The Art of Home Staging

By Tara Millar

There are certain steps one wants to take once they have listed their home. Once a home is available and open for showings, sellers will use a little trick called home staging. The purpose of home staging is to help potential clients envision what it might be like if they lived in that home. It creates a comfortable atmosphere and highlights the strengths of the house so as to get it sold more quickly.

Get Rid of Junk

If you have a lot of stuff, chances are you simply do not have a room for it all. You may have piles of books on the floor, or stacks of papers that need sorting. One tip for storing this stuff attractively and cheaply is to choose wicker or metal baskets from craft stores, garage sales, or second hand stores. If you would like to paint them to match the space, you can do that as well. Store the things like books or papers in these baskets, and set them in a complementary place, like offset on a countertop, or by a fireplace.

Make a rule for getting rid of a number of the things that you do not need anymore. If you have not used something in six months, be sure to pack it up and store it somewhere. If the item has not been used in a year, it's time to let it go. The item, if it's still in sensible form, can be given to a charity or someone who could use it. For each new item that comes into your home, evaluate an old item for removal.

Prepare the Furniture

Release a cluttered living room or bedroom by eliminating unnecessary furniture. Don't line the walls with a huge sofa and many chairs. Split your seating down the center, and organize it so that it is pulled far from the wall and targeted in the middle of the room. Permit for traffic flow, particularly for agents and potential buyers. They must be ready to walk through the area and investigate it without bumping into anything.

Face the chair toward the couch, not toward the television or fireplace. This permits the buyer to see a room where people communicate with each other and don't simply watch TV. Be daring and try new combos of furniture and placement.

Utilize Spare Rooms

If you've got a space that is used solely as storage or is a "junk space," rethink that space's purpose. Filter the junk, and make that space into one thing helpful, like a guest bedroom or a craft room. Even clearing out the room and putting in place an extra table, some chairs, and a bookshelf with some books or art will help create the space look cleaner and a lot more attractive.

Remember the Details

Clean the house before any showing. Pick up things that are lying around, dust, wipe down countertops, sweep and mop the floors, and vacuum at the least. Some larger things to think about are whether the windows are clean and dressed. Simple curtains or blinds ought to be pulled back and organized to allow for natural lighting and to make the windows look good.

If you do not have enough lighting in your home, install some lights. Get a few standing and tabletop lamps. They are low cost, simple to place together, and will brighten up the house for easier showings. - 23199

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Another great article by Stittsville Real Estate

401k Rollover To An IRA Is An Easy Process

By John Kalpinski

If ever you quit your job and look for another, you need to move out your 401k account or be penalized with multiple charges. In case, however, you don't get to have another job, then a private retirement savings would be a great way to keep your 401k.

There is a way to avoid fines and still rollover your 401k account into an IRA, and that is through a mediating brokerage firm. If leaving your job comes into mind, it would be wise to look for a private broker right away. You can choose among many alternatives like through the internet, banks, or other financial institutions present in your region.

Connect with them and inquire about the available IRA investments they are offering, as well as the maintenance fees and the return rates. Decide which brokerage firm you are going to employ to manage your account based on the deals that it offers, and the return for your money. Then you can start the process of rollover.

Rolling a 401k account into an IRA is quite simple, so long as you leave the transferring job to the brokers. Never even attempt to withdraw the money and then deposit with another financial firm. As far as the IRS is concerned, it is nothing less than "early withdrawal" of retirement savings and you will be penalized and taxed big time. Just let the financial institution do the transferring of account.

When you have decided which company you choose to manage your money, simply request the paperwork to have your old 401(k) money rolled over into your new IRA plan with them. They will process all the paperwork, for free, once you have signed the authorization allowing them to do so.

This is the general practice in the financial market. You can be assured that they will be prompt in doing this service. It is good for you because you can avoid taxes and fees, even penalties imposed by your previous employer for leaving your money to them after you discontinued your employment. - 23199

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Now, you should look into a 401k account for more information. You can find more tips and suggestions at 401k rollover school.

Uses and Importance of Earnest Money Deposit

By Tara Millar

Many home buyers recognize that they need to possess some money to place down on a home but are not certain how it factors in to that equation. To assist you perceive how it will be utilized in your transaction, in all chance, I've got answered some of the most frequently asked questions I've got received from buyers.

Is it immediately cashed?

That really depends on the contract and also the directions it gives on how your earnest money is to be handled. Ideally your real estate broker ought to cash your earnest money check immediately to be certain the interest of all parties is treated fairly. Some states permit a buyers broker to hold the check till the deal is accepted. This offers the consumers a few extra days to iron out the supply of the earnest money if they do not have that taken cared of already.

What happens to it if I do not buy a house?

This all depends on how far along you are in the transaction. If all of the contingencies are happy and you choose you do not need to buy the house, then you must forfeit it. But, if you're within the inspection stage or at any different point of contingency within the transaction and, for what ever reason, you select not to get the house, you must expect it to be released back to you.

Does my it go toward my down payment on my house?

You can have it go toward any fees in the transaction, as well as closing costs or a down payment on your principle. Normally it goes toward a partial payment of your buyers agent fees, if your broker holds your earnest money check, in most states. Currently, if the transaction falls apart, parts of that earnest money may go to the seller, the sellers broker or your real estate broker, and you may see none of it.

Is there any method I can get it back?

Yes, you'll have it refunded to you at the closing. You can also opt to have it pay other specific or general fee in the transaction.

Can it be used to pay other fees?

Most sensible real estate brokers can collect your earnest cash right up front and may even insist it considered a "retainer" if you choose not to buy a house after they spend a specified amount of time with you. You'll be asked to put down your earnest money before you even see one home. This money is used for earnest cash if you close up on a home, but might even be used as a retainer fee for the broker or the real estate agent, if you choose not to get a home when taking their time. Either way, your earnest cash serves its purpose of paying for your home purchase or paying for your real estate services.

Keep in mind that some of these laws and laws that govern real estate transactions normally do change state by state, thus make sure to consult a real estate professional to determine precisely what happens in your state together with your earnest money. - 23199

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Another great article by North Bay Real Estate

Transfer Your 401k To A IRA When You Lose Your Job

By Kimberly Klark

Rolling over your 401k plan into a more flexible IRA plan allows you to continue putting off paying taxes on your 401k distribution. If, however, you choose to take your 401k distribution out, you can get it in one lump sum or get a check spread out over a specified time period or whatever options for payout your plan provides.

Sad thing happens when you lose your job and the need for money overpowers the need to plan for the future. You may take it out until you find another good job. Unfortunately, even if you deposit the money to a new IRA account, you have already lost considerable savings due to taxes and some penalties.

When you lose your job, the need for money may be more important than planning for the future until you can get a secure job position. However, if you have found a new job, your option to roll your 401k distribution into an IRA has some real hard savings of monies because of the tax situation in taking out a cash settlement of your 401k distribution monies.

The best way to secure your savings is to roll it over into an IRA account through another fund, and not withdraw yourself. Don't try to touch your 401k until you found another job, so it can continue to earn interest. Keep an account of the managers of your 401k plan. The moment you take out your 401k directly from your fund and put it into your new job's IRA, you will be required to pay 20% withholding tax. Although you will be spared of early withdrawal penalty, you still lost out savings in the process.

In deciding for 401k rollover, the basic thing you ask yourself is, how much money can you afford to lose when you take out your retirement savings before its time? With this kind of financial issue, the best person to turn to is someone involve with finances too, like an accountant or tax consultant. In case you lose your job, it is important to remember not to make any impulsive decision of pulling out your 401k money. What is a 401(k) Rollover? When you leave employment, either voluntarily or not, you will need to roll over your 401k plan to a new account within 60 days of your departure. Failure to do so may lead to high management fees charged to your plan as well as possible penalties.

If your take your 401k distribution directly from your fund and then redeposit it into a new job's IRA, you will save on the early withdrawal penalty but will have to pay 20% in tax withholding. That money for your taxes will come out of your distribution before you get a cash pay out into your new IRA plan.

When you have located a new account holder to manage your 401k contact their transfer department and have them roll your old account into their new one. Because the plan holder is taking care of this transaction you avoid all fees associated with the money and you avoid taxes and penalties because the money was never withdrawn, just rolled over into a new account.The most important things to remember is that you must transfer your 401k in the right time frame and that you let the managing companies complete the process. This saves you from facing fines or taxes and it allows you to keep saving for your retirement with little or no effort. - 23199

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Now, you should look into a 401k account for more information. You can find more tips and suggestions at 401k rollover school.

Is Now The Time To Procure Lots?

By Gavin J. King

The recent market difficulties has sent a shock wave through the minds of many real estate investors and caused them to doubt if they should buy land anymore. There are a few guidelines for investing in land and they are easy to remember and apply.

The first rule to remember is that if you own real estate the "right way" then it is always a safe and good investment. By keeping the bank out of the equation, you will maintain control over your own situation and be able to make decisions based on logic, instead of fear. The likelihood of facing a foreclosure or being dispossessed of your property in any other way is greatly diminished when you own it free and clear. I realize this is not an option for most people, so maybe consider it as an ideal more than anything else. For those whom this strategy is a possible or realistic one, real estate is the safest place to store your cash, and avoid being taxed on it.

Building a portfolio of properties that you own, especially without any bank notes, can add much needed income at pivotal points in your life, like retirement. To use your income to buy real estate is a great way to put off tax liability you may be facing and to build a collection of performing assets that may fund your early retirement. If you use the tax laws in the most advantageous manner possible, you can simply take your pre-tax income and spend it on real estate, which will offset your tax liability on your net sheet. I do recommend sitting down with your accountant to outline the exact plan to do this as your first step.

Buying building lots for investments can be more risky because their is an over abundance of inventory in most U.S. markets, due to overzealous lenders and developers during the boom earlier in the decade. After this inventory gets absorbed, building lots will again be a very good investment. With the long term in your plans, buying building lots and holding them is a great idea, and only if you can do it without involving the bank, otherwise stay away from them for a few more years.

Keep in mind that the bank is not your friend when buying real estate, so buying with cash is always the best option. There are other options for getting rentals from the land you own, like doing joint ventures with a local builder, so keep your eyes open and make sure to cover your own assets in all of your business dealings. - 23199

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The author enjoys writing articles about short sale specialist in boise idaho & boise short sales. Click on the above links to learn more about these topics!