Advertising FSBO Property - Eliminating The Middle Man

Real estate is a valuable investment yet many don’t realize just how valuable until the time comes to sell or buy property.  Once those high numbers start floating around, you may realize just how important the decisions are that pertain to your property.  You shouldn’t settle when it comes to selling or buying real estate. This means not just allowing any old person to sell the property.  If you cannot find someone that will meet your needs as an agent or broker, you should consider selling the property by yourself.  When you choose the route of advertising your FSBO home on your own, there are several things to take into consideration. 

There are many sites that make advertising FSBO property just as easy as using a real estate agent or broker. They will use online tools for advertising and the only one that won’t be available to you, the owner doing the listing will be the national registry for properties, the multiple listing services.  Otherwise, their methods of advertising are all methods you can use as well.  An agent will probably use many different sites to create a buzz about your property.  You are able to find  and use these sites as well. Many are free and are great places to place your property.  The public uses these sites to search for houses and they will find yours.  It is always a smart idea to know the legal terms to place in your ad so that a buyer cannot hold you responsible, just as an agent does in their listings.  An agent is covered by language such as encouraging the buyer to verify inspections, measurements, and documents on their own. That you, as the seller, cannot be held liable for the exact information but you are writing it to the best of your knowledge and understanding.  These are terms that a seller should place in any advertisement for their property.  This allows the seller to list their own property but helps keep their liability down if a measurement is wrong or a tax number is off.  It is a drawback when advertising FSBO property but one that can be amended if done correctly. 

The legal side of selling your own property and advertising FSBO property is one of the drawbacks that keep many intelligent people from doing it on their own. They may feel they may make a costly mistake that could cause them to be sued later on.  This is the case yet with a couple hours and maybe a consultation with a lawyer, it can be avoided.  When you begin advertising FSBO property, you should be prepared for the phone calls and emails that come from placing the property for sale.  You want to make the sale and you want to do it on your own to avoid paying more fees to another party.  Some real estate agents may not earn their commission if your property sells itself.  Properties that are well-kept and in a great location are easy to sell and you can realistically do it on your own.

Research the laws of your state and know the legal terms to use in the advertising so you are covered from future problems.  Don’t let the idea of advertising your FSBO real estate on your own keep you from reaping the greatest benefit and profit from the property. 

The Basics Regarding Cheap Self Storage

Self storage facilities grow increasingly popular year after year. They provide an economical way to get items you want to keep, but don’t need in the imminent future, safely out from under your feet. Self storage units are easily accessible, many having 24-hour key pad access, allowing you to remove or add items at your convenience. 24-hour security is also available, and ensures your belongings will be kept safe and undisturbed.

With the increased demand for self storage, many companies have risen up to meet the demand. With so many self storage companies to choose from, you want to take advantage and ensure you find cheap self storage. Especially if you’ll be using the storage unit long term, you want rates to be one of the key factors in choosing your storage provider. As long as they provide the size, access, and security you need, you can shop among various storage unit facilities to find truly cheap self storage.

When you visit a storage site looking for cheap self storage, make sure you get quoted rates in writing. If you will be storing your items for a long period of time, ask if discounted rates are offered for long term rental. If they do, you want to get these quotes in writing as well. If they will, ask them to secure this quote in writing for a number of days, so that when and if you come back, you can count on that rate staying the same.

It is standard for storage unit companies to require a security deposit prior to unit rental. This deposit is refunded when you vacate the unit, provided the unit has not been damaged in any way. Be sure to ask about security deposit prices when seeking quotes. These deposits can sometimes be very expensive, and some companies will lure you in, not mentioning the deposit until you are well into the rental agreement. Finding cheap storage units that have both low monthly rental fees along with a reasonable security deposit will be most cost effective.

Another way to save on cheap self storage is to use online billing payments. Many companies offer discounts to those who sign up for automatic withdrawal payments. This will not only save you a little money, but also make it so you don’t have to worry or think about your self storage unit payment each month. If you choose to pay monthly, be sure you know the date your rent will be due each month and get your payment in on time in order to avoid late payment fees.

While you want to find cheap storage units, you also want to find secure ones. This is not only a matter of gates and security personnel. It is also an issue of any given unit’s structural integrity. While you can shop pricing online and receive quotes via email, you never want to select a site without visiting it first. Be sure that the buildings are sturdy and secure, able to hold up even in serious storms. Be sure that doors seal tightly, preventing bugs and critters from moving in with your belongings. You also want the unit to be strong enough that it cannot be easily damaged or broken in to.

If you follow these simple tips, you will be able to find cheap self storage that will properly house and protect your belongings as long as they reside there.

Decluttering the Garage: Bike Rack for Garage Edition

The garage is frequently the most cluttered area in our homes. Besides storing our cars, the garage often becomes home to our tools, garbage cans, recycling bins and our recreational equipment. Fortunately, there are great ways to manage this clutter if you can find the time to do it. I have found taking one project at a time has helped me to slowly reclaim the space in my garage. The latest project to declutter the garage was quite rewarding for the amount of time spent.

A ceiling mounted bike lift is a recent addition to our home after realizing that a huge amount of my garage space was occupied by me and my husband's bicycles. The bicycles new home off the ground has given us a more convenient spot for a our recycling bins, and freed up some much needed storage space.

We hesitated on getting the bike hoist, because we were concerns that we would not use the bikes if they were placed inconveniently. The bike pulley system is quite easy to use though, and hasn't deterred us from riding our bikes yet. We only ride our bikes once or twice a week though. If you ride your bike on a daily basis I could see the ceiling bike lift becoming a bit of a pain. Before getting one, I would recommend considering how often you ride your bike.

The bike rack pulley system is very easy and fast to use. It takes about 5 minutes all together to take the two bikes down then place them back up after the ride is complete. Lifting them requires very little muscles, so do not worry if you do not have phenomenal upper body strength.

Not all Bike Hoists are Created  Equal: How to Choose a Bike Rack for Indoor Storage 

When I first began my search for a bike lift, I realized quickly I had no idea exactly what to look for. I had no idea what materials or brand would make the best system or even what the average garage bike lift should consist of.

The bike hoist is usually made of a pair of hooks that are raised with a rope. One hook is usually attached to the handles, and the other is attached to the seat.

Picture of a Bike Hoist System

Two ensure that your garage bike rack lasts a long time, I recommend going with systems made with sturdy materials. The last thing you want is for a bike to randomly fall down on your head while you are in the garage. The ceiling mounts should be made of steal, not plastic. The rope should be made of nylon which has a very long lifespan and strong endurance for ropes. I recommend getting hooks that have plastic or rubber covering to avoid scratches on your bike, but that is more of an aesthetic concern then a structural one.

How to Install an Indoor Bike Rack 

Installing the bike rack took me about an hour and a half, but I am not the most mechanically inclined person. It required lots of measuring, planning and drilling, but the results were worth it in the end.

For the bike rack installation you will need a Phillips head screwdriver, a tape measure, a ladder and a drill with a 1/8" bit. If you have a finished garage you will need a stud finder as well.

Step 1 (for those with finished garages): Use your stud finder to find where to attach the bike rack. This step is VERY important. If you do not attach your bike rack to a joist, the bike will topple down on you once you pull it up to the ceiling.

Step 2: Planning. When you choosing which way to situate the rack, keep in mind the back tire of the bike should be facing towards the pulley rope. If you do not do this your handle bars can be entangled in the pulley rope which is extremely time consuming to deal with.

Step 3: Drilling. Mount the bike rack to the ceiling with your drill. This is always the part that makes me a little bit nervous, but it really is a cinch to do.

Step 4: Measuring. You will need to measure the space between the handle bars and the back of the seat for each bike. The separation of the hook should match that distance for proper storage of the bike.

Step 5: Mount your bikes! Attach one hook to the handles, one to the seat then pull. It is very easy to do, and congratulations on getting this far.

How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Self Storage

6 Steps To Prepping For Automobile Storage

Storing your baby, I mean automobile, is sometimes an unfortunate necessity. After you have chosen a self storage facility for your car, it is time to get your car ready for storage. Whether you are storing the vehicle for a week or for months, you'll need to make sure that your vehicle is in tip top shape for storage. Skipping these steps may cause your vehicle damage while it is tucked away. 

1. Check Fuel Systems- Your car needs fresh fluids before you store it away for a while. . You will want to change the oil, filter, anti-freeze, power steering fluid, transition fluid and brake fluid. Change all of these one to three weeks before storage for optimal results. 

2. Gas Tank- Your vehicles gas tank will need to be filled with high quality gas, and just sitting the gas will gradually evaporate during the time it is in storage. A full tank of gas will last up to a year if your storage facility has a temperature below 80 degrees regularly. If it is an outdoor vehicle storage facility, you may need to fill the gas about every 7-8 months. Sta-Bil or Pri-G, gasoline stabilizers, will slow down how fast the gas is used up. 

3. The Battery- I would recommend removing your battery from your vehicle when you drop your vehicle off at the automobile storage facility. Extensive damage can be to your car if battery acid escapes, and can be a very expensive problem to deal with. If you are not that worried about it, you should still disconnect it. 

4. Tires- Check your tires air pressure, and inflate them to the perfect air pressure. To help stop moisture from degenerating your tires you can consider covering the tires with plastic. Large black trash bags work great for covering tires, but they make plastic covers for tires if you want to invest in them. The plastic covers will easily slip on. Big black trash bags you will need to manhandle somewhat, and you will need a lot of duct tape to make it work.  

5. Breaks- Before you store your vehicle, make sure to disengage the parking break. THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT! Your breaks can get really messed up if your parking break is on the whole time. If you have a manual transmission, the gears should be in neutral. 

6. Paperwork- Everyone's least favorite part!  Insurance and registration will both need to be adjusted according to your state's regulations. Check with your insurance company and your state's DMV for specific instructions.

A GREAT TOOL FOR FINDING 

AUTOMOBILE STORAGE

Why Hire Moving Labor?

Moving laborers are modern day superheroes. I love these guys (and occasional girls). They make life so much easier for those of us who decide to invest in them. While it can be an extra expense some of us think we may not afford, there are different amounts of labor you can hire. It is at least worth investigating to see how much it does actually cost to hire movers, and why people bother with movers in the first place. Here are some of the reasons people choose to hire movers: 

1. Moving sucks! I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, I absolutely hate moving. For someone who hates moving, I have done a lot of it. If you have not moved in a while and think "oh it won't be that bad", think again! Besides just the physical tole moving takes on your body, it is hard mentally as well. Stress levels will be zoomings, back will be strained and even some tears will be shed (or at least that is what I end up doing once every move).
2. Less damage to your stuff. The more experience someone has moving, the better they are going to be at packing stuff so it doesn't break. Movers are great at packing stuff because of their extensive experience, and their fear of liability if any of your stuff is damaged in transit. I prefer avoiding damage to items at all costs myself, because replacing stuff is the pain. 
3. It won't break the bank! Okay, it may break some of our banks, but it is a luxury that may be worth considering. Even if you don't hire movers to do the whole process of the move, you can hire a couple of movers for a couple of hours to move some of the bigger items. 
4. Speed! When you are trying to get a move on with your move, the best way to do it is with professional movers. They move people almost everyday, so they know how to crack the whip to get this baby over with. 
5. If your move is long distance. Just moving yourself a long-distance can be extremely exhausting. The last thing you want to do is have to pack up all your stuff, drive across the country then unpack your stuff. Anyone who has ever been on a road trip knows that the first thing you want to do after a long transit is sleep or at least have some sort of break. Movers will allow you just to worry about transporting yourself.  
6. Exhaustion. Having to reassemble your house into a new space is probably one of the hardest parts of a move. It is something that can not be as done as quickly (or sometimes as carelessly) as boxing all your stuff up and leaving. It will take time to get everything exactly the way you want it. Sometimes it is better to save your energy for this step of the process. Also, good movers make be able to offer some insight into how your furniture will fit in a room. 

If you are on the fence, there is a 10 dollar discount available from this page for Elite Movers. 

Advertising Your FSBO Property

If you home is selling for $300,000, how would you like to save as much as $18,000 by putting in some hard work? This is the premise behind the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) idea which involves selling your home without the aid of a real estate agent. The $18,000 is the standard 6% commission charged by these agents when it comes to selling your home. As you save by not paying agent’s fees, you can lower your asking price and be more aggressive in the sale. Selling your own home is not as difficult as you think and this new trend is causing great distress to real estate agents. Below are some tips when it comes to advertising your FSBO property.

Getting Exposure
Thanks to the advent of sites such as For Sale By Owner.com, those looking to advertise their property online have a huge ready-made audience. For the best chance of success, get your home advertised on these sites immediately. The aforementioned site brings in over 20,000 unique visitors each day. This site also has a mass-produced magazine which exposes your home to potential buyers lacking an internet connection.

Writing The Ad
Many of FSBO sites allow descriptions which are a couple of thousand words in length. In reality, you should only use a fraction of this amount because you need your ad copy to be short, concise and snappy. Describe your home’s features and avoid using real estate agent jargon as this makes people feel uncomfortable. Look at other adverts and place yourself in the position of buyer for a minute. Use the style of the copy that piqued your interest.

Photos
You are trying to get the best value for money when it comes to selling what is probably your most valuable asset. Therefore, don’t be lazy when it comes to taking pictures. All clutter must be removed from the exterior and interior of the home. Buyers don’t care about your possessions. They are only interested in your property so make sure it is showcased appropriately.

Avoid Open Houses
These are generally regarded as a waste of time and are far more useful to a real estate agent than a seller. Sales from open houses are lower than 10% so ask yourself: Is it really worth making such an effort for an ineffective advertising method? The answer of course is no.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
The MLS was once used exclusively by real estate agents and is a directory that allows you to tell other agents that you have a home for sale. FSBO sites tend to have this directory and it can greatly increase your chances of selling the home. The major downside is that if you sell your home because of the MLS, you are legally required to pay the agent in question a 3% commission fee. When added to the fee charged by the FSBO, this may not be a great deal better than using a real estate agent in the first place.

Don’t fall into the trap of believing that only a real estate agent can sell your home. Thanks to the advent of FSBO real estate websites, you can avoid paying that 6% commission fee and perhaps sell the home faster than any real estate agent ever could. After all, who knows your house better than you?

Some Reasons You May Want to Consider a Self Storage Locker

Selecting a storage locker really depends on what your needs are.  You will need to consider how much space you need, what you are storing and what is in your budget. Finding out what you need can be as simple as asking yourself some questions.

There are many different sizes of storage lockers available to rent. 

You may wonder why you would ever need to rent a self storage locker. I find people surprised that I rent out a storage locker for my business. It gives me a place to store extra materials for my classes that doesn't clutter up any of my rooms. For me it helps separate my business life from the rest of my life which has always posed a challenge for me. Here are some other reasons people opt to rent a self storage locker:

1) While people move they frequently rent storage space to keep the household items they don't need right away in a storage facility. This way they can organize all the basics to their house first then they can worry about other items when they have time.

2) Individuals store items they only use in certain seasons. Bicycles, lawn powers, pool accessories, grills are all items stored during winter. During summer people store their Christmas decorations, skis, snow blowers and other stuff they won't need until it gets chilly again.

3) Storing your stuff while trying to sell the house is a great way to make it more accessible to potential buyers. People have an easier time visualizing themselves in a new house if it isn't filled with someone else's stuff.

4) During repairs, remodeling or painting self storage lockers can save you a lot of time by getting your stuff completely out of the way. Instead of shifting your valuables from room to room, just move everything non-essential to self storage while the work is done to your home. This way you'll spend less time rearranging and moving furniture and more time on the actually improvements.

5) Collectors and hobbyists frequently find themselves running out of space in their home. One of my friend's who restores pinball machines wife just had a baby. During her nesting period she insisted she moved the unused arcades out of the house or sell them! While you may not have such an urgent demands as a pregnant woman, the extra storage space can be a nice way to store items you do not need around necessarily.