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The FAIR HOUSING ACT
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act) prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Title VIII was ended in 1988 (effective March 12, 1989) by the Fair Housing Amendments Act, which:

• expanded the coverage of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on disability or on familial status (presence of child under age of 18, and pregnant women);
• established new administrative enforcement mechanisms with HUD attorneys bringing actions before administrative law judges on behalf of victims of housing discrimination;
• and revised and expanded Justice Department jurisdiction to bring suit on behalf of victims in Federal district courts.

Everyone with the Get Home Denver Team fully abide by, and support FAIR HOUSING laws.

Below, I’ve included an overview of (more…)

Let’s face it, we love our television sets. In my staging career, this has been proven to me numerous times. I come into a home to make recommendations to make it show better, and clients seem so willing to add or remove whatever I suggest. Except the TV, that is. And, whatever they sit on to watch TV.

In recent years, televisions have certainly become more streamlined. Flat panel styles are much less intrusive than the large screen projection ones, or “the big black boxes”, as we stagers like to call them. But, I would guess that only about 20% of the homes I visit have made the switch to flat panels. That leaves a whole lot of family rooms whose main feature is the overly-large TV. In homes where all the furniture is aimed at the TV, it may cause buyers to overlook the features which are a part of the home. Buyers should be directed to that fabulous fireplace, or the incredible floor to ceiling windows.

Another distraction for buyers is the number of TVs in some homes. I had clients who had a TV in every room, including the dining room. Fortunately, we worked out a compromise, and they removed all but two. And, the big black box that swallowed up most of their small living room? It was one they agreed to remove, and it opened up the space to reveal a very nice sized room, which buyers appreciated, and the home sold quickly.

It’s never easy to have your home on the market. But, taking the steps necessary to get it sold quickly, means the inconvenience won’t last long, and the sooner you and your TV can be together again!

This video is very informative and explains the reasons for real estate market corrections. It also gives an historical perspective of where we’ve been, and the inevitable result of any downturn. A big shout-out and Thank You to Ted Mackel and the Homebuysblog from Simi Valley, for finding this gem!

Explaining the market is much easier than Timing the market. Timing is a much harder thing to predict. We believe the Denver Real Estate market is at, or very near the bottom. Read some of our previous articles, or better yet subscribe to our feed. You will then always be on top of the important statistics that will help you make up your own mind.

We always love to hear what you think! What are your predictions for the Denver Market? If you are thinking of a home purchase, or sale, when do you think it will be the right time to pull the trigger? What factors do you look at when making this decision? Etc…..

How we choose to live in our homes is our business…right? WRONG! If you are selling your home, you may have to make some lifestyle adjustments. For instance, that pool table you have in your living room might make sense to you, but, to a buyer, it can just be confusing. If you have a room with a chandelier hanging down, you should probably have it furnished as a dining room, even if you have not been using it that way.

Quite often, we have rooms in our homes that have to do double duty, or even triple duty. The room that functions as an office, guest, and exercise room, is sending a message to buyers that there are not enough rooms in your home. It is best to choose one function, and move the other items out.

I went on a staging consultation one time, and the homeowners had a bookcase in front of the fireplace. I asked them why, and they said they never used the fireplace and it was the only place the bookcase would fit. You can imagine how confounded buyers would be. A large TV placed in front of a window because that is the only spot where glare is not a problem, is fine for you and your family. But, when your home is for sale, there should be nothing in front of the windows. When buyers open your coat closet, it is best for them to see coats, not boxes of cereal or rolls of paper towel. The fax machine you keep on your kitchen counter will only raise questions as to why it is there.

Take the time to put your home in order, an order that will make sense to buyers. A little inconvenience is a small price to pay for getting your home sold quickly.

I just received a great comment on my last article outlining the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

There is one big change that effects Seller’s and the amount of capital Gains Tax they may have to pay. Buried deep on page 690 of the 694 page law is an important change to the Capital Gains Exclusion rule.  This rule is modified from allowing Seller’s to exclude capital gains on their home sale of up to $250k, or $500k for those filing jointly, to a formula that reduces this exclusion.  This is Bad, Very, Very BAD!

As this new law is further digested, I wonder what other “Little Surprises” we will find?

Thanks Brad Nix, for the info!  To check out the formula, and other details check out this article.

http://maxsell.net/housing-and-economic-recovery-act-of-2008/

There is still a lot of warm weather ahead in most parts of the country.  If you are selling your home, don’t forget the “extra” living space you have. Of course, I’m referring to your deck or patio.  There are almost as many design magazines focusing on outdoor spaces, as there are for interiors.  If you are not utilizing this space, you are missing the opportunity to add square feet to your home.

Think of your deck or patio as an outdoor living room, and include comfortable seating, soft lighting, and stylish accessories.  Pots of colorful flowers are a great way to fill in those empty spaces, but make sure you keep them watered and pick off the dead blooms to preserve their beauty.  Dried up plants and flowers are a definite turn-off to buyers.  Keep walkways clear, and make sure leaves and other debris are swept up.

Once you have created this inviting area, it needs to be visible from indoors.  Keep blinds and curtains open, so the eyes of the buyers will travel to the outdoor space.  Make sure windows are clean and there is nothing obstructing the view.

So, when you are getting your home ready to sell, don’t forget your deck or patio. The space is already there, and with a little effort, you can extend your home.  Buyers will appreciate the extra living space, and your home will stand out from the competition.

I wanted to let everyone know of an exciting new feature on this site!  On the Top Right of the “HOME” page, you now see a Market Profile section.  This section shows you a graphical display of the Median Price of Homes in the Denver Metro Area.

It’s alway helpful to know where you have been, and where you may be headed.  It is especially useful when trying to predict trends.

By clicking on the graphic, you will be able to see other trending statistics such as:

• Market Conditions
• Days on Market
• Price per Square Foot
• Number of Homes on the Market

Here is what is looks like!

I am asked quite often “What is the difference between decorating and staging?” I thought I would provide you with a quick explanation, and some definitions of other terms we use in staging.

Decorating is furnishing and accessorizing a space, with the taste and lifestyle of the homeowners in mind.

Staging is decorating, also, but in a manner which showcases the best features of the home, detracts from any negative features, and appeals to the greatest number of buyers.

Neutralizing is removing a particular style or theme. For example, if a home is decorated with a Southwest motif or a kitchen has a “cow” or “rooster” theme.

Depersonalizing is the removal of any items which speak loudly of who lives in the home. Family photos, memorabilia, travel souvenirs, trophies and awards, to name a few.

Scale is the term used to describe the relationship between the size of the room and the size of the furnishings. If the furniture is too big, or there is too much of it, it will make the room appear small and crowded. When the furniture is too small or there is not enough of it, the room can look bare and uninviting.

Balance refers to the placement of furniture in regard to other furniture or an architectural feature like a fireplace or built-in bookcases. Large pieces of furniture should be placed in a way in which the weight and height is even throughout the room.

Vignette is a word that stagers use to describe a smaller area furnished and/or accessorized which conveys a welcoming feeling on its own. A window seat accessorized with pillows, and a decorative tray containing a coffee cup and a book, would be considered a vignette.

Understanding these terms and recognizing the value of staging your home is vital in today’s market. If the task of getting your home ready is too overwhelming or you just don’t know where to begin, contact us for a referal to a professional stager in your area.

PMI, Private Mortgage Insurance, is required on most mortgage loans in which the borrower has less than a 20% equity position.  These insurance companies charge the borrower a premium to benefit the mortgage lender in case of default.  Part of their insurance rate analysis includes an in-depth analysis on the potential for property value decline.  Obviously, a large concern for everyone today.

From The PMI Group, Inc.

Risk scores translate directly into an estimated percentage risk that home prices will be lower in two years. The Summer 2008 Risk Index is based on first-quarter Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) data.

The Great News, Denver is one of only only 14 areas in the country, with a less than 1% risk of prices dropping in the next two years!

To see the other 13 areas, click here.

The majority of homeowners today have dogs, and as a professional home stager, I get asked all the time if this is a problem when selling a home. The answer is yes. Most sellers crate their dogs for showings, but this may not be the ideal solution. If the dog is barking the entire time the buyers are in the house, it will not be a pleasant experience, and may be too distracting for the buyers to give your home the attention they should. In order to test whether your dog will bark, ask your agent to come over when you are not home. Quite often, your dog does not behave the same as when you are present. Leaving the dog loose in the home, even if it is as non-threatening as can be, will still turn off buyers who have a fear of dogs. Or, if you have a particularly cute and friendly dog, they could very well upstage your home, when it comes to the attention it is given by buyers.

Another option some sellers choose is to put the dog in a laundry room or garage. This is limiting the buyers access to areas they have a right to see, and will want to see. Many times the size of the garage is a determining factor on whether a home will work or not. It is crucial that buyers have free access to all areas of your home, including the backyard. If you have a pen or kennel outside where your dog will be safe and secure, and buyers will not be fearful, this is an acceptable solution. It is not recommended that you chain or tie your dog up, as this could create a negative response from buyers.

The most desirable solution is to remove the dog from the home during the time of showings. There are different ways of doing this. If you are home during the day, you could take the dog for a walk or put him/her in the car and leave for the duration of the showing. If you are away at work, you might look into daycare for your dog, either at a reputable professional daycare facility, or perhaps a friend or family member could watch Fido. Another option is to find someone in your neighborhood, who would be willing to take your dog during showings.

Even if you wind up paying for someone to care for your dog, it will be well worth it, to allow buyers to have a pleasant experience viewing your home.

People who work from home cannot avail payday loans but are liable to a health insurance against their business cards.