10 Tips To Sell Your Home Quickly in A Slow Market

In a time when real estate has slowed down and the future of the market is uncertain, it is critical to be able to sell your home as quickly as possible, for the best possible price. Peter G. Miller, Columnist for Realty Times has outlined 10 negotiating steps to follow in order to increase your chances of a quick sale for the best price.

These steps include the following:

Step 1: Get a local broker.

Step 2: Read the sale agreement.

Step 3: Know the marketplace.

Step 4: Know your terms.

Step 5: Reduce deposit requirements

Step 6: Throw in stuff.

Step 7: Update MLS photos.

Step 8: Review the marketing plan.

Step 9: Visit open houses.

Step 10: Have context.

For more information and detailed descriptions of each step read Peter G. Miller's full article, 10 Steps To Sell More Quickly In Stalled Markets.

Highlands County - Back to School

It's back to school time and kids and parents are busy trying to get organized to start the school year prepared. Kids are typically concerned with buying the right outfit while parents concentrate on making sure their kids have the proper supplies for their classes.

Check your local school website for a school supplies checklist. If your school doesn't offer this list online, below is a basic list, as provided by GreatSchools.com, to help you get started.

Elementary School

• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Ballpoint pens
• No. 2 pencils
• Colored pencils
• Pencil sharpener
• Large pink eraser
• Box of crayons
• Drawing paper
• Construction paper
• A ruler with English and metric measurements
• School box
• Kleenex
• Small bottle of hand sanitizer
• A backpack (Check out GreatSchools.com article, Tips for Buying a Backpack and Carrying Safely, about choosing the right backpack)
  

Middle-School and High-School

In addition to the basic school supply items, children in middle and high school may be required to purchase the following:

• A calendar for time-management and for scheduling assignments
• 2 combination locks
• Binder dividers
• Several 3-ring binders
• Folders to fit into binders
• A small notebook to record assignments
• Pencil case to fit into binder
• Pens
• Index cards, ruled and unruled
• Calculator (Check with your teacher first for type and model)

Don’t forget to visit GreatSchools.com for a more complete list. Happy shopping and have a great school year.

Are You Killing Your Credit Score?

When buying a home, an important factor in this process is your credit score. It is important to familiarize yourself with your credit report and the role you play in your final FICO score .

Your FICO score is one factor that lenders consider when they are trying to determine if they should lend you the money, charge you more, or flat out reject your request for financing.

Don't defeat yourself before you get started. CNNMoney.com put out an article, 6 ways to kill your credit score, that provides some useful information and insight into how we may be sabotaging our own credit.

Stay on top of your credit score and review your credit report regularly. This will limit the potential for errors that can also negatively affect your FICO score.

Moving With Children

Moving can be extremely stressful especially if you have children. Don't forget that it can be just as challenging for your kids as it is for you.

They may be moving from the only home they have ever known and leaving close friends and their school behind.



It is important to be aware of the things that may be a concern to your children when making a move. These things could include the following:

• Preschool children tend to worry about being left behind or separated from their parents.


• Kids aged 6 to 12 can be concerned with how their daily routines will be affected.


• Teenagers are concerned primarily with fitting in and having their social life disrupted.
  

Methods of easing some these concerns include:

• Communicate with your child about what the new house will be like.



• Take them on a visit of the new home and neighborhood (if possible)



• If you can, visit the school with your child and meet some of the teachers.

Involving your children in the move can help make the transition easier. Your kids can be a great help to you and the move if you involve them such things as:

• Packing some of their own special belongings, and decorate the box with stickers and markers.


• Make plans together on how to decorate their new room.

Leaving friends behind may be one of the harder things your child has to do. Throw a going away party with their friends and take lots of pictures to make a nice scrapbook for them to look back on. Give them a stationary set or pre-stamped cards so they can stay in touch with friends, too.

There are dozens of things to consider and take care of during a move and by involving your children you just may relieve the stress your children are feeling, reduce your own stress and be able to focus more on other aspects of your move!

For more moving tips visit my Moving Strategies page.