It is almost Friday, Yay!

[dancerjodi]

We're looking at a condo tonight. Though it would be easier, the more I think of it I really don't want a condo. There are 2 other houses on the market now I want to look at - we'll see if Ken can work some magic and we can get in to see them tonight.

Today will be nuts:
Drove to work: 25 miles North
Will drive to meeting at Partners: 24 miles South
Will drive to Waltham to meet Ken: 10 miles North
Will drive home to drop off Brian's car: 14 miles West
Will drive to Marlboro to take care of the Di's animals: 50 miles South
Will drive to Somerville for the Salem Fires show: 28 miles North/East
Will drive home after the show, late at night: 21 miles West

Now do you people see why I want to move? I do something like this a couple of times during the week (never mind the ends of the earth we travel to on the weekends). I'm driving around 172 miles today (according to mapquest)! My poor, sad car. No wonder she's leaking oil.

Comments

If it makes you feel any better....

[thenetimp.livejournal.com]

I drive 104 Miles every day. 52 to work, 52 Miles back, and when I go to boston after work, it's comes out to be 150Miles which is once a week usually. :-(

[mizdarkgirl.livejournal.com]

I am in a condo, don't do it! My condo board was mild when I joined. They are not anymore and they keep raising the condo fee. Anything I can't do, Brian can, so there is no real benefit for you two. (aka Snow Removal, Leaf Raking, etc...) You have the issue of common wall neighbors, if they are bad, they are not going to move in a year. They are homeowners also. I can't start a load of laundry after 9pm or use the pool before 10 am. Sometimes all the rules make me feel like a renter...

I wish I had the resources (time, money and all that jazz) for a house. But in the meantime, I am buiding equity so I don't hate it. Don't forget the housing market peaks in August so it is just beginning. If you don't find a house this year, wait to next. Also I notice some places have Thursday Night Open Houses. If I find the companies, I will send them.

The waiting game sucks, but in the end you will get something you love. Hang in there!

More house stuff

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Also I notice some places have Thursday Night Open Houses. If I find the companies, I will send them."

Thanks! Everything you've said has been a huge help.

I just got word that we'll be able to get into the Cedarwood house to look tonight (save for one bedroom because someone will be sleeping in there - I can only imagine its a child or someone that's old or ill). I'm trying to not get my hopes up - but I am excited about this one (which is hopefull, even if we don't like it or if it didn't work out - at least being excited about something finally gives us some more hope).

On MSN today - Speed your home sale with these fast fix-ups

[mizdarkgirl.livejournal.com]

Small expenditures of money or time on carefully targeted projects can improve your chances of selling quickly -- and ensure you get the best price possible.
By Liz Pulliam Weston

You don’t have to spend a fortune renovating your house to ensure a quick sale at the best price. Some of the most effective fix-ups are also the cheapest.

Spending just $400 to $500 on fresh landscaping, for example, can boost your home’s value by $1,600 to $1,800, according to a survey of real estate agents conducted by HomeGain, an Internet real estate service (see link at left). Spend another $300 on cleaning and de-cluttering your home, the survey found, and you could add another $2,000 or more to the sale price.

To pinpoint the projects that make the most sense, start by touring your property with fresh eyes, as if you were a prospective buyer. Drive or walk up to your house and see how it appears from the street. Walk through the front door and take a look around. You might ask a trusted friend to help you spot problems, clutter and weird smells that you’ve long since stopped noticing. Keep a pen and pad handy to list the projects that need to be done.C

On the outside
Here are some suggestions for the exterior of your home:
Start at the sidewalk. Landscaping makes a huge difference in how people perceive your home. Whack back overgrown bushes and trees so your house is visible from the street. Plant colorful annuals in the flowerbeds. Keep the lawn green and trimmed, even if you have to hire a gardening service or a local teenager to help.

Revive a tired exterior. Painting exterior doors and window trim can freshen your home’s look without the huge expense of a complete exterior repainting. Shine or replace worn door knockers and hardware. Replace or remove torn screens or damaged storm windows. Make sure exterior lights are working and have fresh bulbs -- some buyers like to cruise by your home at night to see how it looks.

Remove outside clutter. Get rid of anything that blocks pathways or clutters up side yards, back yards and patios. This includes toys, excess furniture and tools.

Clean your windows. You want your home to look as light and bright as possible. Dirty or spotted windows drag down a home’s appearance.

On the inside
Once inside, inspect your floors, your walls, your kitchen, your bathrooms and your closets -- because your buyers will. Here’s what to tackle:
Dig out the dirt. You can do it yourself or hire a crew for a day, but a deep cleaning is essential for a good first impression. It’s also key to keep up the cleaning as long as your house is on the market, which will probably mean a daily dusting and vacuum session. Bathrooms and the kitchen should be kept spotless.

Banish bad smells. Air out your home by throwing open the windows at least once a day (or, in bad weather, by running all your exhaust fans). Don’t cook smelly or greasy foods, which linger in the house. If you have cats, clean the litter box at least once a day. Use potpourri or bake cookies before buyers visit to give your place a “homey” smell.

Remove inside clutter. You need to move anyway, so why not get a head start and make your home look larger by packing away at least one-third of your stuff? Stowing away knickknacks, mementos and family pictures helps depersonalize your home, which is actually a good thing: You want potential buyers to picture themselves living in your home instead of being distracted by your personal effects. Consider renting a temporary storage space rather than stuffing your packed boxes in your closets or garage, which will make them look smaller.

Organize what’s left. Tidy closets and pantries look bigger and more appealing.

Fix your floors. Real estate agents say buyers really notice the condition of floors. Hardwood should be polished and carpets shampooed or, if they’re in bad shape, replaced. Repair any broken tile or linoleum.

Brighten your walls. If you’ve painted or wallpapered in recent years, you may be able to get away with just washing your walls. Otherwise, consider repainting your rooms in neutral colors.

Re: On MSN today - Speed your home sale with these fast fix-ups

[mizdarkgirl.livejournal.com]

Beware of deferred maintenance. Buyers expect your home to be in decent shape. That means a roof that doesn’t leak, paint that isn’t peeling and household systems (heating, cooling, electric and plumbing) in good repair. If you’ve neglected your home, you face a tough choice. You’re unlikely to recoup much of the cost of your repairs in the form of a higher sales price, since buyers are unlikely to pay you a premium for maintenance you should have been doing all along. Yet not making the fixes may turn off buyers altogether. Talk with an experienced real estate agent about which projects you should tackle before listing your home.

Consider a pre-sale inspection. Hiring your own inspector before you put your home on the market can alert you to problems you didn’t know about, giving you a chance to fix them before they complicate -- or ruin -- a potential sale. If the repairs are expensive, you may face the same difficult choice described above. But that’s better than being surprised once your home is in escrow.

How to - Clean a house in seven minutes

[mizdarkgirl.livejournal.com]

Most sellers understand the importance of keeping their home clean while it’s on the market. Actually keeping it clean is another matter, though. Share these tips with your clients so they can tidy up in a flash next time an agent calls to show the home on short notice.

Banish bad smells. As soon as you find out someone is on the way to your house, light a scented candle. If you have a cat-litter box that could stand cleaning, put it in the garage or, better yet, back yard.

Clear clutter. Get kids' toys, laundry, dishes, papers, and other distracting messes out of the way. Stash items in locations where buyers are unlikely to look–like under beds or in dressers–rather than in closets. If there’s no room in the dishwasher for dirty dishes, put them in the fridge. The washer and drier offer handy temporary storage space for items that will fit. So do cars. As a last-ditch solution, stuff belongings into garbage bags, pillow cases, or boxes and put them in the garage.

Don’t forget bathrooms. Scoop everything from bathroom counters into a basket, box, or bag and put it in a cabinet. Check to ensure all toilet lids are down.

Prioritize the rest. If you still have time before the prospects arrive, determine what will make the most difference and tackle it. A quick pass with the vacuum, wiping down kitchen counters, cleaning glass tabletops and mirrors are all good candidates.

If you leave the house when the prospective buyers show up (a good idea), blow out the candle before you go.