Remember, not all buyers can look past a very personal paint color choice and see the potential in a room. Your home will be attractive to more buyers if the walls are painted in a light or neutral color, making it easy for them to picture their furniture in your home.

Step 2Clean up any dirt or clutter. Nothing turns off a potential home buyer faster than a dirty home. Over time, we may get used to a little mildew on the bathtub caulking, but a buyer will notice it immediately. Also, clean up any dirty grout, countertops, sinks and toilets and give your home a good vacuuming before any buyer viewing.

Eliminate any lingering odors (e.g. smoke, food, pets) in your home. Since we live there, we get used to some odors, but a person walking into your home will pick them up immediately. Use fabric freshener on furniture and carpets and mild air fresheners to get rid of the smells.

Step 4Give your home some “curb appeal” by going around the outside and picking up and putting away any yard/ garden tools or bicycles. Keep your lawns and gardens trimmed neatly too, and if the existing paint on your trim and front door is old or faded, update it.

Step 5Brighten up the interior by cleaning the windows so they sparkle and replacing any burnt-out light bulbs. You could also use higher wattage bulbs to provide more light.

Step 6Get rid of any clutter in your basement, garage or shed. Clutter sends a message that your home may not be well maintained and is a definite turn off for a buyer. Also, tidy kitchen cupboards, as well as the pantry, and organize your closets. Neat, tidy and uncluttered storage spaces give buyers the impression there is lots of storage in your home, and storage is always a positive.

Step 7Consider painting an unfinished basement in a light color to make it appear less dark. Adding inexpensive carpeting can also make an unfinished basement more attractive.

Step 8Clean your appliances. Someone looking to buy your home might look anywhere, so be sure your oven and microwave are clean and there is no old food or food containers in your fridge.

Myrtle Beach Year-To-Date Sales

Type:                   Units:  Sold Price:      List Price:   Dom

Residential      1375     $218,800         $236,437      178

Condo                    915     $158,213          $176,905       195

Townhome        122    $141,087          $165,083       246

Luxury                 71       $789.272         $888,964      210    ($500 +)

New Const.        93      $228,380         $238,832      186     (All)

Percentage of Listing Price / Selling Price

Residential                           .925  

Condo                                     .894

Townhome                         .854

Luxury                                  .887

New Construction        .956

Not personally responsible for data. All data taken from Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service as of June 23, 2009. This data includes Foreclosures, Pre-foreclosures and Short Sales.

Which Sellers Can Consider Rent-to-Own?

mentioning rent-to-own. It does not work for everyone. However, there are

• When their home has been on the market for 90 days or longer.
• Seller has already moved into their new home.
• Relocated to a new area.  
• New marriage.  
• Owe as much on their home as it’s worth.  
• Own free and clear.
• Landlord selling a rental property. 
•  Inherited the property.
• Vacation home or 2nd home.

If this brings questions to mind that might play a part in your upcoming decisions, I’m avaiable for consultation (no cost or obligation).  DProcter@DougProcter.com

You know how AARP helps you, but did you know how much AARP helps others who are less fortunate?

When you donate to the AARP Foundation, you make a life-changing difference in the lives of others. Here are some examples:

• You’ll help seniors looking for jobs by providing job information, online and community-based training, resume building, and referrals to employers with available jobs. This is life-changing help for people who are dangerously close to, or living in, poverty and need a regular paycheck to make ends meet.
• You’ll help assist seniors in finding and applying for crucial benefits programs and services that help pay for, or defray the cost of, prescription drugs, health care, utilities and other necessities for living.
• You’ll help older seniors who are preyed upon by unscrupulous telemarketers, loan sharks and scam artists. The AARP Foundation’s litigation team fights to get the law on their side and protect them.
• You’ll help the AARP Foundation offer the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax assistance and preparation service to low- and moderate-income individuals. Since 1968, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers have helped over 47.7 million people. Last tax season, individuals received over $186 million in earned income tax credits as a result of our AARP Tax-Aide Program, which is only partially funded by the government.

The AARP Foundation is the charitable arm of AARP. We have launched an over $16 million campaign to help seniors improve the quality of their lives through our programs and services. Demand for our programs and services has increased substantially due to the economic crisis. And we’re counting on AARP members like you to help raise these urgently needed funds.

Will you support the AARP Foundation today and make a contribution of $25, $35 or even $50? Whatever amount you can afford today is vitally needed and will be greatly appreciated.

With your support today, more seniors will be able to lead better and more fulfilling lives. On their behalf, let me be the first to say “thank you.”

A leading Century 21 office with more than 50 agents in New York has made the jump to RE/MAX.

Century 21 Wittney Estates in Massapequa, N.Y., is now RE/MAX Wittney Estates, led by Broker/Owners Richard and Beth Witt. Their General Manager, Mark Cohen, also made the move to RE/MAX. The husband-and-wife team started in real estate in 1980. Their office has been recognized with multiple Centurion and Quality Service Awards, as well as the Presidential Award – the highest honor in the Century 21 system.

“We decided to make the change to RE/MAX because we share a common view and philosophy about the future direction of the real estate business,” Richard Witt says. “RE/MAX is the only organization with a national advertising program. Plus, RE/MAX brand name and leading position in the marketplace made our choice easy.”

Fellow RE/MAX Broker/Owners on Long Island welcomed the news. Nick Gigante, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Shores in Massapequa, says the addition of the Witts’ office to the network strengthens RE/MAX visibility and market share in the area. David Spiegel agrees.

“I find it inspiring that in this challenging real estate environment with firms merging and closing, that a real estate company with leadership and stability in this market area has chosen to become a RE/MAX franchise,” says the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Innovations in Wantagh. ”It’s nice to see that the RE/MAX brand and our business model attract the very best professionals in the industry.”

Henry Weber, President and Regional Director of RE/MAX of New York, says the new Broker/Owners share a common goal with the region in providing the best customer service to homebuyers and sellers on Long Island.

“We’re confident that Richard and Beth will provide tremendous opportunities for individuals who possess entrepreneurial spirit and drive,” Weber says. “We’re certain that RE/MAX Wittney Estates will be a powerful force in its market and beyond for many years to come.”

The last year has created some rather challeging times for a lot of Real Estate Companies as well as for thousands of agents. When times get tough, the tough get going. As agents, our most critical mountain to climb would be getting the word out to the still many thousands of buyers and sellers who need our services more now than ever. This is the time to take a moment to re-evaluate our marketing plans, re-shape our way of thinking and kick our marketing plans into action.

We as agents can do miraculous things, especially being a part of RE/MAX, the support they supply increases with each and every waking moment. When other companies are pulling in their reins on national media exposure RE/MAX continues to increase their exposure to help their agents. RE/MAX has for years cornered the largest share of media advertising and continues to do so. Not only does this benefit their agents but this extra exposure benefits our clients more than ever.

Take a moment and view just a little of their advertising in the following video:

RE/MAX, Above The Crowd

For all your Myrtle Beach real estate needs check out www.FindYourMyrtleBeachHome.com  and www.Doug.MoveToMyrtleBeach.net