1. Cultivate curb charisma. Some of the best buyers are the most impatient because they need to make a decision fast.  If the view of your house from the street turns them off, they might not even stop.  Shape up your front yard.
2. Take a critical look at your house’s front. If it’s weathered looking, if anything needs repair, or if anything needs to be hauled to the dump – eliminate these problems.  Don’t turn your buyers off outside before the inside can turn them on.
3. Never stay in your house with house hunters. Let the agent handle it, and remove yourself if you possibly can.  Remember, the agent has worked for many hours with these potential buyers, know what they’re looking for, and how to work with them.  Let him or her do the job without interference.  You may think the agent isn’t showing the important features of your house, but the agents knows buyers aren’t sold by details until they’ve become emotionally involved with the big picture of your house.  The presence of any member of the seller’s family can’t help, always unnerves possible buyers, and often prevents a sale.  Don’t put this obstacle in your path.  Leave when buyers are coming.
4. Give your dogs and cats a vacation. They need it and so does your pocketbook.  Having pets around (especially aggressive dogs) when you’re selling your home can be incredibly expensive.  Many people are acutely uncomfortable around some animals, and simply can’t think “buy” when their minds are on “bye”.
5. A few cans of paint and putty to brighten up your home’s interior are the best investment you can make when you’re selling your house.
6. Drips do more than run up your water bill. They focus the attention of possible buyers on your house’s entire plumbing system, and cause them to worry.  Fix these little problems before they cost you a sale.
7. Squeaking doors and creaking floors, torn or missing screens, cracked glass, and anything in need of repair dampens the house hunter’s enthusiasm.  Many buyers believe there will always be ten problems they haven’t noticed for every one that they see.
8. Hide (or neatly arrange) everything connected with work: lawnmowers, garden hoses, vacuum cleaners, and all the gear you used to fix up the house.  Accent everything connected with play and relaxation: sound systems, skis, toys in the kid’s rooms.
9. De-clutter. Repack compactly, dispose of unneeded items, or rent storage space and move out as much material as you can.  Your home’s storage space can’t look adequate to a buyer if you’ve got it jam-packed.
10. Turn up the shelter. If it’s hot, cool it; if it’s cold, light a crackling fire.
11. Harmonize the elements. Turn the music on softly and the TV off.  Turn on all lights, day or night.  Open the drapes in the daytime.
12. You can sell pride of ownership faster and for more money. It’s called cleanliness, and fresh cleanliness has more buyers than used dirt.  Put sparkle in your bathrooms and kitchen, and you’ll take lots more silver out.

House Hunting Tips when searching for a home in Picayune Mississippi.  What you should know when you are wanting to buy a home in Pearl River County, MS.

The dirt work is in progress on Picayune’s new Highland Community Hospital, that will be located off of Hwy 11 North in Picayune, MS. The 31 Acre parcel will house the new facility, which has been long awaited by residents of Pearl River County.

Click here to see the conceptual drawings and layout for the new Highland Community Hospital

Home sellers have one goal—to sell their home as quickly as possible near or at the listing price. A home in move-in condition makes meeting this ideal easier.

Many of today’s prospective homebuyers have busy lifestyles and are looking for properties that don’t require a lot of work. Homeowners should be proactive by making needed repairs before putting their homes on the market.

Inspect both inside and outside the home. Take inventory of practical and aesthetic repairs. You may want to apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and shutters. Clean the carpet and buff and polish wooden floors. Tighten and polish hardware. Repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways, and clean any stains on them. Replace missing or warped roofing. Clean or re-grout kitchen and bathrooms. Repair dripping faucets and drains or plumbing fixtures that aren’t operating.

Fix sticking doors and replace old locks and doorknobs. Replace burned-out bulbs and broken electrical sockets. Replace cracked windows and torn screens. Repair broken fencing and reseal the deck. Clean up stains on the tiles and countertops.

Some experts also recommend hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially evaluate the property. (For a list of inspectors in your area, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors website, www.ashi.com, or ask your real estate professional for recommendations.) A standard report will review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure.

If the pre-inspection results in a checklist, have a real estate professional look over the report with you to help you prioritize the list of repairs.

Depending on your goals and budget, you may want to repair only items that could cause significant deterioration to the home, such as a leak. In addition, your local market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be. Let your budget and your real estate professional guide you.

However, be careful about fixing up too much. Sellers rarely recoup money on major remodeling projects, and you may want to save funds for your new home. Also, obtaining home improvement loans can adversely affect your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.

A home in good condition demonstrates pride of ownership. Taking the time to make small repairs to your home can go a long way in making sure that your home is presented to potential buyers in its best possible light. They also just might make the sale.

Follow these tips for pricing your home correctly in a competitive market

Imagine you want to buy a gallon of milk. You eye the dairy case, shelves stocked with dozens of choices, but they are really all the same. Milk is milk, and which one you select is really insignificant because they are all identical, and they are all priced the same.

But what if each identical offering was priced differently? Odds are you have set aside ample time for your shopping trip, and you will carefully check the price labels and go for the best deal. Or maybe you are drawn to the more attractive packaging.

When selling your home, attractive pricing and packaging are arguably the two most basic essentials. In our current real estate market, the buyers have a lot of choices. In many areas, the shelves are simply overstocked. And since no two homes are the same, making that distinction between your home and the dozens of others is key.

Where pricing is concerned, establishing that all important asking price is part science and part art, and there are several things you should consider.

• Study past sales. This is the starting point for any thoughtful and successful pricing strategy; think of it as the “science” part. Take the time to study past sale statistics for homes in your area and areas similar to yours. None will be identical, of course, but having a clear understanding of true market value is the first step in establishing your list price.
• Do not confuse active listings with past sales. Active listings have not sold. They are just your competition. It is important to be aware of your competition’s pricing, but this is often just an indication of what your home won’t sell for.
• Do not overprice because you have “time.” If the market is appreciating, this strategy may work, but if prices in your area are declining, you may quickly find yourself chasing a market and costing yourself money. And if the market is stable? Your home will just sit. Buyers pay in today’s dollars, and time is rarely on your side.
• Leave some room for negotiation, but don’t overreach. No seller wants to feel he left money on the table, and no buyer wants to overpay. Your price should give both parties room to maneuver, but if it is too high, you risk being perceived as unrealistic, and buyers will pass over your home.
• Think like a buyer. What are the things that you value in a home? Is it a large yard, an updated kitchen or a view? These are likely the same things that your buyer values as well. Talk to your agent about current buyer trends. Yesterday’s avocado green shag carpeting is today’s granite countertop. The property facing the interstate is going to be a tougher sell than the one with a mountain view. Your price should reflect how your home compares to the others offered for sale. Buyers will find objections to any home, as none is perfect, but it is curious how quickly objections disappear when the price is compelling.
• React swiftly and decisively. If your home is on the market and is not being shown or if you receive feedback that you are priced too aggressively, don’t hesitate to adjust your price. Bad news, like spoiled milk, doesn’t get better with time.

First impressions are everything when selling your home. Studies have shown that the first two weeks on the market are the most crucial to your success. During these initial days, your home will be exposed to all active buyers. If your price is perceived as too high, you will quickly lose this initial audience and find yourself relying only on the trickle of new buyers entering the market each day. Markets are dynamic, and your price has an expiration date. You have one chance to grab attention. Make sure your pricing helps you stand out on the shelf — in a positive way.

Kris Berg is designated broker with San Diego Castles Realty in San Diego, Calif. Visit her Web site atwww.SanDiegoCastles.com and read her blog at www.SanDiegoHomeBlog.com.

There are many scam artists out there, ready to pounce on you and take advantage of a bad situation.  Watch this video to know what to watch for!

MAR (Mississippi Association of Realtors), has put up a new page on their site, addressing the BP Oil Spill, and giving links to online resources for Mississippians:

Online Resources

Mississippi Department of Marine Resources oil spill response

MDEQ Oil spill map – Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has a new page on their website that provides data and information that are being collected in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and will provide the public access to the most current information available. The map is updated regularly and can be accessed at http://opcgis.deq.state.ms.us/oilspillmap/. Locations where MDEQ and its partners have collected samples, as a result of different oil spill response activities, are displayed in the map application along with sampling results.

Current Air Quality along the Gulf Coast – MDEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency continue air monitoring, and to date all results are typical values for this time of year and below levels of concern. Air monitoring results can be viewed at http://gulfcoast.airnowtech.org/.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau oil spill updates

Governour Barbour’s oil spill resources for Gulf Coast residents page

EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico – For information about validated environmental air and water sampling results, visit www.epa.gov/bpspill

US Fish & Wildlife Service repsonse to Spill – For daily updates about the Fish and Wildlife Service’s response and the status of national wildlife refuges, visit www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/.

Mapping the Response to BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico – By clicking on “View Interactive Map” you will be able to see the oil’s trajectory, fishery closures, the location of responders, and shipping information.

You can access other links and information about volunteering at:  MAR Oil Spill Central

If you are in the market to purchase a home, or if you are locked into a high interest rate on your present mortgage, NOW is the time to act!  Luann Watkins at The First Bank in Picayune, MS, says that rates are the lowest she has ever seen them (and she’s been in the mortgage business for a LONG time!).

Currently, the interest rate on a Conventional Loan is hanging at 4.35% on a 30 year term, and 4.75% for a 15 year term.  FHA and RD (Rural Development) is at 4.25% with 95% LTV (Loan-to-Value).   If your current mortage is at 5.3% or higher, this might possibly be the best time to do a re-finance!

If you are interested in knowing more about current interest rates (in relation to your credit score**), give Luann Watkins a call at 601-798-2987.  And if you’re pre-approved and ready to find your next home, call Michelle Fradella at 601-569-0075!

All rates are subject to change.  All rates quoted are for purchase loans only with 1% origination.  *Conventional rates are based on a loan with a credit score of 700 at a 95% loan-to-value.  **FHA, VA, and RD rates are based on a purchase price of $120,000 with a credit score of 700 at maximum LTV.

A large number of home buyers decide whether to check inside a residence or take it seriously based on its curb appeal. The curb appeal of a residence is the view people observe when they drive by or come along for a showing. You actually can help ensure they want to go inside your residence by investing some energy working on the its outside look and feel.

Developing an attractive front landscape because of the use of landscaping can alter the all round feeling given by your property, making it even more inviting and comfortable for your prospects and your family. Even in tough economic settings, a lovely, well-tended front landscape can drive the total price of your real estate up-wards. When potential home buyers arrive at your property for a viewing, the sight of a charming lawn will instantly set them to dreaming about ‘coming home’ to your property.

It is hard to look at your own property in the identical way that potential buyers do, mainly because when we become used to the way your home feels and functions, you are unable to see its faults. Choose immediately to give up thinking of the residence as your home. It is a house—a commodity you need to sell for the greatest dollar attainable.

The next time you drive home, stop across the road or considerably enough down the driveway to gain a good perspective of the house and its setting. Just what is your immediate impression of the property and yard area? What are the finest exterior elements of the household or property? Exactly how can you accentuate them? What are the most detrimental exterior attributes of the household or property? How can you decrease or upgrade them?

Come up with a list of the trouble areas you identified. Deal with cleanup and maintenance chores to start with, then set some time into projects that make the yard more alluring. Wipe out mold and mildew on the home, sidewalks, roofing, or driveway. Clear away unnecessary garden implements and tools. Clean up home windows and gutters. Pressure wash unclean siding and dingy porches. Edge sidewalks and remove plants raising between concrete or stones. Cut the grass. Eliminate weeds. Rake and get rid of leaves, whether or not your yard has a lot of trees. Trim tree braches that are near or coming in contact with the residence’s roof.

Complete your curb appeal check over again at dusk, due to the fact it isn’t strange for potential buyers to drive by homes in the evening. One quick way to boost evening curb appeal is by working with lighting. Set up landscape lighting not only increases curb appeal but it also can make you property safer and improves home valuation. Landscape lighting doesn’t need to be lavish or high priced to create an impressive effect. String low voltage lighting down your driveway, sidewalks, and near crucial landscaping components. Add a decorative street light fixture to your front entry way. Make sure that lighting is noticeable through front doorways and windows enhances the home’s presence.

Now there are situations that adding elements to your landscaping can boost curb appeal, but there are other situations when doing away with something is a lot more effective. Most prospective buyers can’t picture adjustments, and frequently will likely not take a 2nd look at a home if the first look does not appeal to them. Potential home buyers who can imagine modifications, and are equipped to make them count on you to decrease the price of the real estate to compensate for the work they plan to do.  Make sure to consider the neighborhood when making changes.  In my area, Fort Worth homes buyers appreciate automated sprinkler system if you have large areas of sod.  The climate in your region should determine which features to focus most on.

If you brainstorm, you are going to find that there’s a alternative to most troubles—one that lets you keep within your price range. The strategy is to uncover the parts where enhancements are needed, then work on them as best you can. Points you need to bear in mind are the total of room available, the height of walls and maintaining pathways and window zones clear, as well as the time of year, weather conditions and color selections. No matter what plants or flower you choose to place in, whether it’s flowers to cover ground, foliage to fill space or vines to climb fences, it will almost certainly enhance the worth of your home by a great deal more than the fee of the landscaping alone.