When selling real estate the question of whether a vacant home is good for selling is a viable question, the answer, however, is not so easy.  Many real estate professionals believe that a furnished home sells better than an empty home.  Then of course there are those that disagree.

A furnished home can show a potential buyer how a home looks when lived in.  The trick in this scenario is, of course, that the furnishings should be in good taste, simple and laid out in a way that makes good usage of the home’s space.  In addition the home should be void of personal belongings like photos that can make the home hard to envision someone else living in.

In the case of a vacant home, the way to make the best impression is to have it in great condition because every flaw is visible, from chipped paint to dirty carpet.  Take the time to have a vacant home in impeccable condition.

Clearly opinions differ on whether a home is more sellable empty than filled.  When considering selling your home get together with a Realtor and find out what their opinion may be.  A Realtor with a solid track record and a lot of experience should have a good idea on what sells best in your area.

Reduce your carbon footprint in the new year by composting. Composting is an easy way to recycle biodegradable materials that would otherwise meet the landfill. From daily items like coffee grounds, egg shells and bread crusts to seasonal items like leaves and plant trimmings, there are many items that can be recycled and eventually turned into soil your your garden or yard.

Compost is known to be great for all types of soils, helping sandier soils hold water better and loosening denser clay soils. Composting, however, is catching on past the gardening world to homes that want to make a difference in their impact on the environment.

Composting is a virtually free way to live greener. While there are compost bins that you can buy, some as simple as an aerated garbage can with a lid or as complex as a barrel on a stand that you can turn. Most people start by collecting their daily kitchen waste in a carton or can on the counter, from there the waste can be added to a compost bin outside, where it can be covered and stirred or tumbled every week to speed the process.

Composting can be easy, known as passive, or very hands-on, highly managed. In the easiest form items are literally left to sit and rot, in the highly managed form items are turned and stirred and compost fertilizer can be created in a month or less. Start the new year off with a mind to live greener and consider adding composting to your efforts.

Good News!  According to the Wisconsin Realtor’s Association, home sales rose 19.5 percent in April 2012 compared to April 2011, according to the most recent monthly report by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Home prices were also up for the second straight month, rising 2.4 percent to $128,000 in April compared to April 2011. Full report can be viewed at http://www.wra.org/hsrapril2012.

A HOME WITH HEART! This beautiful home greets you with a welcoming living room, vaulted ceilings  and a flowing floor plan!  Enjoy cooking in the cheery kitchen with plenty of cabinets, breakfast bar and dinette.  Relax in the finished lower level or on your screen porch overlooking a nicely landscaped yard. Home has been lovingly cared for.  Some updates include newer roof, furnace, water softener, gas range, carpet, garage door, blinds and more. Wonderfully located within walking distance to schools, pool, library, downtown, Wisconsin River. Make this home yours today and enjoy the years to come!

View Property Web Site:  www.3746thStreet.com

Virtual Tour:  http://www.whirligighd.com/vtour/vtour_new.php?action=listingtour&listingID=1752&show=video 

Yes, I’d like to know more about this property!

Find yourself wanting to spend endless hours at home in this beautiful ranch home!  Enjoy the spacious vaulted living room and flowing floor plan. Nicely updated kitchen boasts new granite counter tops, appliances, sink, lighting, back splash and flooring.  Main level bath updates include a full tiled tub surround, new fixtures, and tile floor.  Relax in the lower level family/rec room with walk-out or sit on the deck overlooking a large yard.  New roof in 2011.  Conveniently located to shopping restaurants and more!  Call today for a private showing!

View Property Web Site:  http://www.3034manchester.com

Virtual Tour:  http://www.whirligighd.com/vtour/vtour_new.php?action=listingtour&listingID=1733&show=video

Yes, I’d like to know more about this property!

Every homeowner knows that there are things that simply have to be done, either every three months, every six months or yearly, to keep your biggest investment in tip-top shape. Here is a tidy little check-list to keep on hand to make sure you are staying on track:

Yearly:

• Inspect those gutters to make sure they are securely attached and free of leaves and debris
• Inspect your chimney to determine if a professional cleaning is needed
• Furnace must be inspected and cleaned by a professional
• Hot water tank inspection…by a professional
• Clean and seal your wood deck and its railings
• Vacuum all that lint from your clothes dryer duct and vent
• Check your septic tank’s level
• Re-caulk your exterior windows, doors, siding base and trim
• Re-caulk along the fronts of tubs and showers
• Inspect for worn fittings and connection on all plumbing fixtures in your home
• Have your carpets cleaned by a professional
• Garage Doors: oil the track, roller, hinges, pulleys and springs with a light gauge oil
• Have your sprinkler system inspected and winterized
• Drain and remove all hoses from the exterior of your house
• Shut off all of your outside faucets before freezing temperatures
• Prune trees

Every Six Months:

• Vacuum vents and coils at the back of your refrigerator
• Clean your stove’s vent and fan
• Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors

Every Three Months:

• Clean or replace your furnace filter and air-conditioner filter
• Fertilize your lawn

Fall in love with the stunningly beautiful new ranch home built in ’09 and overlooking the golf course! Impressive curb-appeal, lg front porch & a flowing open floor plan welcome you in. The beautifully designed interior features arched architecture, lovely master suite, spacious living room w/beautiful views & lg windows to let the sunshine in. The home’s crowning glory is its huge chef’s kitchen w/tons of cabinetry, hardwood floors & top of the line stainless steel appliances.

View Property Web Site:  www.412VistaCircle.com

Virtual Tour:  http://www.whirligighd.com/vtour/vtour_new.php?action=listingtour&listingID=1522&show=video

Here are some things to consider when looking for a home.

The Market

• All markets are Local

Affordability

• Mortgage Payment, Insurance & Taxes
• Utility Costs, Association Fees, Garbage, Special Assessments, etc…
• Repairs, Updates, Upgrades, Ongoing Maintenance (now or in the near future)

Location & Neighborhood

• City, Suburbs or Country
• High Traffic Areas
• Public Transportation
• Cul de sac
• Corner lot
• Zoning

Type of Home

• Single Family, Duplex, Condo
• 2 Story, Ranch, Multi-level
• Older, Newer, Fixer-Upper

Interior / Exterior

• # of Bedrooms & Bathrooms
• Size
• Extra Rooms
• Lot Size
• Fences Allowed
• Garage / Parking

Other Considerations

• School District
• Crime Rate
• Features
• Amenities
• Surrounding Homes / Improvement Potential

According to the Wisconsin Realtor’s Association, low interest rates and lower prices make this a good time for people prepared to buy to get the kind of deal on a home that most could not visualize just a few short years ago!

Fortunately for  Wisconsin, the huge bubble other states experienced did not happen, this kept the state from seeing the monstrous drops of as high as fifty eight percent.  According to a federal agency, the median price for homes in Wisconsin dropped 4.5 percent from the previous year.

The different regions of the state had rises in the number of sales last year, some as high as double digits. A forty one percent rise in the western region, and about a thirty eight percent increase in the southeastern region led the state; with a twenty six percent increase in the northeast and a twenty one percent increase in the north. These rises were in the existing home market and are encouraging considering the economy has not recovered.

This charming cape cod has been lovingly cherished by one family over the years and and is now looking for a new owner!  Enjoy cooking in the eat-in kitchen & relax in the cozy living room that features a beautiful Philippine mahogany wall and oak hardwood floor.  Features 2 main floor and 2 upper bedrooms all with hardwood flooring & Philippine mahogany shelving.  New washer & dryer currently located in the second bedroom for greater convenience, but could be relocated to lower level if desired.  Spacious basement offers built-in shelving and a handy work space that includes work bench, vices and a bench grinder, as well as updated electrical, new water heater & new water softener.  Lovely yard with mature trees, storage unit & new carport.  All this in a great west side location near Brennan’s on University Avenue.   Only minutes to downtown and numerous conveniences!