Coldwell Banker DeSloover Realty Blog

The everyday hustle and bustle of modern life leaves little time for reflection, much less meditation. Yet researchers have determined that downtime actually increases retention of new information and assists in productivity.

For those who simply can’t slow down, the idea of a week-long mountain retreat is enough to inspire more stress. Fortunately, meditation doesn’t need to be prolonged to be beneficial. Following are some tips to help you achieve a more peaceful state of mind through meditation:

Find a Favorite Place: Very little is needed to begin meditation, but a quiet, restful place is essential. Whether at home or work, take time to carefully select a spot that will allow you to relax, close your eyes for a few minutes and avoid all distraction.

Breathing Basics: Meditation is practiced by diverse people in different positions and places around the world, but one thing nearly all have in common is the emphasis on breathing. Learning how to properly breathe takes a bit of practice but is simple to start. Simply begin counting as you inhale and exhale. Start with a count of one and continue to 10 as you progressively become more in tune with your rate of breathing.

Tame the Timer with Technology: Yes, technology is a major contributor to the stress of daily life, but it’s also a terrific tool. Download free audio files with time limits to help guide you through a meditation session, reminding you to breathe deeply, take a short break and other healthy habits throughout the day. The Insight Meditation Center offers free audible downloads and timers at this website.

If the idea of spending time with family and friends over the upcoming holidays fills you with a sense of foreboding, you are not alone.

Despite how much we might miss seeing loved ones throughout the year, family get-togethers are frequently sources of holiday-related stress.

Fortunately, there is a better way. Following are three ways to help you make the holidays memorable without the mayhem:

KISS: This stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid, and that is good advice when planning for family gatherings. Whether you are hosting an evening dinner or a full-fledged family reunion, emphasize the simple pleasures to avoid additional stress. Perfection is not required for everyone to enjoy family gatherings. The simple pleasures of food, family and fun are always in style.

Engage Others: Write an email or set up a Facebook page to help coordinate meals, travel arrangements and other essential tasks, and entertainment. Recruit others to bring a favorite dish, photo albums/camera, music and other tools to help commemorate the occasion. Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that everyone is up to date on any changes and encourages active participation by young and old alike. And don’t forget to post pictures after the big event.

Rent It: Sometimes the easiest way to deal with big gatherings is to lease or rent equipment, space or even lodgings. Whether you need a couple of extra canopy tents and tables or an entire lodge for a fabulous family get-together, leasing is a quick and convenient way to get more space.

Whether you are relocating, purchasing a new property or simply needing to move ahead, it’s sometimes necessary to sell a home fast. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done during a buyer’s market.

During the height of the real estate boom homes were selling in weeks, but today much of that has changed. Don’t despair, though. There are several steps that you can take to help move your property in troubled times.

Work with an Experienced Agent: A surprising number of people try to sell a home on their own. Most turn to a professional agent after a few months, but the damage is already done. When time matters, go with a pro right from the start. Remember, the agent is acting like a publicity manager for the property.

Tackle Those Tough Jobs: Clear out the clutter and yard debris and then ask your agent for an honest appraisal of the property. Be sure to complete the “honey do” list to avoid competing against foreclosures and other homes with deferred maintenance. Not only will the home show better, but photographs, virtual tours and open house events will generate more interest when the home looks its best.

Invest in an Inspection: For approximately $400, an inspection might be one of the best investments you make. It demonstrates the condition of the home to prospective buyers and helps ease their minds. If you have access to a recent survey and appraisal, be sure to include those in the information package given to prospective buyers.

With the popularity of online photographs and virtual tours, some people are of the opinion that an open house is a waste of time. However, sellers should think twice before discounting this time-tested strategy. Following are some things you need to know about hosting an open house:

What Is an Open House?

Unlike an individual showing, an open house allows anyone to view the home, whether they currently work with an agent or not. It’s an excellent way to attract buyers new to the market or just beginning a search, those without an agent, and even sporadic buyers who aren’t necessarily in the market but share the information with family and friends.

Who Should Host an Open House?

Hosting an open house is not for the novice. Real estate agents not only provide the marketing, scheduling and even security advice, but make sure the home is properly presented to prospective buyers who decide to drop in and see the home.

How Do Open Houses Sell a Home?

Higher-Priced Homes: An open house is often effective in helping to sell homes priced above the median average for a given location, especially when used in combination with the Multiple Listing Service and online listings.

Tough Market: In 2005, more than 50% of sellers used an open house, with various degrees of success. However, that rate has declined in part due to the numerous foreclosures on the market. Unfortunately for sellers, trying to compete on price alone is difficult – and costly. Instead, use an open house to showcase the property and the neighborhood. It’s one more way to help your house stand out from the crowd in a buyer’s market.

Unique or Uncommon Features: Without doubt, one of the most important reasons to hold an open house is to showcase a unique property or special features that are difficult to communicate or conceptualize. Sometimes it really is necessary to see a property to believe it, and an open house allows the buyer to fall in love at first sight by experiencing it firsthand.

Tired of the same old thing at Halloween? Looking for something other than the old rush from door to door with the kids?

The following ideas might liven up the evening whether you’re planning a small get-together with family or friends, or a huge neighborhood bash with every kid in town.

Put on a Play or Pageant

Not only does everyone get to dress up for the part, but audience participation ensures that everyone has a good time. Hand out awards for most creative, best impromptu rendition and other notorious presentations.

Vary Your Festive Foods

Diabetes, food allergies and other conditions are just a few commonly encountered health concerns associated with candy. Make sure everyone can enjoy the evening, with a selection of festive foods that are both healthy and attractive. Raisins, nuts and popcorn come in handy snack sizes while fruit and veggie trays make a perfect backdrop to the evening’s theme.

Have an Old-Fashioned Hoedown

Who can resist an old-fashioned hoedown complete with campfire, dancing and perhaps even a bit of nostalgic storytelling? Halloween is also the perfect time of year for hayrides, apple cider and outdoor activities such as horseshoes.

Donate to a Good Cause

Put together a charity event. Rather than walk all over town collecting candy, line up sponsors or collect food to benefit the needy. Not only is it a great way to spend the evening, but helping others is a valuable life lesson sure to make a lasting impression.

It’s a lousy feeling – one most people have experienced. You’ve just received a call from friends who will be stopping by unexpectedly. But the homestead is less than ready for entertaining company. Following is a checklist to help you get your home ready quickly:

Clear Out the Clutter: Magazines, toys, dishes and other signs of life make your home appear more messy than it might really be. Take 10 minutes to do a quick pickup in order to put everything in its place. And don’t forget to take out the trash while you’re at it.

Brush Up the Bathroom: Visitors routinely need to use the restroom, so be sure to spend a few minutes cleaning the sink and toilet in preparation for their arrival. Put out fresh towels and clear the counters of medications or personal items, fill the paper roll, and make sure the room smells clean and fresh.

Vacuum and Dust: A few minutes with the vacuum and duster not only leaves the house looking better, but it can also reduce discomfort among guests who suffer from allergies or asthma. Disposable dusters and quick picker-uppers enable you to make swift work of floors and other surfaces without allowing particles to become airborne.

Add a Finishing Touch: If you have a few minutes to spare be sure to fluff the throw pillows and add a vase of fresh flowers or other items to attract attention. Turn on lights to emphasize areas and turn off lights to strategically draw attention away from other areas. It’s a well-known trick in the field of interior design and can work wonders when preparing for a quick get-together.

If you’re looking for the perfect house in a good neighborhood at a great price, you may have to compromise to get what you want. Following are some things to consider:

Décor: You may cringe at the ’60s shag rugs, flocked wallpaper and lime green living room, but cosmetic changes cost very little and can transform a place.

Appliances and Fixtures: The avocado-colored appliances and brown bathroom fixtures may cost more to fix, but if this is your dream house it’s a sound investment. An addition will also boost the value of your property while making it more livable for you and your family.

However, there are also unseen problems to be concerned with, like mold, critters and cracked foundations.

Following are some things to look for before you sign on the dotted line:

• Signs of water damage
• Out-of-date fuse boxes
• Recent – and badly done – patching jobs (inside and out)
• Signs of neglect such as cracked walkways and sagging decks
• Problems such as sagging roofs, shingle loss or chimneys with bricks missing; in the attic there may be traces of animal life or damp patches
• Ill-fitting windows, outside walls that feel icy in winter and other possible signs of insulation problems

Anyone can put a “For Sale” sign on a property, but an experienced real estate agent makes all the difference when it comes to marketing and promoting a property. Following are some examples of what goes on behind the scenes in promoting a property:

1. Communication: Writing a description that sells isn’t as simple as it might sound. Presenting a property in the best light while maintaining professional objectivity is as much an art as a skill. Experienced agents understand what buyers are looking for and how to communicate with a specific target market.

2. Contacts: If the most important aspect of property valuation is location, contacts must surely be the most important aspect of selling a property. Real estate agents are expert networkers with extensive contacts within the community. In addition to listing the home on the Multiple Listing Service, personal websites and other Internet venues, real estate agents often send out mailers to prospects on their personal client lists. Using an agent often allows sellers to close on properties months faster than trying to go it alone.

3. Confidence: It’s no secret that people are more inclined to do business with someone who puts them at ease and instills a sense of confidence. Buyers and sellers alike often feel more relaxed, free to ask questions and open to negotiation when working through a third party. Agents work closely to show the home, provide valuable feedback and create a win-win situation that benefits everyone involved.