Sarasota, FL

When it comes time to prepare a home for sale, there are 5 easy ways to get started. It's as simple as using your 5 senses. Buyers will be using their senses to make a decision about whether a home they see is worthy of an offer. If a seller can put themselves in the buyer's shoes, they can evaluate how their 5 senses are affected. This scenario can help you understand this process.

AS THE BUYER DRIVES UP TO YOUR HOME - What do they SEE? Is your lawn manicured and are the flower beds weeded? Do they SEE the front door because that fresh coat of paint makes it stand out, inviting them inside. If they SEE a dirty stained driveway or sidewalk they may wonder if other areas haven't been taken care of. Let's hope they DON'T SEE toys in the yard or a dull, scratched door. You don't want them to SEE dirty windows or a dirty sidewalk and driveway.

AS THEY OPEN THE FRONT DOOR - they will use their sense of SMELL first. Every home has it's own "unique" fragrance. You don't want your home to SMELL like your animals. While we know they are part of your family, they can sometimes leave offensive odors in your home. It's important to ask friends, relatives or neighbors to be completely honest about how your home SMELLS. If the homeowners are smokers it is absolutely imperative they do NOT smoke in the home any longer. Sometimes it will require special cleaning techniques to get the smell out. Many people have a very sensitive sense of SMELL. Don't scare them away with offensive or strong odors. Too many plug-ins that smell like flowers can be a turn off too. If you want to freshen your home's fragrance, use soft scents like linen or rain. Remember, they are air fresheners, not odor maskers.

ENTERING THE FIRST LIVING AREA - can they SEE the beautiful fireplace? Is it covered with too much decor or blocked by furniture? Do they SEE the beautiful view through the sparkling clean windows? Can they SEE the true sizes of the rooms, or is there to much furniture? Are they SEEING small area rugs and runners all throughout the home? It's better for them to SEE the wood floors and how the uninterrupted flow opens up the space.

CONTINUING THE TOUR - what do they HEAR? - Is the toilet running? Do they HEAR a noisy air conditioner? Are they HEARING traffic noise from the adjacent street? Can they HEAR the blaring television? Is it possible they will HEAR your dog barking from the garage, where he/she might be caged? Noises can be very distracting. While some noises cannot be eliminated, you can give them something pleasant to HEAR. If they HEAR soft music in the background, it will give them a calm and relaxed feeling.

AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE REST OF THE HOME - how do they FEEL? Are the hot? Are they cold? If they FEEL hot, they might wonder if the air conditioner is working properly. If it's winter and the heat is on and they FEEL cold, they will be questioning whether the furnace is in good condition. Do they FEEL agitated or uncomfortable because there are too many personal items scattered throughout the entire home. Your goal should be for a potential buyer to FEEL calm, happy, relaxed, and stress free.

THE SHOWING IS ALMOST OVER - and before they leave you want them to take away something more than just the flyer that was left on the kitchen counter. Give them something to TASTE. We know how fresh baked chocolate chip cookies SMELL, but they TASTE even better. Most everyone has a sweet tooth, so leaving some candy in a bowl will be a great way to have them leave with a good TASTE in their mouth.

Every decision we make in life involves using our senses. What we see, feel, hear, touch and taste and how we respond to those things is a crucial part of our everyday life. We've all heard that buying a home is made on emotion and many of those emotions are heightened by one or more of our senses.

If this makes SENSE to you, then you will have a great start STAGING your home or helping your client's get started STAGING theirs.

Author, Julie Martelo, TIME TO REDESIGN- Offering Interior Redesign, Real Estate Staging, Decorating & Color Consultations in the Bradenton & Sarasota areas, including Parrish, Ellenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Port Charlotte, Osprey, Brandon & Sun City. Serving all of Sarasota & Manatee Counties. Visit Julie's website at www.timetoredesign.com.

Or as I like to say,

"Gators and Killers and 'Canes, OH MY!"

As a Sarasota real estate buyers agent , I meet alot of people looking to relocate to this idyllic slice of paradise, Sarasota FL. But without fail, they come armed with a bagful of stories and legends regarding the "wild living" here in Florida...

"Is it true gators will come up and bite you when you are sunbathing?"

"Oh, I wont swim in the Gulf, I hear too much about shark attacks!"

"How do you deal with the constant hurricanes?"

I always smile and wonder why they would consider moving here at all! Fact is, yes we have gators and sharks...and although I have spent many years sharing a lake with an alligator, Ive not seen more than her snout, and she certainly isnt about to approach me looking for my suntan lotion...and swimming in the gulf is a gorgeous experience not to be missed. No, Ive never seen a shark. Yes, they are there. Just don't swim at dusk with a bloody nose and shiny jewelry - statistically speaking, you'll be fine. Did you know that over 400 people a year are killed by dogs in the US? And 23 by sharks, worldwide??

As for the hurricanes, I do not want to downplay the danger and devestation that is possible. That being said, when choosing a natural phenomenon to live with, I'll take them anyday - unlike tornadoes or earthquakes or sandstorms or blizzards, we have weeks notice to prepare, to evacuate, to get things ready. Here in Sarasota, we've had nothing but rain from any storm since I have moved here.

It is said there is no place to live where there are no problems. But here in paradise, I find any "issue" a small price to pay for the privilege of calling such a gorgeous place home.

Cutting edge ideas, people, resources and technologies that are shaping the future of alternative investments

Sarasota, FL--Rick Bisio is the author of the book, The Educated Franchisee, a franchise consultant and coach for people considering entering into a franchise. At a recent interview, Rick explained, "When it comes to buying a franchise, there are a lot of resources available. Few of them, however, will truly prepare you for the decision of whether or not to purchase a franchise. I found this out the hard way when my wife and I invested in our first franchise."

Rick explained how investing in a new or existing franchise is different than buying an existing business and thus requires a different focus of evaluation. Although buying a book about small business ownership may be helpful, there are many franchise-specific issues and considerations that an investor should address before deciding to take the leap into franchise ownership.

Rick Bisio, one of the most successful franchise consultants in the industry, has recently released a book titled "The Educated Franchisee." In it, he distills the information he's learned not only from being a franchisee, but also from coaching hundreds (perhaps thousands) of individuals through the process of deciding whether a franchise is right for them.

Bisio clearly has a grasp of the one of the most important considerations when looking at a franchise opportunity. Rick said, "buying a franchise is not the destination, it is the vehicle." With this in mind, the book aims to address the question of whether a franchise is the proper vehicle for achieving an individual's personal and financial goals. At the end of the book, the reader should be able to answer the three crucial questions any serious investor should consider:

1. Is a franchise right for me?
2. How do I find the right franchise opportunity?
3. What should I expect out of franchise ownership?

If you've been considering small business ownership and are open to the idea of a franchise, Rick recommends getting a copy of "The Educated Franchisee" to ensure you are making the right decision to invest your time, energy and hard-earned dollars in a franchise business.

It's also a no-risk scenario. Bisio is offering a 100% refund if the book doesn't "[help] you decide which franchise opportunity [is] best for you or [educate] you whether buying a franchise [is] the right move." Purchase your copy now at http://www.educatedfranchisee.com

Contact:

Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
http://www.educatedfranchisee.com

Franchise, buying a Franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise for sale, business opportunity, own a business, buy a business, own a franchise, home based franchises, franchising skills, franchise requirements, franchise investment, business franchises, franchise business, running a franchise, franchise operations, franchise ownership, franchise consultant, Franchise Funding, Franchise Loan Consultant, Franchise Loan Consultants, Franchise Financing, Franchise Consulting Organization, Franchise Resources, Franchising your Business, franchise training,, (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan(MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA) , Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY) Major Metro Areas: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chico, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Bolder, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St Paul, Monterey, Nashville, New Haven, New York, Oakland, East Bay, Oklahoma City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Puerto Rico, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Tahoe, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Tucson, Washington DC

By Rick Bisio The Educated Franchisee

When it comes to franchise ownership, you may be open almost any type of franchise. However, just as you are better suited to certain jobs, you are also better suited to certain franchises. So instead of the clichéd "thinking outside the box," why not build your own box ... a box that makes the most sense for you.

It is critical to build your box carefully and then analyze each franchise opportunity based on whether it is a good match to your skills and your vision. How do you do this? Simply ask yourself, "Would I hire myself to manage this franchise?" Go through your skills and your vision and see if the argument is strong that you will be able to successfully drive the franchise.

Another question you may ask yourself is, "Even if I lose all passion for the product or service, will I still be able to run the franchise effectively and competently?"

Consider Jim the Golfer. Jim was a top-tier sales executive seeking a career change. He felt the itch to test himself as an entrepreneur. As an avid golfer, he thought buying a golf franchise might be a great fit for him.

But when he got into the franchise and discovered that the business was more about counting golf balls then striking golf balls ... well, his disenchantment was predictable. The skills of running a golf store were not the same skills he had employed as a tremendously successful sales person.

Jim proved to be a bad match for a golf store, but what would be a good match for him? Well, Jim's skill set could be ideal for operating a temporary employment services company. That type of business is a great match for a sales person who likes to "hunt" for new business and succeeds by building relationships. In addition, Jim would likely be able to play a lot of golf while entertaining clients. He certainly likes to play golf and he didn't get to do much of that in his retail golf franchise!

That's what I mean by "thinking inside the box," a box you build for yourself.

Make sure you end up with a franchise that will give you the highest chance of success. Not the one your neighbor suggests or the one to which you have an emotional attachment or one that you saw on TV. You need to end up with a franchise that fits your skills and will give you the highest opportunity of success.

You will need to build a comprehensive profile of your current skills and define each skill with as much detail as you can. You will also need to make sure any franchise you review will match your longer term goals. In essence, you are building your own box criteria for a successful match and working to make sure that any franchise you review fits.

Remember, in the end you will own a "business." You will not own a "golf franchise" or a "chocolate franchise" or a "fitness franchise." You will own a franchise with core skill requirements. Match your skill and ability to the franchise model and you will greatly improve your chance for success and happiness.

That's what I mean by "thinking inside the box," a box you build for yourself.

This article was written by Rick Bisio of FranChoice Consulting. If you would like to learn more about how to identify a great franchise businesses and stacking the deck in your favor, go to http://www.educatedfranchisee.com or buy the book - The Educated Franchisee - on Amazon.com. Rick's books and articles cover everything you need to know about buying a franchise, owning a franchise, franchising skills and requirements, finding the right franchise, recognizing great business opportunities, starting and building your own business and more about business franchises.

Rick Bisio
FranChoice Consulting
(941) 778 4660 PH
(941) 778 4670 FX
(800) 708 0040 Toll Free
rbisio@franchoice.com
http://www.educatedfranchisee.com

Franchise, buying a Franchise, franchise opportunities, franchise for sale, business opportunity, own a business, buy a business, own a franchise, home based franchises, franchising skills, franchise requirements, franchise investment, business franchises, franchise business, running a franchise, franchise operations, franchise ownership, franchise consultant, Franchise Funding, Franchise Loan Consultant, Franchise Loan Consultants, Franchise Financing, Franchise Consulting Organization, Franchise Resources, Franchising your Business, franchise training,, (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan(MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA) , Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY) Major Metro Areas: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chico, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Fort Worth, Denver, Bolder, Detroit, Ft Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Island, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St Paul, Monterey, Nashville, New Haven, New York, Oakland, East Bay, Oklahoma City, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Puerto Rico, Raleigh-Durham, Reno, Tahoe, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Santa Fe, Seattle, Spokane, Springfield, St. Louis, Tampa, Toronto, Tucson, Washington DC