Categories Miscellaneous

Getting your Home Ready to Sell

The process of selling your home can seem overwhelming, but with a little planning and preparation you can take the stress out of selling. Getting your home ready to sell may take a little work, but the end result will be a house that sells quickly and at the price that you want. There are a few simple things that you can do to ensure that your home can be shown in its best light.

Have a Home Inspection Done

The first step is finding out what repairs need to be done. A property inspection before you begin will allow you to find any problems that need to be addressed. Having an inspection done and any repairs taken care of will work to your advantage because any potential buyers will likely have an inspection of their own done and use those findings to negotiate the asking price. A home inspection will discover any hidden problems that could affect the sale of your home.

Give it Some Curb Appeal

Go to the street and look back at your home. If a potential buyer doesn’t like the looks of the outside, chances are good that they won’t even look at the inside. One of the best ways to give your home curb appeal is a fresh coat of paint. Chipped, peeling, or dingy paint can make your entire house look old and worn. Even giving the trim a fresh coat of paint can revive the entire house.

Broken shutters and damaged gutters or downspouts can also make your home look shabby. Things that you may be blind to will jump out at a potential buyer so make sure that everything on the outside of your home is in good repair.

Make sure that your lawn is neat and tidy as well. Keep the lawn mown and trimmed as well as flowerbeds weed free and well watered. If you don’t have any flowers, consider planting some. Even a few hanging plants or planter boxes on the porch can give your home a well-cared for look that draws buyers in. Be sure that any clutter such as children’s toys or bikes are stored neatly and not left lying around.

Spruce up the Inside as Well

A fresh coat of paint on the inside can give your home a much needed make over. When repainting, choose neutral colors because although you may love that lavender bedroom, potential buyers may not. Choose earth tones or off-whites, but try to avoid stark whites unless using it for ceilings or trim.

Make sure you de-clutter the inside of your home as well. Take as many of your personal belongings as possible and store them while the house is being shown. Too much clutter will not only detract from the home, it will make it look smaller than it actually is. This is particularly true in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

There are of course, many more things to consider when getting your home ready to sell. These tips are just a start, but once you begin you will often see other things that can be done to make your house look even better. When it comes to selling your home, time, budget, and your imagination are the only real limitations.

Categories Marketing & Advertising

Getting Your Business Noticed Online Without Breaking the Bank

You just recently launched your business on the Web. The only problem is that not even your friends know about it. As a small enterprise that is just starting up, it is likely you don’t have a huge budget to spend on marketing and get the word out that you’re open for business. It may be a daunting task to have your business found online, but don’t worry because there are plenty of options available to you if you want your business noticed at low or no cost.

Take Advantage of Social Media

These days, small and big businesses are launching campaigns using popular social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and more. Social media sites allow you to talk about your business or product and engage with your target customers. Make sure to post new content and regularly manage your account to keep it both informative and updated. This will allow you to develop a brand that generates loyalty and encourages traffic to your site.

Create Unique, Shareable Content

Business blogs are one of the most cost effective ways to increase organic traffic. Create informative, keyword-rich articles that can be easily searched. Google prioritizes and rewards unique and valuable content, which can help establish your company as a leader in your niche. Adding interesting videos or graphics that you can share across your social media pages is a smart idea. With hot-linked or add buttons, it becomes easy for your followers to share your contents and products in different social media platforms.

Co-market Your Business with an Established Company

Form a partnership with a recognized online company that boasts of a loyal following to increase awareness about your unique brand. Working alongside an influential business allows you to expand your reach, which may not be possible with other forms of marketing.

Offer Freebies

Stir the market by running competitions and giveaways on your website accounts and social media pages. Anything free is appreciated by everyone, whether old or potential customers. A product offered free not only intices customers to take a closer look at your website, but it also encourages new customers to consider your product.

Request Family, Friends and Colleagues to Spread the Word

You may not have many followers on social media, but the people you know may probably have lots. By asking them to follow your new business and get the word out online, the chain of awareness becomes longer as more people get to know your product. Offer rewards to people who share links to your site or products by giving them referral discounts.

The importance of the Internet on marketing and advertising for your business cannot be undervalued. It enables you to build relations with customers and increases your sales prospects without spending much. As your online business grows, so does your profit, providing you with enough funds to take bolder steps in getting your online business noticed. By using the above strategies that practically involve no cash, you can be on your way to taking a significant lead over your competitors.

Categories Law & Legal Services

Tips for Hiring a Lawyer

Whether you are buying a home, drafting a trust or will, or involved in a legal issue, it is vital that you have the best legal counsel available. Hiring the right attorney can make a big difference no matter what your legal needs are and there are some things that can help ensure that you choose the right lawyer for your situation.

Trust your Instincts

Attorneys often offer a free initial consultation. Take advantage of that offer. Use the consultation to not only talk about your case, but to get a feel for whether or not the attorney will be a good fit. Many people have the ability to determine someone’s character by simply talking with them. Whether or not you have that ability, if your instincts tell you that something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. It is important to feel that your lawyer is honest and doing his or her best for you and if there are doubts it is always better to look elsewhere.

Will the Attorney be Thorough and Responsive?

You can also use the initial consultation to determine whether or not your lawyer will be responsive and detail oriented. Let your instincts be your guide in this as well. Ask your attorney if it is acceptable for yo to contact them during your case in order to discuss whatever concerns you might have. It he or she hesitates in any way, it may be a sign that you will have trouble obtaining answers or relaying your thoughts when your case begins. Also ask whether you will be given periodic updates either in writing or by phone and whether he or she will be the point of contact or you will be going through a paralegal or assistant. There are few things more stressful than an attorney who won’t respond to your question or listen to your concerns. Make sure that the line of communication will remain open.

Make sure they have Experience

An attorney that you can trust is important, but it is also important that they be experienced in the field or law that you need them for. For example, an estate lawyer will best be able to help you draft a will while a trial lawyer is needed for defense in a criminal case. Like Doctors, lawyers often have specialties and you should be sure that you choose one who specializes in what you need.

How much will it Cost?

While honesty, experience, and responsiveness are important, they will mean nothing if you can’t afford the fee. Price should be discussed in the initial consultation and limits should be set. You don’t want to find out half way through your case that your attorney is charging per letter, per hearing, etc. It is wise to try to get a written estimate of litigation costs and if possible, stipulate a maximum amount. While these things won’t be set in stone, at least you’ll have a ballpark figure and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Finding the right attorney may take time. Don’t rush to choose the first candidate that you talk to. Your time and patience can prevent a bad legal experience in the long run.