Lisa R. Heglar

5 Ways to Add Condo Curb Appeal
How can you make that condo stand out from others on the block? April 2010

Sales of condominiums and co-ops accounted for nearly 13 percent of all home sales in 2009, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and in many markets that number is much higher.

But with inventory still high in some areas, buyers may have a tough time making up their mind. Here's how to make sure your condo listings create a great first impression.

1. Make the front door shine. Keep it simple, clean, and attractive, says Debbie Rumsey with Century 21 Sea Coast in Encinitas, Calif. If the front door is exposed to the outside, remove knickknacks such as wind chimes and add a healthy potted plant. And don't forget a fresh welcome mat.

2. Get buy-in from the neighbors. A friendly smile from a neighbor can be just what a buyer needs to make an offer, says Joan Lorberbaum Moore of Lang Realty in Boca Raton, Fla. "I make it a point to introduce myself to the residents of the neighboring apartments when I take on a new listing."

3. Show off hidden treasures. If the front of the building is blah, then highlight a different area as your main property photo, says Margaret Goss of Baird & Warner in Winnetka, Ill. For example, focus on the back of the building to show off attractive amenities such as a pool or garden.

4. Tidy up the mail. In multifamily buildings with a central area for mailboxes, add a nice basket for overflow mail, says Elizabeth Bolton of Coldwell Banker in Cambridge, Mass. Also, make sure hallways and stairs are swept or vacuumed and that shoes aren't left outside the doors.

5. Team up with the HOA. When there are many units for sale in the same building, why not work together to make sure the building is looking its best? Christopher Watters of Texas Ranch & Home Realty in Austin, Texas, suggests attending a condo association meeting to discuss simple improvements such as sprucing up the lobby, planting flowers, or adding flattering external lighting.

Curb Appeal for Condo's

March 24, 2010 by Erica Christoffer · 4 Comments
Filed under: Curb Appeal

By Erica Christoffer, Web Producer, REALTOR® Magazine

Our 2010 List Issue should be arriving in your mailbox any day. In it you'll find 281 business tips from the real pros - our readers. The Home & Design section is loaded with information, from "How to Spot Common Energy Leaks" to "6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Home Stager."

In "5 Ways to Add Condo Curb Appeal," Debbie Rumsey with Century 21 Sea Coast in Encinitas, Calif. suggests sprucing up the front door to attract would-be buyers. Here are a few more tips for getting that condo door looking great for showings:

Pay attention to the details, such as removing cobwebs from the front door light fixture, says Maureen Bray from Portland-based Room Solutions Staging. If the door has a window, don't forget to wash it inside and out. Curb appeal does not stop at the front door, she says. If the condo/townhome has a garage, make sure that door is clean and in good, working condition.

Consider the plethora of front door looks you can create by upgrading exterior door hardware, paint/stain color, exterior light fixtures, and unit numbers (if allowed by the HOA), says Kimo Stowell a real estate merchandiser with JDS Consulting: Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design in Oahu, Hawaii. "Stoop accessories can create a virtual endless combination of eye catching details to your condo front door," Stowell says.

Don't forget to address scuff marks from furniture moving and usual wear, says Elizabeth Bolton with Coldwell Banker in Cambridge, Mass.

Susan Uram, brand manager of Olympic Exterior Stains says that exterior stains are designed to absorb into the wood and allow the natural beauty of the wood to show. Condos and townhomes with outdoor-facing entrances need to be protected from the elements, Uram says, and need added protection from scratching and every day wear and tear.

If a "furniture-like" finish that shows off the grain (e.g. an oak door) is desired, Uram suggests applying an interior stain followed by an exterior durable varnish. But if you're looking to repaint the front door white or another solid color, an exterior solid color stain would work as well as an exterior paint, say Uram, who suggests the Olympic Wood Protector Solid Color Stain (available at Lowe's in more than 140 colors). For a rustic finish, Uram recommends one thin coat of a semi-transparent exterior stain, which also good for decks, fences and siding.

Thanks for reading this. I hope it helps the writer makes very good suggestions so use this and I hope it helps. Once again we have a lot on the market setting the price right and making them shine is what gets them sold!!!

Until next time,

Lisa

I would like to thank Georgianna and Pete with Alpha Mortgage for sharing all of the updates and tips they did this morning. Not to mention Lunch which I didn't need to eat with trying to loose weight but I was starving so thank you both.

Please share this with customers and reprint it if you want.

• Step 1 - Order Credit Reports & Scores: The first step is for borrowers to get a complete picture of their current credit situation by ordering a copy of their credit reports and scores for all three national bureaus - TransUnion, Equifax and Experian.
• Step 2 - Verify the Data Being Reported: It is the consumer's responsibility to verify the accuracy of the data being reported.
• Step 3 - Dispute Any Inaccurate Information: Have borrowers contact their creditors and send letters of dispute to the bureaus to have errors on their report corrected. These must be sent via CERTIFIED mail.

It is so very very important to make sure that these issues are taken care of if at all possible to save time during the buying process. There is nothing worse for a buyer trying to reach their goals and then finding out that there is an issue. So use these 3 steps to help you out!!

Also please note that when you get a Pre-Qualification for a loan it is only good for 120 days. Also make sure you have a lender preferably a local lender. Someone that understands your local market and knows what FHA, USDA and conventional loan changes there are for your area.

FHA

Here in North Carolina for New Hanover,Brunswick and Pender Counties the new Loan limiits are $303,750 for FHA with Onslow County being $306,250.00. While conforming limit remains $417,000.00 on all FHA for these areas. So check with your local Real Estate Broker and your lender to to confirm the amounts in your area for FHA.

Why FHA?

• Geared for first time homebuyers
• Borrowers with little to no money down
• Consumers with less than perfect credit
• Non-occupant co=mortgagers and co-signers
• Expanded Ratios = Increased Purchase Powers
• 1-4 Units, Condos, Manufactured Homes

I really hope this helps and if there are ever any questions contact me here or at LisaHeglar@seacoastrealty.com If I don't know the answer I will get you to the professionals that do.

Well off to do some other stuff and then coach soccer tonight!! So have a great day and share your knowledge with others. There is just so much going on out there that so many do not understand and find overwhelming. I understand!! So maybe this will help!

Lisa

Hello everyone,

With today being Saint Patricks Day I thought I would tie it in with an article about being GREEN!!!!

Mo Linquist has been in our area for a very long time and has a great business here with designer window coverings and living green solutions for homes and offices. I love her attitude and outlook in life. So I am very pleased to have her permission to repost this article that she wrote for the local paper here! So read and enjoy!!

LISA

Green is where the Heart is!!

"Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them."

~ W. Clement Stone

by Mo Linquist

Pyramid feng shui teaches us about our third body connection. Humans are linked undeniably with our environment. Research is now confirming the relationship between our physical body, comprised of bones, blood, organs and cells to our non-physical body made up of awareness, thoughts, emotions and the perception of our senses. Our third body connection is our environment. Beginning with the fetus in the womb the state of the human environment determines the health and ability of humans to grow, survive and thrive. As we are born into this world our planet becomes our womb.

Do you wake up in the morning feeling fresh and relaxed? Can you eat most foods with no allergic reactions, addictive issues or digestive problems? Is your concentration effective and your ability to work valuable to you and others? Are your emotions balanced leaving you feeling good most of the time? Are your relationships pleasant and fulfilling? If you answered ‘yes' to all of these questions then you are the definition of a healthy person.

Bau-biologie is the study of the life of the building. It examines the interaction between human life and the environment, the impacts the environment has on the health of its inhabitants and how this information is applied to the building of healthy buildings. Using this holistic approach architects, designers and feng shui practitioners deal with light, sounds, spiritual and emotional aspects of the inhabitants to create a home supporting the "whole" person in wellness.

Sick Building Syndrome caused by fumes and aerosols, volatile organic compounds, electromagnetic waves or mold can produce disturbing health issues. We have heard stories of buildings closed and employees moved to another space until the health of the building was addressed. Many sick days from headaches, allergies, sluggishness and lack of concentration may be directly contributed to this brick and mortar malady.

The movements of air and the products used in the building that create indoor air quality important components to those who dwell within. Using carpet padding without formaldehyde and wall paint with little or no voc's (volatile organic compounds) begins to fashion a healthy atmosphere eliminating unhealthy outgassing.

After the home is constructed we must also consider the products we bring into our nests. Using cleaning products that emit harmful fumes of toxic chemicals should be a thing of the past. Our grandmothers may have used baking soda and vinegar to deep clean. Currently the supermarket shelves are stocked with hundreds of products to do the cleaning. Let's take a step back become educated on what we as consumers are being sold. Let's make smarter and wiser choices for our home cleaning products. Let's commit to only safe products for our health and the health of our planet. When you think of your home as your third body ask yourself, "how are the products I surround myself with affecting my health and happiness?" xo mo

Living Green means loving ourselves enough to become educated on products that affect our health and the health of our planet. Send us your living green question today. Your question may be selected to be answered in this column. Also send in any suggestions you may have found to help others embrace Living Green. Send them to mo@personplace.com

Kure Beach resident Mo Linquist, FSII, Allied ASID is a recognized expert on Pyramid Feng Shui. Senior faculty member of the Feng Shui Institute of America and founding member and past president of the Feng Shui Institute International, Linquist speaks nationally and holds regular workshops and accredited trainings on this ancient form of environmental psychology. Helping clients create home and office spaces designed specifically to support their individual goals and intentions, Linquist uses cutting-edge techniques integrating science, 20 years of interior design experience and Feng Shui to balance, harmonize and create new patterns for success. To learn more about her work or for a consultation, go to PersonPlace.com, email Mo@PersonPlace.com or call 910-458-3044.