the master bedroom, because that’s where you’re likely to hide spare cash, jewelry, even guns. 

Tour each room and ask yourself: is there anything here that I can move to a safe deposit box? Installing a home safe ($150 to $500) that’s bolted to your basement slab is a good repository for items you don’t use on a daily basis.

4. Secure your data

While you probably won’t be putting your home computer in a safe anytime soon, take steps to back up the personal information stored on it. Password protect your login screen, and always shut off your computer when not in use (you’ll save energy, too!) Don’t overlook irreplaceable items whose value may hard to quantify, like digital photos.

5. Prepare ahead of time in case the worst happens

  • Check that you’re properly insured for theft. Note that high-ticket items in your home office, such as computers, professional camera equipment, or other business essentials, may require an additional rider or a separate policy.

Between-the-Studs Shelving and Storage: Find Your Niche in Life

November 8, 2010

Houselogic is a free website where you can find some amazing information as a homeowner.  They have many articles sorted by topic ranging from DIY projects to rallying community support to put in a neighborhood playground.  You can log in and track your projects, find the best prices at your local DIY stores and earn facebook badges.  

I really liked this article because I have limited storage space in my own house and often think about “built-ins” as a solution.  Now…I need a stud finder…

Recessed, between-the-studs shelving and storage niches help you de-clutter and stay organized without sacrificing valuable square footage.

Using between-the-studs shelving and storage

  • Kitchen: Between-studs shelving is ideal as a kitchen pantry because the shallow shelves are perfect for canned goods. You also can use a niche for storing spices, hanging utensils, or storing and displaying your cooking pans.
  • Bathroom: Install a between-studs storage niche in the shower for holding shampoo bottles and soaps. A shallow niche beside the toilet holds magazines and toilet paper. Near the sink, create a recess for toiletries and personal items.
  • Bedroom: Use recessed storage for CDs, paperback books, magazines, belts, scarves, and jewelry. You can also create a wall niche for your flat screen television as long as a header provides support where studs are removed.
  • Family room: Store pool cues, balls, and the triangle as well as CDs, wine or liquor, and barware.

Create between-the-studs shelving and storage

You’ll need moderate DIY skills and a basic knowledge of framing to build your own recessed wall niche. Once you’ve located studs with a stud finder and made sure the wall cavity is void of wires, plumbing, or air ducts, frame the opening and finish it with drywall or other materials, such as beaded board, then add shelving. Cost: $17 to $35, for a 14×36-inch niche.

Various sizes of prebuilt recessed wall niches are available in wood as well as less expensive polyurethane units. These units are customized to perform a range of storage tasks, including serve as a medicine cabinet, a home bar and as a shower niche. Cost: $90 to $500.

With four home renovations to her credit, Jan Soults Walker is a devotee of improvements, products, and trends for the home and garden. For 25 years she’s written for a number of national home shelter publications, and has authored 18 books on home improvement and decorating.

By: Jan Soults Walker
Published: October 1, 2010
 
 
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