News-Lenders Unload Mortgages to Collection Agencies

With as many foreclosed properties there are on the market today.  There is no place for Collection agency's to be involved.


REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Lenders Unload Mortgages to Collection Agencies

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How Landscaping Can Help Sell Your Home

How Landscaping Can Help Sell Your Home

Photo by: Anita Patterson

According to the nation's leading real estate search engine, Realtor.com, there are over 4 million homes in America for sale. According to the 2009 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report ™, there were 3,957,643 foreclosure filings in the United States. As a home seller, you need the best possible advantage to not only sell your home but to sell your home for the price that both you and your realtor feels is fair.

Curb Appeal

Do any of these apply? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you are more than likely hurting the sale of your home.

Does your home feel inviting when you pull into the driveway or does it look like the Munster's live there? If your home is overgrown with vines, shrubs, and cobwebs, the first thought a buyer is going to think is that the Munster's live there and be frightened away.

Do you have extra cars or recreational vehicles parked in the yard? While you may have many vehicles, too many can make your home look and feel cluttered. Large recreational vehicles, boats, and all terrain vehicles take up space and keep your home's beautify from being seen.

Are the beer bottles and pop cans still laying around from last summer's family get together? While you might have had fun, trash in the yard gives potential buyers a bad impression. They want to know that the home has been taken care of.

Do you have a trampoline in the front or back yard? While your house is on the market, it is a good idea to take the trampoline down and put it in storage. This keeps the temptation away from any children that may also be looking at your home from having fun while their parents are inside. The last thing you want is for anyone to get hurt.

Is the siding of your home dirty? Dirty siding can make your home look dull and uninviting.

Do you keep your yard mowed and trimmed on a regular basis? Let's face it, a freshly mowed yard looks and smells great.

Enhance Curb Appeal - De-clutter Your Yard

Making a check list to enhance the curb appeal of your home will help you prioritize what needs to be done.

Here is a simple list that will help get you started.

Cut vines off the house

Trim shrubs and clear underneath them

Clear any cobwebs

Rent a parking space for your recreational vehicles

Park extra automobiles in the garage or on the street. If there is a vacant house close, see if can park your automobile in the driveway. This helps the owner by not broadcasting that their house is vacant and helps you to remove the auto clutter.

Check under shrubs, around the fence, and the garage and remove all trash

Collapse and store the trampoline if you have one

Rent or borrow a power washer remove the dirt and mold from the siding

Keep yard mowed and trimmed. If you do not have the time to keep the yard mowed, hire a neighborhood teenager to do it once a week for you.

Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects when selling a house. A well manicured lawn and nice landscaping could be the deciding factor as to whether or not potential buyers will take that extra look in your home or go down the street to your neighbor's house.

Add to your patio decor by placing Natural Soy Wax candles in decorative containers. Visit Ria's Collectables for a variety of Soy Candle ideas.

Submission guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in your opt-in newsletter or on your website provided it is published in it's entirety, including the resource box. Please email Ria Wallace of your intent to publish this article.

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About the Author: This article was brought to you by Ria Wallace, Master Chandler and Owner of Ria's Collectables-A Soy Candle Company, that specilizes in hand poured, Natural Soy Wax Candles. Her mission in life is "Touching peoples lives one minute, one day, one flame at a time....."™ She is also the Author of Ria's Pay it Forward where she shares real life stories and how the little people impact the everyday life of many. Her helpful articles are regularly syndicated online. You can find more articles about soy candle decorating tips, tools and resources to educate and inspire you to use soy candles safely and economically at home. at Ezine Articles.

Keywords: Curb Appeal, Landscaping, Soy Candles, Natural Wax Candles, Candle Safety, Decorating,

(c) Copyright-Ria Wallace.  All Rights Reserved Worldwide

My First House Project

It is amazing how many people ask the question; Is this your first house to remodel? The expression on their face is even more enlightening when they hear that this is actually my 6th house. The first however within a National Historic District which in itself brings to the table extra challenges.

My first house was a 1956, 1104 square foot Ranch Style. I was 26 years old when I first bought that house. It was this house that continued to fuel the fire and desire that I had to make a difference.

Working in a law office, going to college part time, raising a family and putting the Ria's touch to things, what a hand full. The best part of it all was the life changing experiences and the knowledge that was learned and built upon not just for me but for everyone who participated.

Breaks from college proved to be the best because the frustrations from trying to maintain a 3.5 - 4.0 average was taken out in healthy productive ways such as walls coming down.

I got involved with the Neighborhood Housing Program to finish the project. This experience in itsself was indescribable. If you like filling out forms, you can go this route, just be prepared to have alot of unnecessary things happen and expenses that only benefit the City Government. In fairness, the experience taught me things to watch out for with Contractors, Inspector's, and the people who push the paper. Although I had experience within this area, the fine tuning was great.

I also learned just how much a General Contractor will take advantage of these types of projects, which for me was very devastating because I really try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately for the GC and fortunately for me, I also learned just how much if you are not careful a GC will take advantage of a woman. After a couple of "Come to Jesus" meetings and being very diligent, the General Contractor was convinced that I did have experience and made sure his sub's knew that as well. Which is truly why it is important to do your research.

I am not saying that all General Contractor's or Sub-Contractor's are this way. I will say however, before you hire one, do your homework on the Contractor's. Do not be afraid to get references and learn as much about what you are having done that way you are just a little dangerous. When in doubt however, ask a professional.

I'm Going Home

Being raised in Northern Ohio, you come to love history, old houses, and the richness that only a small community brings. Some where locked up in those old houses are stories that are rich with what only family's bring; whether they are happy stories or sad, they are still a part of the history and I believe, just like the T.V. show, "If These Walls Could Talk", that facinating stories would come to be.

This blog is about my family's journey during our renovation of our 1889 National Historical Home located in Springfield, Ohio. From the time I started looking at houses until the project is completed. You will learn about our realtor, our plumber, our electrician, our finds to help put the Judge's house back where we feel he and his famliy would enjoy it today, the design software that I will be using to make the changes, and everything from paint right down to the last little fixture. You will even learn about batman.

Through this journey, I am going to introduce you to the people that through out all of this have, are, and will be a wonderful part of my deep seated passion for old homes, small communities, and people touching peoples lives. For without all of them, I could not help change the history of "Our Old Home" nor would I be able to show the world that it only takes one small step.