Atlanta Home Improvement Loan - Increase the Aesthetic Value of Your House

Home is a place where you live. Wherever you go, you have to come back to you home for comfort and mental peace. That is the reason why people say "there is no place like home." This is true. You may go for an outing and spend time with you friends. But in the end, the comfort that you get in your home is unmatched. Therefore, everybody wants to keep his or her home clean and beautiful.

To make your Atlanta home look better, you can go for home improvement . There are many things that you can do to remodel and renovate your home. Flooring can entirely change the aesthetics of your home. You can go for ceramic tiles, not just in your bathroom and kitchen, but also in other rooms. Alternatively, you can go for wooden flooring. It gives a natural look to your home.

Vinyl siding can make your Atlanta home look beautiful from the outside. Wall painting is also an important part of home renovation. There are hundreds of different shades available in the market. You can get your home painted according to your wish. There are many other things included in home improvement - carpentry, installing heating and cooling systems, landscaping, plumbing, electrical wiring, interior decoration, etc.

You will need money to carry out home improvement. A home improvement loan can be obtained from a bank, building society or private lender. Do not just fall the first loan that is offered to you. With so much competition in the lending industry, lenders try to outperform one another by offering more attractive terms and conditions. To take advantage of this situation, you must compare loan deals offered by various lenders.

The internet offers a convenient way to compare different home improvement loan options. It helps you search for loan quotes offered by various lenders that can help you decide on which loan to take out. Apply for a loan that carries a low rate of interest and other terms and conditions that suit your needs and financial position

The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Shakespeare Finance as a finance specialist. for more information visit our site http://www.unsecured-home-improvement-loans.co.uk

Article Source

By J. Vipul

Curb Appeal a must when selling your Atlanta Condo

Curb appeal is the key to selling a townhouse or condo. Since common areas are controlled by a homeowners' association, paying attention to details can make all the difference.

Townhouses

The same rules that apply to selling a house apply to townhouses except that the scale of things has to fit a smaller space and nothing can go around to the side unless you own an end unit. Townhouses do have some unique challenges. What the neighbors do affects how your home "shows" from the curb.

You can ask for your neighbors' cooperation if you know and like them. You can explain that you're selling your home and are going to try hard to get your trash containers and children's bikes policed up quickly to make a good first impression on potential buyers. You would really appreciate it if they'd be as vigilant as possible. Maybe even ask if they'd mind if you took their trash containers to the back if you get home first (assuming you can do it without going through private space).

If your neighbors aren't pleasant, just try to keep things picked up the best you can and sweep the public walk in front of the entire building you're located in. You might even want to cut the grass and edge it along the public walk and curb in front of the building. Anything you can think of to do to make things look tidy and well cared for without starting World War III is good.

Condos and Apartments

All the things already mentioned apply to the extent they can. Apartments and apartment style condos often have a lot of common areas. It's not typically your job to take care of them. However, if it is not being done well, do it yourself. Vacuum the foyer or hall approaching your unit. Shampoo the carpet if that's needed. Sweep the walks out front. Windex the glass in the front door. In a perfect world, all those things will be taken care of and you won't have to bother at all. If your world isn't perfect, build a fire under the person or committee responsible, or do it yourself.

Good curb appeal can make the difference between a potential buyer's driving on by or his stopping to come in to look at your home. Make your home the one the buyer is anxious to see.

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org/ - providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month. Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.

Article:

Author: Raynor James

Atlanta Home Improvement

Do not Exceed Comps in your Area with Home Improvement Projects

For most Atlanta homeowners, the pride of ownership includes a consistent home improvement effort. While this makes sense, be careful you don't improve the property so much that you can't recover the costs when it is sold.

Atlanta Home Improvement

You've picked up a heck of a deal on a Atlanta home in a nice neighborhood. The purchase price was $200,000 and you put twenty five percent down [$50,000]. The comparable Atlanta homes, "comps", in the neighborhood appraised for $300,000. Yes, your Atlanta home is a bit run down, but that's why they have Home Depot and weekends! You'll just fix the ugly ducking up and pocket a quick $100,000 in equity when all your projects are done. What a country!

This situation definitely has potential. The value of the home is so low when compared to the comps that a relatively quick equity grab certainly looks possible if the home can be fixed up. Off to Home Depot we go...

Let's do an evaluation of our ugly ducking. Put another way, what needs to be done to get it on par with the other ducks in the neighborhood? Okay, we need new doors, new windows and landscaping in a very big way. The drive way looks like a toxic dump sat on it and we aren't even going to get into the peeling, ugly paint on the home. Pricing everything, deciding to use homeowner labor as much as possible and so on, we find it is going to run roughly $50,000 to makeover our ugly duckling. It's going to be a lot of work, but that's what weekends are for. We should still come out with a $50,000 gain and $100,000 in total equity considering our $50,000 down payment.

Budgets and Temptation

The problem with the above scenario is it is very hard to stick to a budget. If you've owned a home, you're already familiar with this problem. If you are buying a home for the first time, watch out!

With homeownership, the structure you own quickly evolves into "my home." Once this occurs, you tend to view the quality of your home as a statement to the world and you want to show the world your best. Instead of buying moderately priced cabinets for the kitchen, you buy custom pieces that would make Bill Gates envious. Counter tops soon become marble counter tops. Refinishing the driveway evolves into putting in an entirely new one with brick inlays. And so it goes.

You are no longer trying to bring your home up to the standard of the neighborhood homes. You are trying to turn the home into a swan and swans are expensive. After making all your improvements, you are distressed to find the total cost being $90,000 instead of $50,000. For all your hard work and effort, you've realized only a $10,000 gain in equity.

In Closing

Make sure you objectively budget improvements and stick to those budgets. While there is something to be said for making a home glow, make sure it makes financial sense.

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org/ - providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home?" page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month. Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.

Article by: Raynor James

Article Source

Dos and Donts when Purchasing New Construction Homes

The vision of a new home with the ability to upgrade finishes, alter floor plans and be the first to occupy a property lures buyers into builders and developers model homes every day. According to industry sources over 70% of home buyers want a new home. These new construction focused buyers might see a picket fence, but they should be prepared to ask the right questions and see red flags before signing on the line.

Do's

-Have your own agent. Believing they might get a better deal or out of ignorance many buyers use the developers sales agent to represent them. New construction buyers should research what a dual agent can and can't do under their state real estate license laws. Most states require written acceptance of dual-agency by both parties. All homebuyers should be represented by an agent who has a fiduciary responsibility to them. Buyers shouldn't forget that most developers require that your agent must accompany you the first time you visit a sales center.

-Ask how much is this home as we see it. Models can be filled with every upgrade the developer offers as an example for buyers. Buyers should ask freely how much the model costs as they see it. Typically this cost will vary dramatically from advertised starting prices for a development.

-Pick the right developer. Working with a developer is like a short-term marriage. Ask for references from the developers sales agents. Do your own investigation of the developers previous projects, length in business and complaints filed with business bureaus.

-Consider resale characteristics. The allure of being the first to occupy a home sometimes clouds a secondary location or poor craftsmanship. Consider a resale home in a primary location before signing on the line just because it's new construction.

-Question percent of project sold. Developers love to promote the sell-through of projects. Inquire how much of the percent sold are reservations (dating the project) versus contracts (engaged to the project). Some reservations don't go to contract because of a change of heart, financial concerns or occupancy timelines.

-Have an attorney review all contracts. Developers contracts favor the developer and are different from standard local real estate board approved contracts. Retain a real estate attorney to review all contracts. There is little wiggle-room once you sign a developers contract, and they don't like home sale contingencies.

-Investigate property taxes independently. Property taxes can be a financial surprise you weren't expecting with the purchase of a home. Because tax assessors haven't valued a home or project, developers can under-estimate how much the property taxes will be. Complete your own due diligence and call the local taxing authority to find out the worst-case scenario.

-Perform a home inspection. Never skip or waive the right to a inspection, the benefits far out weigh the costs and could save you numerous headaches and expenses later. New construction is not immune from defects and lack-luster workmanship. Hire a professional, not Uncle Bert. Perform the inspection at least seven days prior to closing.

-Inquire about investor purchased units. In the post-real-estate-bubble-world many developer contracts restrict purchase of units by speculators to flip at completion. Look for clauses in contracts that require purchasers of units to owner-occupy the first 12 months after closing. Ask sales agents what the percentage of owner occupancy is for the project.

-Get a certificate of occupancy. Local municipalities issue a certificate of occupancy after a unit has passed all building code inspections. Most mortgage lenders require a certificate of occupancy before they will close on a loan. If you are paying cash, verify prior to closing that the developer will deliver you a certificate.

-Understand why developers request upgrades paid for in advance. Experience has taught developers that some buyers will not purchase the unit which they have specified the floor-coverings, countertops and kitchen cabinets, that have been installed by the developer. Other buyers will want to select their own finishes and a unit that has pre-selected finishes by a terminated buyer is a marketing problem for developers. Plan on paying up-front for all upgrades and changes you make to a unit, and if you decide to walk from the project once you have paid for upgrades, expect a fight from the developer if you want a refund on installed changes and upgrades.

-Require your deposits to go into an escrow account. Require all deposits and payments you make go into an escrow account, not the developers business account. Research state brokerage laws to discover what regulations developers must follow with buyers funds. If disputes arise it is easier to receive refunds from a neutral third-party or escrow agent than from a developer.

Request copies of blueprints, floor plans and surveys. It's easy to forget to get clean copies of blueprints and floor plans of your new home with all the activity and decisions during the construction process. In the future when you want to make changes or sell, having the footprint of your home will save you expense and time. Make sure the developer provides you with an updated survey, showing just your parcel. Verify that your new home also has it's own parcel identification number issued by taxing authorities.

-Research warranties on structure, finishes and appliances. Developers typically offer five or ten year warranties on structural elements of a home and rely on manufacturers warranties for appliances, furnaces, windows and overhead garage doors. Beware of one-year warranties on structural elements.

Don't

-Forget to ask for holdbacks on unfinished work. Weather or material supply problems can interrupt completion of a home. If some items aren't necessary for occupancy the developer will want to close on your home. Make sure any substantial items or features that are not completed in your new home, have designated funds set aside for their installation or completion. Request these funds be held back and deposited in an escrow account at closing.

-Omit final written punch lists. You should have a final walk-through at least three days before closing on your new home. Create a punch list of all uncompleted or unfinished items. Punch lists can also call attention to items that need to be repainted or need additional attention. Both the developer and the buyers should sign the final punch list in agreement. Developers should complete punch lists within 30 days of closing.

-Tune out during construction process. Family, work or distance can shift your focus away from closely monitoring the construction and completion of your new home. Proactive buyers can catch design mistakes or irregular materials by visiting the job site on a regular basis. For insurance purposes some developers limit access to construction sites. Stipulate in purchase contracts the timing of all visits during construction of your new home.

-Be fooled by low assessments. Developers can use artificially low monthly homeowner assessments in new construction marketing materials. Plan on at least a twenty-five percent increase in assessments the first year after the developer delivers the association to the homeowners.

-Overlook costs between standard and upgraded features. There can be a large difference in quality and useful life spans between builder grade and upgraded finishes and fixtures. It could be worth the additional expense to install better carpet, cabinets and faucets. Cross-check builder prices for upgrades at your local home center.

-Ignore developer incentives as a signal of slow sales. Free condominium assessments, stainless appliances and plasma tvs are thrown in to induce buyers to write contracts to purchase. What many buyers think are a freebie are actually signals that a development is slow to sell from increased competition of a lack of buyers. Incentives are a band-aid for a languishing development.

-Be surprised when developer holds firm on pricing. Developers of popular projects don't typically negotiate on unit prices. However sometimes a developer will throw in upgraded appliances or hardwood floors in place of standard carpet. When a developer doesn't move on prices it is because they have a investment formula for the project, which is typically costs plus twenty percent profit.

-Disregard risks of buying pre-construction. Pre-construction pricing can attract value-driven buyers. There is some risk entering into a project before it has started. Verify that the developer has received a green light from local building authorities and has a proven track record of timely completion in the community.

-Postpone discovering costs of construction loans. Variables beyond a developers control can prolong the completion of your home. Have contingency plans for cost over-runs, temporary housing and bridge loans. Investigate rate-lock expiration dates on mortgages, construction or temporary loans.

Mark Nash's fourth real estate book, "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" (2005), and working as a real estate broker in Chicago are the foundation for his consumer-centric real estate perspective which has been featured on ABC-TV,CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, CNN-TV,Fidelity Investor's Weekly, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com, The New York Times, Realty Times, Universal Press Syndicate and USA Today.

By Mark Nash

Article Source

Atlanta Home Improvement

 Top Home Improvement Things to Do Before You Sell Your House
By Jennifer Jordan

Selling your house gives you a list of things to do: pack up your belongings, forward your mail, vow to your kitchen sink that you'll never forget it. While all these things are important - you don't want your kitchen sink's hopes going down the drain - the importance of home improvement weighs heavier. After all, before you can leave your house you might need to sell it, and before you can do that, you might need to improve it. The following is a list of the most important things to do before placing your house on the market.

Get a Paint Job: Few things make a house look worse than chipped paint. Whether it's on the exterior of the house or behind a bedroom door where you think no one will notice, chipped paint is a quick way to find yourself chipping down the asking price. Instead of presenting a house that looks neglected, leaving potential buyers to think that old paint is just the beginning, buy a few buckets, take a few days, and paint whatever in your house needs to be painted. If your house doesn't need an entirely new paint job, then simply touch up the areas that need some tender loving care.

Remember the Small Things: We often overlook the small things in favor of looking at the bigger picture, but it's the small things that make up the bigger picture. Not only is it amazing how much an attention to small details can improve the appeal of your house dramatically, but it's also amazing how affordable this kind of improvement can be. From something as simple as buying a new shower curtain to redoing the mail box, from planting flowers in the front yard to putting new drapes in the living room, the small changes you make can help make the entire home look detailed in more than one way.

Repair What Really Needs to Be Repaired: Improving your house before you sell it doesn't mean you should go around fixing everything in sight; chances are, everything in your house can use enhancement: it is, after all, used. Instead of trying to improve everything from the floor to the ceiling, focus on the things that really need repairing. If your carpet doesn't look brand new but good enough to last a few more years, leave it alone and instead replace the cracked bay window in your living room.

Pay Particular Attention to the Kitchen and Bathrooms: The kitchen and the bathroom are two places where we spend a lot of our time, though for very different reasons. Because we spend so much time in these rooms, we also spend time focusing on them. A dirty bathroom or a kitchen on its last leg will quickly ruin a potential sale. This isn't to say you should neglect every other room in your house, but put twice as much effort into them than you would, say, the basement.

Use Your Green Thumb or Hire Someone Else Who Has One: We don't all have a green thumb; in fact, some of us have an odd ability to kill anything with roots. If you don't have a green thumb, or at least some talent with gardening and landscaping, hire someone who does. Making the outside of your house look nice is as important as the inside's appeal. The landscaping is what potential buyers will first see and first notice and, as they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression.