Archive for the ‘Investments and Personal Finance’ Category

Home Improvements that Provide Extra Value to Your Home

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Many people are very hesitant to put any money into improvement for their home. First of all, money is tight for most and secondly, people do not know if the upgrade will provide value when it comes time to sell. The important thing to know is , what improvements will add extra Value in your home. After doing some research, it appears that adding exterior upgrades to your home will add value. These upgrades do not have to be high end or expensive. Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report shows that small-scale exterior projects are the most profitable at resale.

On a national level, a majority of the projects recouped where there were exterior replacement projects that cost less than 14,000.  These improvements include certain types of door and siding replacements, as well as wood deck additions. These projects all returned more than 80 percent of the cost for the project. Steel entry door replacements gave back the highest return, followed by upscale fiber-cement sliding replacements. Wood deck additions were on the top of the list of home improvements that provide extra value for your home as well.

Other exterior projects that made it in the top 10 included, midrange vinyl and upscale foam-backed vinyl siding replacements, several types of window replacements, midrange wood, midrange, vinyl and upscale vinyl. These exterior features are just some of the many ways that can help with the resale value of a home. It is important to know what projects will give you the most value and also which projects cost the least money to do but will give you the biggest return on your investment. If you are unsure as to whether or not a project will give you a high return on your investment, then consult with a Realtor.

Interestingly enough the improvements that return the highest investment do change with time. In 2008, the biggest return on the investment was in remodeling the attic and making it an extra bedroom. Also, minor kitchen remodeling proved to return more on the investment. Therefore, what once worked in helping add value may no longer be the case.

Well it appears that the saying, “First impressions are everything” is true. The exterior is the first thing a prospect sees when pulling up to the house. If they do not like the exterior then they may not even take the time to see the interior. Or they are so turned off by the exterior that no matter what the inside looks like, they already have a bad taste in their mouth. These are just some helpful hints to take into consideration when the time comes to sell your home.

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Preparing For a Move with a Moving Company

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

When booking a mover from a moving company, it is important to consider the many aspects involved with moving in or moving out. I am in the process of moving out and therefore I have contacted many moving companies. As I called the many moving companies in my area, I came to realize that all the moving companies quoted different prices. The reason for this was because the quotes were all based on different things and different time frames as well.

The condo Specialist Realtors® at OwnACondo.com can offer many tips to help your move go smoothly: The first thing that I noticed when booking my move was that the companies quoted different time frames. Some of the companies quoted 2 hrs and some quoted 2 ½ Hours. Some of the moving companies had a minimum of 2 ½ hours where others could do a 2 hour minimum. If it is a small move, it makes a big difference to have the 2 hour minimum. They do not give you a quote right off the bat for moves that take longer than there specified time frame. The price significantly jumps if it is longer than 2-21/2 hours.

The second thing that I noticed was that some companies added in a liability fee which would cover your belongings if something were to break. Some companies did not even offer such a thing. I definitely wanted to have the liability considering the things that I was moving. If the company were to break one of my belongings, then I would like to somehow be reimbursed.

I also noticed that some companies included packing up the items and also assembling the items in the new place, where others just dropped off the items in the new place and did not offer to reassemble the items and place them in their appropriate places.

As the places in my area started booking up, I had to look at the surrounding areas where there were moving companies. If it comes to this, just make sure to also ask if they start charging you from when they leave their office or when they arrive at the destination. If you book movers whose office is far, they may charge you extra for gas and mileage.

I would venture to say that taking the extra time to see what the quote includes and explaining to the moving company all of the larger items that need to be moved, is well worth the time. This will avoid extra surprise costs that you didn’t anticipate! If you have any questions in reference to moving, OwnACondo.com can assist you with this process.

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Why Your Credit is So Important

Monday, October 26th, 2009

 Credit is a financial tool that allows you to purchase things now without having to pay for them right away. Your ability to use credit and repay the creditors on time, determines how much access to credit you will have in the future. Building a solid credit history enables you to buy more when you need it. This can be very valuable when purchasing a home.

When you apply for a loan on a home, the lender will run your credit to determine how much of a risk you are. By that, I mean what is the risk that they will not get the money they lent you, back. If you have a history of not paying your bills on time, then you are a higher risk to the lender. The clients that are a higher risk to the lender typically have higher interest rates. This is a sure way to get the money back at least in interest. I like to look at this as sort of a punishment for not keeping up with your bills and damaging your credit.

Having good credit is essential and very important when purchasing a large investment such as a home. You can still purchase a home without perfect credit however you will end up paying more in the end.

If you have poor credit, then you may not be able to purchase just yet. There are many programs however that specialize in improving/repairing your credit.  These specialists will help you repair your credit by explaining exactly what you need to do to raise your credit. They can even tell you how long it will take to get your credit where it needs to be to either purchase a home and/or qualify for a specific program.

OwnACondo.com offers a Rent-to -Own Program that is great for people who need extra time improving their credit. The idea of this program is to rent for a specified period of time and make extra payments each month that will go toward a down payment and at the same time build your credit.

Although having an excellent credit score is vital to receiving the best interest rates and in the end save money, there are still programs that are available for people who are in need of repairing their credit.  Keep in mind that it is always easier to prevent bad credit then it is to fix it.

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Chicago Vacation Apartments

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

When you are thinking about your vacation there are several things that need to be considered.  Is your vacation site someplace that you may visit many times over the years?  What is the cost to vacation in this location with all the amenities you want?  Is there enough space if you intend to bring your entire family and have some privacy?  If where you go is Chicago, then think about Chicago vacation apartments or maybe a condo.  There are some nice aspects of staying in a hotel or apartment but there are reasons to book a condo.

Normally you spend only your evening hours in an apartment or hotel so why pay a higher cost.  In some cases a condo could be 10-20% less expensive.
¦lt;br /> Dining can be one of the most expensive costs for your vacation, especially if you are feeding your whole family.  Children are accustomed to foods they enjoy at home and if you are dining in your own condo then it is much easier to prepare the foods they like.  Another nice thing is that you have the option to dine in or out which can be a enormous cost reduction and please everyone by offering choices.

Peace and quiet is another advantage to a condo if you are looking for a romantic vacation without the kids.  Condos are built to keep noise to a minimum.  Hotels with elevator bells, loud late-night guests, and children running up and down halls are not very conducive to that romantic getaway.  Being in a Chicago vacation apartment or condo means that you can sleep in and you will not get that hotel employee knocking at your door when you are trying to relax.

Comfort and more space are considerations when booking your vacation in a condo rather than a hotel.  For the dollar value you get much more space in a Chicago condo than any hotel or apartment.  More space means more privacy especially if the kids came along.  Condos come with separate kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and sometimes even family rooms which translates into a more comfortable, stress free vacation for everyone.

One other major advantage to a vacation condo is that it is yours.  You can rent it out if you desire when you are not using it which helps in paying the costs.  Additionally, if you decide to sell you could realize a nice profit.

All of these things and more are the reason you should consider a Chicago vacation apartment or condo if Chicago is your primary vacation destination.

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