Showing Tips for Sellers

Get your listing in showing shape with these simple tips.

Lighten up. Some people like to live in dark houses. Leave the shades up and the drapes opened. Homes show so much better with light. −Teresa Boardman, Saint Paul Home Realty, St. Paul, Minn.

Size up the competition. Walk through model homes in your area to see what professionally staged homes look like. You can get a variety of great ideas to prepare your home for sale. −Randy Schulenburg, Mortgage 1st Realty Inc., Elgin, Ill.

Define the space. Creatively define each space to highlight its use. Create a mudroom that is neat and orderly, a home office workspace, or a kids afterschool room with chalk boards and desks. −Elizabeth Lord, Carolina Farms & Estates, York, S.C.

Add simple curb appeal. Thoroughly clear all little branches, rake the leaves, and trim the bushes. Every landscaping detail proves that you care, and this translates to buyer appeal! −Beverly Carlson, Carlson Properties, Abilene, Texas

Give it a power wash. I bought a power washer three years ago, and what a great investment. I always offer it to my clients. You’d be surprised how much better a house looks after a good bath—especially the garage doors. −Jim Cheney, Saint Francis Property, Santa Rosa, Calif.

www.realtor.org/realtormag

Good Smells, Bad Smells

Sensory research shows that the smell of a home can affect a person’s mood, according to Terry Molnar, executive director of The Sense of Smell Institute, a New York–based organization that focuses on the importance of smell to human psychology, behavior, and quality of life.A light floral fragrance can put people in a more pleasant mood, while citrus scents, such as lemon and grapefruit, tend to have an energizing effect, he says. "Vanilla is one scent that’s universal around the globe," Molnar says. "People find it comforting and relaxing." But be careful: When you add smells to a home, it can be viewed as an attempt to cover up a bad odor. And if that’s the intent, it can make the problem worse. So what if you do need to get rid of a bad smell? Here are some ideas from staging professionals:

- Take the trash out. It’s simple, but it can make a big difference. When the home is being shown, advise sellers to empty the garbage often.

- Snuff out the smoke. Encourage sellers to eliminate all smoking inside and even outside, particularly when the doors or windows are open. An ionizer can help remove smoke smells.

- Watch the cooking. The smell of lamb, broccoli, garlic, fish, and eggs can stick around long after the food has been eaten.

- Wash Fido. Pets can be a big source of smells. Limit the pet to an outdoor area or a certain room in the house that can be regularly cleaned, says staging professional Kellie Frooninckx, owner of Virtual Enriching Homes in Phoenix. Also, clean the pet’s bedding regularly.

-www.realtor.org/realtormag

Smart Ways to Manage, Maintain & Enhance Your Home

Go to HouseLogic.com for free info and tools to help you become an expert homeowner in areas like home improvement, maintenance, taxes, finances & insurance. Learn how to increase the value of your home by becoming a more confident homeowner.

SMART TIP: for every year of heating system maintenance you skip, energy bills rise 5-10%.

2 NEW LISTINGS: Peabody & Salem

The Horowitz has 2 new listings on the North Shore!
CHECK IT OUT....

9 Horton Street, Salem, MA 01970
$319,900
http://www.northshorehomeinfo.com/Properties/PropertyForm.php?ListingID=102845852&return_url=/index.php

17 Arlington Street, Malden, MA 02148
Multi Family, $449,900
http://www.northshorehomeinfo.com/Properties/PropertyForm.php?ListingID=102845705&return_url=/index.php

New Listing; 35 Catherine Drive, Peabody

35 Catherine Drive, Peabody is a 4 bedroom, 2 full bath Split entry in a desirable West Peabody neighborhood. 2 oversized garages, nice deck sits on large yard, central AC and 2 family rooms...... click here for full property info. http://www.northshorehomeinfo.com/Properties/PropertyForm.php?ViewSrc=7&ListingID=102838285&return_url=back

PEABODY REAL ESTATE EXPERTS HOT FOR SUMMER!

The Horowitz Team is HOT HOT HOT this summer. Click on this link to view the team's active listings, properties under agreement and recent sold properties. http://www.northshorehomeinfo.com/Properties/AgentListings.php

Peabody Real Estate Agent Earns Lifetime Achievement Award

HOROWITZ FINDS OPPORTUNITIES IN CHALLENGING MARKET

PEABODY, MASS (06/25/2010)(readMedia)-- Peabody real estate agent Anita Horowitz can now count herself among the elite. On June 15, Horowitz received the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award, available only to agents who have earned more than $3 million in commissions and worked with the company for seven years.

"This award is a tremendous honor, and am I proud to share it with the wonderful people in the community who have chosen us for their North Shore home sales and commercial property rentals over the years," Horowitz said.

Horowitz acknowledged the difficulty her office has faced on the way to this milestone. "Times have been challenging in recent years, but the market on the North Shore has been stronger than some others," Horowitz said. "From the rural charm of Lynnfield and Middleton to the busy commercial areas of Peabody and Danvers, our little corner of Massachusetts offers a lifestyle that is both relaxed and convenient."

Other achievements for Horowitz include the 2009 RE/MAX Platinum Club Award, presented to agents who earn at least $250,000 in commissions, and the 2009 Hall of Fame award, given to agents who achieve more than $1 million in commissions during their RE/MAX careers. She was also nominated for the Fifth Annual North of Boston Business and Professional Women of the Year award in 2005 and has been the top Peabody real estate agent for the last four years.

As a real estate agent since 1986, Horowitz has seen her share of up and down markets and acknowledges that the current market is the most challenging she has faced. She credits her sales approach, which focuses on consultation rather than pressure, for her success.

"I like to let the North Shore speak for itself," Horowitz explained. "We have it all, from quiet neighborhoods and shopping centers to sunny beaches, great hospitals and top schools. Once people see how much there is to enjoy, it becomes a simple matter of finding a property they truly love."