If you haven't been to Restaurant.Com yet, you are missing out on saving some money. Simply put, you can purchase gift certificates for your favorite restaurants at discounted rates.
Usually, you can purchase a $25 gift certificate for $10. However, they frequently run specials for even greater savings, up to 80% off.
Right now the special is $25 certificates for only $2. This offer runs through Sunday, May 31. (If you miss this offer, visit the site and sign up, they will notify you of the next promotion. They discount 50%, 60%, and 80% frequently)
They have been featured on CNN, ABC News, and Good Morning America.
I have used them many times and never had any problem. Search, using your zip code, for restaurants in your area and then purchase the certificate, print it, and head out to the restaurant. It's that easy.
Each restaurant has different offers and you can only use one certificate at a time.
Eat. Drink. Save Money. Remember to enter the Discount Code: SPECIAL
If you want to know the secret to a fast and profitable home sale, there are two basic questions that must be answered before you list your house.
1. Who is your buyer and what are their needs?
With your Realtor's help, based on knowledge of the area/neighboorhood and the size/style of your house, determine who your target buyer is. Market to that buyer's needs.
Function of rooms, color choices, and furniture placement and style will all vary based on the age of the buyer and whether they are single or have a family. Each of these living rooms is targeted toward a different buyer:
Your competition is every seller with a house in the same price range. Do a MLS search of all the listings in your price range and see exactly what buyers will be comparing your house to. Once you know your competition, you can offer buyers something they don't.
Make your MLS photos stand out from all the others.
If your photos convey space, function, value, and portray a house that has been well maintained and cared for they will attract potential buyers. Real estate is a competition... if you are informed and prepared, you will be the winner.
To Summarize:
If you offer the buyer what they are looking for,
and it looks better than what your competition is offering,
the buyer will choose you.
When asked what the two most important words for home sellers would be, most would say a combination including "price, location, or condition." Most advice on selling a house centers around these three subjects, and plenty has been written about each. If you want to have an advantage over the other sellers in your price range, I suggest you consider two other words.
What most advice on selling doesn't mention is "perceived value."
Your house is not worth what you think it is worth, or what your Realtor thinks it is worth, or what you need to get for it, or what your neighbor's house sold for. Your Realtor will help you determine a listing price, but the actual worth of your house is what a buyer perceives it to be worth.
What buyers think is the only thing that matters. Buyer's perception is your reality.
The secret to a fast sale is creating a perception of value throughout the house.
Unmatched value, in comparison to the other houses you are competing against, is the way to guarantee that your house sells before the rest.
Here are some examples of ways to make a house appear more valuable:
Consult with your Realtor and a professional home stager for more ways to make your house appear more valuable to buyers. Also, you should visit the competition and see how your house measures up.
Don't think of preparing your house for sale as an expense, think of it as an investment.
I understand, people don't like bad news and when they get it, they sometimes express negative feelings toward the person delivering the message.
In real estate, Realtors know this all too well.
Unfortunately, they find themselves walking on egg shells when it comes to advice on improvements. Sellers don't want to hear about changing the carpet or removing the wallpaper.
The possibility of losing the listing can tie the Realtor's hands and limit their suggestions.
Home stagers are not in the same situation. Our hands are free and we will hold nothing back. It's not only our job to point out every issue or concern...we can't help ourselves...the message will be delivered.
In order to have a successful sale, sellers must understand that the home stager is on their side. The home stager wants the same outcome...they want the house to sell, for as much and as soon as possible.
The home stager is only the messanger.
The home stager is not the one who has collected all the Star Wars memorabilia. It's not the home stager's fault that the gold lighting fixtures and the pink flocked wallpaper and blue shag carpet are not appealing to buyers.
Don't blame the stager for noticing the grease and fingerprints on the cabinet doors and for suggesting your son's room be repainted to cover the magic marker mural he created when he was three.
Home staging advice is delivered with only one goal in mind.
That goal is to make your house stand out from all the other houses in your price range...
stand out as the house that is the cleanest, prettiest, and most emotionally appealing.
Don't shoot the messenger...follow their advice to the letter!
You won't be sorry you did!
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Want to feel real good and smile all day...here's what you do. The next time you are in a store, find cute little children's socks and buy a pair or two.
A friend of mine, Carol Measor, is the Director for Children's Development Center in Raynham, Massachusetts. She is on a mission with a wonderful charitable cause she heard about on the radio. It touched her heart the minute she heard it, so she sent out an email asking for help from everyone she knows.
She is collecting socks for children in need. Imagine if we all sent just one pair of socks...
Lets make it RAIN socks in Raynham!
If you have children, this could be a great thing to do with them. They could do an extra chore for a family member or neighbor and earn a dollar.
They can choose a pair of socks at the dollar store and learn what it feels like to give and help others.
This will warm your heart along with warming the feet of children.
Please pass this along to others, whom you think may like to help.
Carol's last cause was collecting books for Africa and she has collected over 900 books so far and will be sending them to Africa the end of the Summer. If you would prefer to send a book, she is still collecting them, too.
Send socks and/or books to:
Carol Measor
Children's Development Center
473 South Street West
Raynham, MA 02767
You can call her at (508) 828-1118 for more information.
For such a small amount of money, we could make such a big difference!
I am a professional home staging, redesign, and space organization specialist residing in the Seacoast city of Portsmouth, NH. I offer creative and unique solutions to both home owners and realtors.
My mission is to help New Hampshire sellers increase the emotional appeal of their property and sell for the best price in the shortest time. I am dedicated and committed to providing a professional, affordable, resourceful, creative and effective approach to each home I transform. My natural flair for organization and attention to detail are not only invaluable to clients listing their home for sale, but also to homeowners who have a design challenge or are looking for a fresh, updated look.
Making a Great First Impression
You only get that "just listed" buzz once...you want the house at it's ideal showing condition when traffic and the house's price are at their highest. It's all about first impression. Your best chance of getting closest to asking price is within the first two weeks.
A small investment in home staging can make a significant difference in the outcome of your sale.
I would love to assist you in the preparation of your house for sale.
To learn more, visit: sharontara.com
Sharon Tara Transformations works! I sold my house in less than 90 days, and in today's market, that's great. Sharon's keen eye and creative organization skills made my home look like one you would see in a magazine. Many of the prospective buyers were surprised by the amount of space in my home once they entered. I continually got positive feedback from my realtor after showings. I have come to know Sharon through a business networking group that we both belong to. She is professional, trustworthy, and skilled. I highly recommend her, whether you are selling your home, preparing for a special event, or just need to get organized. She can make it happen! Marianne Metz Lipe www.BeholdTheImage.com
If there was ever any doubt about the power of "Staging", Sharon Tara will make you a believer. She did a fabulous job for me...the house she staged sold in a month, after languishing on the market for six months with no offers. She is very professional, very accommodating, and a lot of fun to work with! I can highly recommend her.
-Linda Clapp, Tate and Foss, Inc.
After an unsuccessful attempt at selling our house last year, I had Sharon stage my home. She gave me great advice and our house sold on the first showing! I was so impressed with her ideas, that I hired her to suggest colors for my new home. I get so many compliments on our colors, I just love it!! Thank you, Sharon, I'll surely pass your name on again, and again!
-Tracy Harmon, Barrington, NH
Sharon Tara has worked her "creative magic" on several homes that I recently listed and all the homes had offers within a month's time! She is able to enhance any home with her design suggestions and works well in motivating the Seller into making the changes to get the home sold!!!
-Diane Boynton, Prudential Rush Realty
Sharon Tara did the restaging of my entire 4000+ square foot house. The end result was absolutely spectacular. She made every room breathtaking. She put in what must have been 100's of hours shopping, picking out paint colors, etc. Even my teenage children were impressed-a testimonial unto itself! When she had finished, my home was a gorgeous showplace! I actually cannot think of a negative thing to say about the whole process. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sharon. I know that your work was instrumental in selling my home.
-Sherry Eldredge, Exeter, NH
As a realtor, I have called upon Sharon Tara numerous times. I am always amazed at the difference she can make in the appearance of a home. She works with the homeowner to easily and very cost efficiently improve the look of the home, which in turn improves the value of the home. The most amazing transformation I worked with her on is what my company calls the Cinderella house. She took a house that I thought would be stretching it to put it on the market for $800,000 and she transformed it. When she was done we put it on the market for $1,300,000. It was under agreement in 7 weeks. That never would have happened without her!!
Donna Frederick, Prudential Rush Realty
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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