Cindy Leiterman Green Bay, WI

Whenever I'm showing properties to buyers that are new to me, I make a point of rushing them down to the basement of the home first thing so we can look at the "bones". I don't want them getting hung up on what i call the pretty pretty aspects of the home.

I make the analogy that a house is like a living thing. The furnace is the heart, the insulation the skin and the foundation is the bones. I point out any issues with the bones that I see. I teach them to look for water stains on the floor, dark spots on the insulation as well as to examine the flooring system, i.e. I joist, trusses, dimensional etc., age of the furnace and the water heater.

It funny because by our second or third trip out, they themselves even refer to "checking out the bones". While room sizes, layout and sq. ft. are very important, in my mind, the structure of the house is more important. By the time my buyers are ready to purchase a home, they know all the terminology as well as what to look for as potential problem areas.

I caution them that our home analysis does not take the place of a home inspection by a licensed inspector but it does give them a leg up on understanding what they may be potentially buying.

Take care.

Well today was the first day of the rummage sale. If you're a steady reader of my blog, you know that I and my six brothers and sisters are in the process of downsizing my mother into a bigger home than she currently has. (you may have to read that sentence again).

After setting up the tables and the merchandise, I was amazed and the amount of knick knacks, picture frames, romance novels and various jelly jar glasses she has collected over the years. Almost every item had a story and she remembers most of them.

It was at that point that I realized that that collection of items I saw as junk was really pieces to the puzzle of her life. What would the pieces to the puzzle of your life look like?

It's not that any of the items had any real sentimental value. It's just that they represented souvenirs from past vacations, gifts given to her by loved ones or times when money was tight and it was hard to provide for her growing family (jelly jar glasses).

The sale continues tomorrow so we get the Saturday crowd. So far, if I pay all the expenses for ads, pricing stickers, etc., I've lost $3.32.

She's talking about expanding the sale into next week. I told her it was OK with me as long as it was our going out of business sale.

Take care and stay tuned.

I am in the process of developing a new program for educating home buyers on home construction. My first seminar will be held in October. The exact date has not been determined. Please watch my blog for further details.

In the past, I have spent most of my time educating buyers on a one on one basis. Some of them have listened and learn so well that I can practically open the door to the house and go back and get in the car. They know what to look at to determine the value of the property.

Further details will follow.

The following comments are strictly my opinion based on my observations.

Dear Sellers,

When I've scheduled a showing of your house with your agent, please don't be there. Recently, I've had a rash of showings where the owners have been home. This is especially true of the unrepresented seller (FSBO)

I don't know if the listing agents haven't communicated the necessity of vacating the property or if you are insisting on being present. It is imperative, again in my opinion, that the property be temporarily vacant.

Buyers feel very uncomfortable when the owner is present at the showing. They usually don't spend much time looking over the property or asking questions because they feel they are being intrusive.

To the buyer, it's a house. To you, it's your home. Most people don't like negative comments about their home, no matter how constructive.

Now don't get me wrong, I know there are special circumstances when the seller has to be present. As a rule, however, sellers don't help sales. Give your agent a break and let the showing agent work alone.

Take care.

Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know that I'm in the middle of downsizing my mother. No I'm not making her shorter. I'm just trying to get her to part with some of her prized possessions before she moves into her new home.

We have left the dumpster phase and are now entering the garage or rummage sale phase. As a compromise, my mother has agreed to part with a few thousand things if we first attempt to sell them in a garage or rummage sale. The only rule is nothing goes back into the house. If it doesn't sell, it gets donated to charity.

This approach may be of value to listing agents who are having a hard time getting their sellers to declutter. I have even suggested to some sellers that I would pay for the newspaper ad and that they could use one of my sign frames for the actual rummage sale sign.

For my mom's house, I am setting out data sheets during the sale and if anyone is interested I will even show the home. The sale is this Friday and Saturday. The address is 1504 Lindale Lane in Ashwaubenon. I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck.

Take care.