Archive for October 2011
How To Create A House Buying ‘Wish List’ For Your Dream Home
October 3, 2011 | 
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Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you will ever do. But there are LOTS of little details involved – details which can be very costly if they are overlooked.
Unfortunately, I made all 10 of these mistakes when buying my first house. Even though I thought I was very prepared. But with so much going on, I still missed them…and cost myself THOUSANDS of dollars!
Which is why I created http://www.HouseBuying-Tips.com. Now, you can learn ahead of time how to save yourself lots of money. So, here is the first mistake you should avoid when buying your next house:
#1: Know EXACTLY what you want before you start house hunting, AND put it in writing!
Owning your own home is a great feeling. It’s the American dream. And it’s one of the biggest purchases you will ever make!
So the more time you spend preparing, the easier your life will be.
One of the most important things you can do to get ready to buy your first house is to decide EXACTLY what you want – and write it down on paper.
Sounds simple. But over the next few months you’ll see that the house buying process is one of the most intense, stressful, busy – and exciting – times of your life. So, BEFORE you start looking for a new house, it’s a good idea to have a very clear picture of the type of house you want.
It’s certainly helpful to have a picture in your mind. But as you get further into the process, you’ll find it helpful to have a list you can refer to (especially when the “files” in your mind start getting overloaded!)
Of course, once you start looking at houses, your list can change:
…you’ll find things you never thought of
…things you thought were important but may not be any more
…things you thought you could afford but can’t
…and things you didn’t think you could afford, but you can.
So don’t be afraid to make changes.
When writing your list, think of all the qualities you want in a house…and in a neighborhood…and in a town (or city). Include EVERYTHING you think is important. While this won’t guarantee that you will get everything you want, it will help you be able to prioritize what you think is most important.
Here are some of the items you should include on your list:
Town or city (which towns do you WANT to live in, which ones would you live in if you had to, which ones would you NOT live in no matter what!) Area of town School system Type of neighborhood (With kids, without kids, close to highway or main road, out in the country, etc) Type of house (Cape, Ranch, Colonial, etc) Size of house (Square footage, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, etc.) Size of rooms Layout of house Yard (Landscaped nicely so you don’t have to do any work getting it in good shape, not as nicely landscaped so you might get a better deal but need to put in more work, etc.) Price (Are you willing to pay less for an older house or one that needs more work?) Anything else that is important to you (For example, I knew I did not want a house on a hill. But our first offer was for a house on a hill. Which left me feeling very uncomfortable. Luckily, the deal fell through, but without a list I got caught up in the excitement.)
If you’re not sure what to put on your list, take a walk through the house or apartment you are living in now. Take a walk through the neighborhood. Visit a friend or neighbor. The more information you have, the better!
(NOTE: If you are buying your house with someone else, make sure you ask your spouse, partner, or significant other what they think is important as well. If at all possible, try to combine your list so you can work together.)
Once your list is ready, put the items on your list in order of importance, so when you have a million other little details in your mind, you can look at your list and not have to rely on your memory.
So, do yourself a favor and find a quiet place, take a few moments to write out your list, put it in order of importance, and save yourself a bunch of stress!
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Home And Garden Party – 5 New Party Ideas, Themes And More
If you’re a home and garden party consultant, helping your hostesses come up with ideas for their parties can be a win-win situation for both of you. For the hostess, having a printed list with ideas, themes and even recipes can take a big part of the stress off her shoulders, and make her more motivated and enthusiastic about the party. For you, the consultant, having a happy hostess means happier and more relaxed guests, and everyone having a wonderful time at the party. This also can translate into more sales for you.
Although a garden party may make you think of elegant women in large hats, sipping tea out of tiny porcelain cups, in reality it doesn’t require a home in the country with a large lawn, beautiful grounds and lots of outdoor furniture. Successful garden parties can happen on small patios in the city, in the backyard of the suburbs or even in a living room or dining room. In fact, some of the most successful garden parties don’t even happen in the hostess’s home – we’ve had successful garden parties at the local park, at a family member or neighbor’s home, and once, even on a mother-daughter camp-out!
Garden parties can range from the elegant to the casual: from large affairs to cozy, intimate gatherings. The most important thing when planning a garden party is to decide on the theme, and then use it to create the atmosphere you want.
Of course you’ll have to take into consideration the time of year, the time of day the party is being held, the number of guests expected and the location. But here are some fun themes that have resulted in successful parties with better-than-average sales and party bookings. Feel free to adapt them so that they work for you!
Tea Party: Get elegant with cloth tablecloths and napkins, fancy napkin rings and place settings. The centerpieces could be glass bowls, decanters or bottles filled with flowers, fruit or candles. Serve tea, finger sandwiches and elegant little desserts on stacked trays.
Use flowers or potted plants if the party is on the patio, or set it up in the garden itself, if the time of year is right. Place your displays inside the house or around the outdoor area, and use the same tablecloths and elegant theme as the party. Light classical music, guitar music or new age would blend in beautifully.
Afternoon Delight: Set up a whimsical party with beach umbrellas or patio tables and umbrellas, a free-standing hammock, and drag out the kids’ plastic pool to fill with sand and use it to hold your outdoor display items. Serve icy margaritas or delicious mimosas with a little Jimmy Buffet in the background, and make sure your games are fun and that guests feel relaxed and at ease. Crackers, cheese and fruit make simple refreshments.
Bridal Shower: Although this idea is a little unusual, it’s actually a good marketing campaign and has been a surprising success. In your next marketing campaign – aimed at brides and maids (or matrons) of honor, mention that you hold garden party bridal showers. The guests get together, laugh, talk, eat and play games, just like at a regular bridal shower, but the bride can register for the gifts that she’d like for her new home, and guests can choose from her list, as well as picking up a little something for themselves. Themes can vary, but some nice touches include: stringing fairy lights and hurricane lanterns around the garden or patio (especially if the party is being held at night), using ribbons, lace and the bride’s wedding colors. Refreshments can be anything from a light buffet using fresh fruits and vegetables of the season (for spring and summer) to soups and a selection of elegant appetizers in the fall and winter months.
Bloom Where you’re Planted: This party is all about celebrating life and enjoying who you are. Table decorations can be tiny terra cotta pots with tea lights in them. You can use flower seed packets as place cards (write the guests’ names on the packets). Set up baskets or pots of flowers and plants around the tables. Use a wheelbarrow or garden cart for displays or refreshments, and if you have a trellis or standing metal archway, it makes a lovely setting for your display. Keep the games light and upbeat and the general theme about gratitude and how wonderful it is that we are all unique and different as flowers in a garden. Refreshments should be kept light – ice tea, lemon-aide or fruit smoothies and finger sandwiches with cookies or a variety of desserts works well.