• ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Better Judgements eZine Terria Judge, Realtor CRS, ABR, GRI, Broker Associate Better Judgements is a newsletter on home matters, from Terria Judge, your Garden City, KS real estate agent! Contact Terria Judge at 620-271-2129! Terria Judge Coldwell Banker, The Real Estate Shoppe, Inc. John P. Judge, Broker 1135 College Dr. Suite E Garden City, KS 67846 1-877-275-7497 x 223 620-275-7421 x 223 http://terriajudge.com http://gardencityksrealestate.com http://gardencityrentals.com Terria@TerriaJudge.com Subscription Management at end of newsletter. Thanks for your subscription to Better Judgements, the newsletter from your Garden City Kansas Realtor, Terria Judge. ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- In this Issue ============= 1. Article: Three Important House Selling Tips 2. New Features at TerriaJudge.com 3. Featured & New Listings 4. Article: Junk Drawer Warriors 5. Article: First Home Mortgage Tips 6. Recipe: Spaghetti Squash ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Three Important House Selling Tips by Steve Gillman There are hundreds of good house selling tips that can help you when the time comes to put that sign in the yard. Some are more important than others though. Here are three of the most important points. 1. Understand Value. Your home is not worth more because you like it, and it may not even be worth more after you spend $10,000 making it the way you like it. It is worth what others will pay. One of the worst parts of a real estate agent's job is trying to explain to a nice couple that their $45,000 in kitchen improvements only added $10,000 to the value of the house. It is easy to see the problem with pricing too low, but making less money is a problem of pricing too high as well. You have costs that you pay while waiting to sell. Also, people are suspicious of homes that have sat unsold for a year, and less likely to make an offer even if you have finally lowered the price. The perfect buyer who would have paid the most, might have looked at the home when it was over-priced and walked away. To get the most money, price it right to begin with. 2. Understand The Market. Who are your potential buyers? A sign in the yard wont help much if you're selling a summer home in the woods and all the buyers are in the city. Once you identify who the likely buyers are, you or your agent can decide which ways to market the property. Are you in a quiet neighborhood that is attracting retirees? If so, you would want to advertise the fact that your house has one level. "No stairs!" can be an important selling point to older buyers. If the neighborhood is one that is likely to attract young couples, however, it would be a waste of words. Consider your market before you try to sell. 3. Cost-Effective Preparations. Of course you should clean the house and mow the lawn. The other things you do to get ready for the sale should be cost effective though. As a rule, you should first do those things that will give you a three-to-one return on your money. It isn't important (or possible) to be precise. The point is to do things that raise the value more than they cost. $1,000 to repave the driveway may increase the value of the house by $3,000, but a $50,000 pool might add only $25,000 in value. Start by replacing that dented mailbox, and work on those things that get "the most bang for the buck." If you have the time and motivation, you can find endless little house selling tips. That may not be a bad idea, but why not start with the important things first? About the Author Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. See a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500 on his home page, or go straight to the section on Investing In Real Estate: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- New Features at TerriaJudge.com ==================================== MORTGAGE CALCULATOR: http://terriajudge.com/calculator.html OPEN HOUSES: http://terriajudge.com/calendar.html ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- FEATURED & NEW LISTINGS ======================== *new* http://terriajudge.com/featuredlistings.html --406 Nth 4th --6095 Sixteen Mile Rd Just visit Terria at http://terriajudge.com/marketevaluation.html to fill out an interest form if you'd like to list your home! ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Junk Drawer Warriors Multi-Purpose Products for Household Emergencies Americans today have lots of stuff. Yet finding a place to store all their stuff is always a challenge. For that reason it seems that a catch all or junk drawer is as common in kitchens today as a faucet and sink. Housing everything from caulks to coupons, this kitchen stash is a homeowner s refuge for storing those necessary items for maintenance and mishaps. To cut down on the items in your junk drawer, but still ensure that you'll be prepared for those everyday home maintenance issues, there are several all-purpose products to keep on hand to help with life's hiccups. These items include: * Polyseamseal All-Purpose Mini -- This all-purpose adhesive caulk, now available in a small, resealable package, is perfect for any quick fixes. From re-adhering a loose ceramic tile to sealing cracks and gaps around baseboards, door frames, sinks and countertops, the water-based adhesive caulk is often referred to as the toolbox in a tube since it has 1001 uses around the house or on the job. Plus, it s paintable, flexible, mildew-resistant when cured and cleans up easily with soap and water. Website: www.polyseamseal.com. * All Purpose Duct Tape -- Known for its rock-solid quick fix performance, duct tape is versatile enough for projects ranging from e-repairs to pant hems. In fact, duct tape uses may include: repairing tree trunks and limbs, shower curtains, hems on dresses and pants, sweeper bags or hoses, vinyl inflatable toys, tents, holding down floor mats and loose carpet, covering exposed bolts and more. Website: www.duckproducts.com. * Loctite Quicktite Super Glue -- Creating a strong hold to nearly all surfaces, Loctite super glue quickly fixes life s little mishaps, from broken figurines to cracked jewelry, in a matter of minutes. It can be used on metal, ceramic, china, leather, vinyl, wood, textiles, paper, and hard plastics. Website: www.loctiteproducts.com * WD-40 -- Known as "the can with a thousand uses," WD-40 protects metal from rust and corrosion, penetrates stuck parts, displaces moisture, and lubricates just about anything. WD-40 is great for anything from lubricating squeaky doors and tight overcoat zippers to rust-proofing tools and cars. There s always another use for WD-40. Website: www.wd40.com. Since you never know when one of these little lifesavers will come in handy, it s a good idea to keep them all on hand. Courtesy of ARA Content ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Applying for Your First Home Mortgage? What You Need to Know by Jay Moncliff Applying for your first home mortgage at first might seem like an easy process simply because people buy and sell homes every day. However, buying a home is not like buying a new bike, and applying for a home mortgage can be a long and drawn out process requiring a lot of patience and fortitude. However, if you know what to expect up front the home mortgage process will be much easier and a lot less stressful. The following home mortgage tips will help you figure out how to best go about the home mortgage loan process for your situation. Home Mortgage tip #1 Interest Rates Before applying for your first home mortgage loan you will want to shop around and see what average home mortgage loan rates are. Shopping for home mortgage rates online is a timesaver and frequently have lower rates as well. Your home mortgage rate will affect how much money you have to pay back over the term of the loan, so the lower the better. Home Mortgage Tip #2 Fixed or Variable Interest Rate When it comes to your home mortgage loan there are more options than just a loan you pay back over a set amount of years. You can choose different home mortgage interest rates that work best for your current and future situations. So, before you apply for a home mortgage loan do some research on variable and fixed interest rates to find what will work best for you. Home Mortgage Tip #3 Down Payment When applying for a home mortgage loan for the first time you might not be aware of the general down payment you will be required to make. Many times a home mortgage loan requires between 10 and 20% of the price of the home, but if you have good credit sometimes you can make a lower down payment and still get a good deal on your home mortgage. This depends on the home mortgage lender, so shop around. About the Author Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.mortgages-reviews.info a website specialized on Home Mortgage, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Home Mortgage. For more info visit his site: Home Mortgage ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- Spaghetti Squash I The flesh of spaghetti squash comes out in long strands, very much resembling the noodles for which it is named. In this recipe, the 'noodles' are tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can substitute different vegetables, but be sure to use ones that have contrasting colors. Prep Time: approx. 15 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 30 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 45 Minutes. Makes 6 servings. Printed from Allrecipes, Submitted by James 1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 3 tablespoons sliced black olives 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil Directions 1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet. 2 Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled. 3 Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm. 4 Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm. This recipe is featured within our Allrecipes Dinner Tonight cookbook. If you would like to learn more, please click http://allrecipes.com/dinnertonight/. ---------BETTER JUDGEMENTS--------- This newsletter is compiled and published by Mitone Griffith, http://brightideagraphicdesign.com

  October 7th, 2005 at 2:38 pm

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