One of the first areas a buyer of a house will notice when checking out property is the exterior. It is the task of the landscape architect to make the garden top notch and appealing for a possible client.

Similar to that of the engineer and the building he constructed, a landscape architect envisions the planning, design, rehabilitation and preservation of the man-made property, such as in this case, real estate or simply fixer upper homes.

Hiring professionals to assist you in the landscaping of the property’s exterior maybe costly, that is why if you can do it by yourself, why not? Here are some guidelines that may assist you in improving the landscape’s exterior.

1. Make the best out of curb appeal

Now there’s something aesthetically appealing with a downward slope portion of the ground when checking out a garden. It’s simple but landscaping on slopes isn’t an easy task.

First, you need a retaining wall. Think of it like you’re getting retainers after years of wearing braces. A retaining wall assists in preventing erosion.

You can build your own stone-retaining wall. All you need are a mason’s hammer, shovel, garden hose and a couple of stakes.

Terrace the slope by building retaining walls that could hold the soil in two or more places. A mortar-less retaining wall comes in with a drainage system which means water seeps through the cracks between the stones. However, when damage from such water pressure takes place, it can easily be repaired.

Choose stones that have two flat sides which will be placed atop the retaining wall. The heavier the stones, the more stability it will provide. The heavier the stones, the greater work you’ll have to do lifting it. It’s for the best anyway.

For your wall to withstand external pressure, dig a trench about eight to ten inches deep, fully submerging the first row of stones. Check that the stones are leveled. Just because it is a downward slope doesn’t mean the stones should be jagged when lined up. After completing the first layer of the foundation, continue with the next course of stones. Tuck in soil when there is a gap in between the terraces. Cascading plants such as lobelia and thyme are also appealing when planted in stone retaining walls.

2. Cleaning out and replacing flower beds

Of course, even plants need a fresh start. In landscaping, it is also advisable that plants get replenished. Treat the weather like it is spring and you’re about to embark on a change, so that’s why you clean out the flower beds.

Remove the dead foliage from the past seasons. Make sure that the flowers are given enough fertilizer and water to be replenished again. The flower bed soil must be healthy so that the nutrients will be taken in by the plants.

By replacing flower beds, make sure that the flowers you will purchase and plant are those that are in tune with the season. Ask a flower expert about the right care for the plants.

It is also advisable that the cleaning extend not only up to the flower beds but also to the lawn. A green, lush healthy garden is always something that captures the attention of a possible buyer.

3. Maintaining the lawn

What could be one of the hardest tasks in bringing out the beauty of a garden yet again is the lawn. First step you must do is to get the right type of grass to plant. Afterwards, purchase the fertilizer and ask the plant specialist when it is advisable to fully water the lawn.

Getting a gardener to maintain and water the lawn once a week will help in improving the lawn’s beauty to the onlooker’s eye. Make sure to get someone who you can trust, who will do the job efficiently and quickly with an asking price that won’t be a hassle for you to shell out.

Some landscape architects also consider providing xeriscape to the exterior. This is where the retaining wall comes in. When done correctly, then erosion and the unwanted water can be suppressed from coming in and destroying the plants in the garden.

It is the landscape architect’s job to improve the exterior of a buy-and-sell house just as it is an architect’s job to improve the interior. Just like when you’re checking out someone you see in the bar, the physical appeal also matters.

In the real estate business, a fixer-upper can be a smart way to get started in the business and earn good money at the same time. Fixer-upper buy and sell businesses, when done with discretion and with good buying judgment can prove to be a good way to earn money without having to invest heavily – especially when done right.

When starting out in a fixer-upper business, you will first have to consider many things. It is never indicative to success to jump forlornly and without planning into any business venture. You will first have to learn as much as you can about the business before jumping on the bandwagon.

After learning what you can, then proceed to drawing realistic expectations and plans to put your business into action. From here, you can then set goals and work on plans to meet those goals. While fixer upper businesses are attractive and high-income ventures, if not done properly, they can drive one into the graveyard of debts.

What Is A Fixer Upper?

For those unacquainted with the term, fixer uppers is real estate bought from distressed home owners, fixed up (hence the term fixer upper) and sold at premium prices. In a way it is like finding a jewel in the rough, polishing it, and sending it back to the market for a good price.

Many have gone on to be millionaires from this kind of venture. If you look at it, theoretically, it makes a lot of sense. However, no matter how attractive it may seem to be, this type of business isn’t without its risks.

Fixer Uppers involve a lot of money, assumptions and risks. You assume that the real estate you are buying can be fixed up and sold at a higher price. You also assume that the house can be brought up to a state where it is attractive to those seeking a home to move into.

If you put all these intangibles together, you will find that the risk may be a little too high for some people. In fact, this is the reason itself that these ventures are high-profit ones, they are also high risk.

You can, however, reduce this risk by doing good background studies, setting realistic goals, drawing up good plans, and making calculated risks. Here are some good tips on building a good fixer upper business venture.

1. Goals – You will have to set realistic goals for your business. Fixer upper homes can earn a good deal of money, but it wouldn’t hurt to set a conservative figure as you learn the ropes. Sometimes conservative is good – especially when you are just starting to get the hang of a venture.

Some people set unrealistic goals, like aiming for $100,000,000 at the onset, hoping against all hope they can make and sell at an incredible rate. However, it would be better to keep with a realistic figure. Most fixer uppers will agree that $100,000 is a good amount to expect per year in a fixer upper venture.

This figure is taken by considering the sale of 5 fixed up houses with a cut of $20,000 per house. This isn’t a bad figure to start with. And you will be able to adjust better figures as you learn more about the business.

You will also have to consider what this business will mean to your life. Will you give up your day job just to focus on this business? Will you do this on your own free time? Or will you try a little of both to see where you do best?

2. Properties – Make sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. This could lead you to lose more than you are willing. Depending on your source of financing, you could handle one or more properties at a time. Again, it will be advisable to start slowly before gradually increasing the number of properties you handle at one time.

3. Sell or Keep – Some fixer uppers will decide to fix and keep, instead of fix and sell. This is not folly, but shouldn’t be performed without prior thought. If with your research you learn that the property rates for a given land ameliorate pretty quickly per annum and that you stand to earn more if you hold the property for a while, and then do so.

If you see that you don’t stand to earn much by keeping it, then put it on the market as soon as you see fit. On the other hand if you notice that prime property is creeping towards the property you are fixing up, holding on for a while might not be such a bad idea.

1. The First Impression –

Those that shop around for homes will give you about fifteen minutes for you to impress them. If you aren’t able to bring a twinkle in their eyes during this period then you may have lost the fight.

You then should be able to make the best presentation a fifteen minute talk can give. Rehearse all the good things you know about the home. Enumerate first all pertinent information they may want to know about the home and the neighborhood.

Among the most important things to enumerate are the availabilities of the various basic utilities and amenities available in a home. Water supply and engineering, gas lines, structural design all have a place in your presentation.

Also help them experience how wonderful living in such a place would be. Walk them through a day where the house meets all their needs. You could also tell them about the neighborhood and advantages of the place.

If the area is near schools, malls, hospitals, and institutions, let them know. This is one of the most important considerations home seekers look for in a home. They don’t want to be stuck with a pretty home that is so far out in the plains that travel becomes an inconvenience.

If travel will become a burden to them, then coming home will prove to be a bigger one too.

You should also be ready for pretty much any question a home owner can throw at you. Make sure you do your research and learn as much as possible about the house and its structure. This will give you leverage when taking about the home you are trying to sell.

Also it wouldn’t hurt if you treated the home as your own. You should carry the demeanor of one that is sorry to have to part with such a great property.

2. Choosing An Agent –

For a fixer upper, choosing a good agent may prove to be one of the hardest and most exasperating tasks at hand. However tiring it may be, it is still necessary. Remember that a good real estate agent can make the property business smoother for you, especially if you are new to the field.

When looking for a real estate agent, ask them and yourself the following questions. How long have they been in this line of work and how many sales have they been able to generate per year. This is a good gauge of a real estate agent’s skill and aptitude.

Also, ask the agent any question you can think of regarding your fixer upper property. If they can answer adeptly and without batting an eyelash, then they have above average communication skills and knowledge of the field.

Communication skills are very important in a real estate agent. You should be able to trust your agent with your work without having to worry if you are both on the same page. Good communicators are also better sales facilitators and can make your job a lot easier – not to mention more profitable.

Also take a peek into their sales plans and the method they use to lure in sales. This will at least placate you with the thought that they know what they are doing.

3. Make The Fix Up Worth It –

With a good agent and a good pitch talk, you will then have at least good property to show. You, by now, must have purchased a home with is only in need of cosmetic and external repair. If this is so, pour in the effort to make the home worth the money.

A good way to make a rough estimate is to look at other existing homes on the market similar to the one you are selling. Make sure, however, that you are able to make a profit by taking into consideration the house value, fixing fee, insurance, and other expenses you may have incurred while dealing with this house.

Holding and rehabbing an fixer-upper home can be a big task. You should be able to restore and improve every structure of the property. You may need to spend thousands of dollars to get you started on the repairs and home improvements. Here are some tips on how you can maximize your budget in holding and rehabbing your property before selling.

1. You should seek help for a professional contractor and discuss with him your plans for the restoration and home improvements you want for your fixer-upper property. Evaluate everything that he suggests for the plans, and then you can finalize everything that you have agreed. You may now get started the rehabilitation process of your property.

2. You should determine the structures that are in need of repairs and the materials needed for the improvement and repairs. Create a draw schedule with your contractor. This task is required by the creditor to see how you will manage the work and cash flow for your creditor.

3. You may now start with the first stage of the project. You may start the ripping and demolishing of the structures that you will change. You may bring your demolition group to start ripping the roof, ceiling, bathroom, and walls. Be sure that you keep the structures that are still firm and can be used for other purposes.

4. Start your work on the exterior of the home. The roofing is the primary task that you should prioritize. You may want the interior to be dry and not get wet. You can also work on the windows and sidings once the roof is repaired.

5. You can install the new designs for your bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of your home. You may also start painting the walls and furnish the flooring with marble tiles.

If you intend to hold your fixer-upper property for a long time, make sure that you check every structure of the house regularly. If there are things that are in need for repairs, do it instantly. You may do it yourself if the tasks aren’t that difficult.

A fixer upper is a term used when someone purchases a dilapidated home and after some repairs, sells it to make a profit. Traditionally done by real estate companies, some entrepreneurs have taken the idea and made it big.

Can anyone sell a fixer upper? The answer is yes. The first thing that needs to be done is buying a piece of property and working from there.

Fixer upper homes can be found in the newspaper or with a “for sale” in the front lawn. You should check to find out if there is potential to be made before investing in the property.

You can get this information by visiting the local county office and talking to the neighbors. Properties in areas that are run down aren’t worth investing in.

This is because it will be very difficult to recoup the investment in places that buyers won’t be interested in looking.

Properties that need cosmetic improvements are the best to buy and later sell. This is because there isn’t that much work needed to be done in fixing up the home.

If the home requires changing the roof or fixing the foundations, these should be avoided. The cost for repairs are expensive and will surely undermine how much money can be made if you are able to sell.

You may not have the time or the tools to make the improvements. The best way to get a good price will be to hire professionals.

You should first get a quote from various contractors before choosing one who will be responsible for the project. You should also be ready to pay for zoning and permit fees for the project.

When the improvements have been made, the best way to get a good price will be to have it inspected by a real estate agent. The professional can give a good estimate so that you won’t mistakenly put a ridiculous price on the market.

There is profit to be made in selling a fixer upper. You should just know which home has the potential before spending a ton of cash on a piece of property.

Most of the time sellers of fixer-upper homes won’t be able to give you a written home inspection report because obviously the house is most likely to be in bad shape. If this is the case, it is important that you don’t do the inspection yourself, you need to hire a professional home inspector.

Why is a home inspection important when what you are buying is a fixer-upper home? Of course the house isn’t in top condition. Why spend on professional inspection costs when you won’t be able to negotiate the seller to a lower price when you find problems to be fixed because they are selling it “as-is”?

Fixer-upper homes are of course “fixers”. Most of the time there are many things to be changed. How will you know what needs to be fixed when you don’t know what the problem is? This is where the importance of home inspection becomes apparent.

Professional home inspectors will find problems that the home buyers won’t notice. These professionals will do a more detailed and systematic inspection on the house and this includes electrical system like wiring and electric panel, indoor condition of the house like windows, doors, flooring, walls, the exterior condition of the house like lanais, garage and decks, plumbing and drainage.

Not only will a professional inspection of the fixer-upper home help you identify what the major problems of the house are, it will also help in minimizing risks and problems. Like if a house has major cracks in it that are invisible to the home buyers, this may be a major hazard and may cause the entire house to collapse in the future. Faulty electrical wiring that the home buyers took no notice of can also be dangerous and may cause short circuits.

If you are going to purchase and renovate a fixer-upper home, you don’t want to have any problems and difficulties. You want everything to be smooth and flawless without worrying about anything. So have your fixer-upper home inspected.

Many people are considering buying fixer-upper homes as a sort of an investment. This is because they can be a good source of profit.

The fixer-upper homes may not be the mansion that paparazzis feast over. However, the fixer-upper homes can still have a good market out there, especially if the there is an eager and dedicated seller to give the house a good boost.
Some Tips To Improve The Resale Value Of The Fixer-Upper Home
1. Be committed in making the house valuable. Give it enough time and effort to make it a beauty. Don’t rush on this project and just make sure that any plan is carefully implemented.

2. If the fixer-upper home to repair is still being scouted, make sure to find a good location. This is an important matter to most buyers. Ensure also that the house is at a reasonable condition, that minimal repairs will only be required, not a complete overhaul.

3. A building inspector is sure to inspect the house. Make sure that you get important feedback, especially the wrong aspects that must be addressed to know what to repair.

Once the repairs and refurbishments are done, make sure to get the affirmative reports. This will be a good assurance to your prospective buyers.

4. Be sure to get rid of any pests that may have infested the house like mites, mice or roaches. These are the undesirable elements that must not be forgotten.

5. Check out the roof, ceilings, and walls for any problem. Any cracks, even if just in the aesthetic level, may turn off potential buyers.

6. Scout for painting, carpeting and flooring services that are competitive yet affordable. These aspects are what meet the eye of the buyers. Thus make sure to give the house a good and lasting impression to the buyers.

7. When selling the house, make sure that there is proper timing. The appreciation of the value of the house can get a good estimate when the real estate market is booming.
Conclusion
The fixer-upper home is a good business venture for people. With just a few repairs and redecorations, a simple house can be turned into valuable real estate.

Just stay true to the goal of the venture. Make the proper renovations to improve the resale value of the house. Give value for the money of the potential buyer. Profit will necessarily follow.

Why? Because properties for sale abound as a response to the recent economic crisis. Some previously overpriced houses have as low as 25% discount.

Therefore, since there are too many housing projects on the horizon, realtors have to work double time and employ radical measures to be able to generate real estate leads. The competition becomes so intense that most realtors find it hard to generate the quality leads that they need.

Therefore, it is best for each realtor to find some effective strategies that will help them produce the leads that they need in order to create the sales and the money that they want.

One of the best ways to do this is through the local “parade of homes”.

In this manner, realtors, builders, and developers work together, in order to display model houses that are being sold in the market. Through the parade of homes, real estate developers are able to systematize the building a number of homes under one “sub development” through the help of some group of builders. This group of builders were arranged and coordinated by the real estate developers themselves.

Basically, homes that are included in a “parade of homes” are freely available for the public for sightseeing and explorations. Usually, parade of homes showcases groundbreaking ideas for most homebuyers.

For this reason, organizing a “parade of homes” will definitely allow realtors to find their much-needed real estate leads. This is because most people who will attend this kind of event are the ones who have the potential to buy or are interested in buying a house.

Moreover, local “parade of homes” can give the potential buyer a chance to meticulously scrutinize the overall condition, structure, and features of the house. Seeing the house on its actual condition can definitely entice every customer who is very willing to buy a house.

Therefore, it would not be hard for a real estate agent to convince the person to buy the house, not unless there is a problem with money.

It is a well-known fact that people who mostly go to “parade of homes” are the ones who are interested to buy a house or those who have plans of buying a house. Hence, these people can be easily converted into leads, and leads can easily generate deals and transactions.

Besides, it would be easier to explain presentations and features of the house to a person who have exerted efforts to attend this special event just to see the house. This is all based on the interest of that person in buying the property.

The logic is simple. If the person were not interested to buy a house, then he would not go to all the trouble of finding “parade of homes” events and travel from his place to the venue.

In addition, through the “parade of homes,” realtors can easily take their client through each property in detail, explaining the topography of the lot, the neighbors, the streets, the drainage, the security, the whole package. In this way, the realtor can explain why the property will fit the buyer’s needs.

Having been informed with all the “parade of homes” can provide, the buyer could easily realize that they have gained more than just a roof over their growing families. In turn, they would be more than willing to buy the house.

Indeed, the importance of using “parade of homes” in finding real estate leads is undeniable clear. What is important when using this strategy in generating leads is to make the buyer realize that they have just made a major investment.

When you use this tactic, you should be able to make the buyer feel that money-wise home ownership in the coming decade means buying to sell in the future. Moreover, they can only be satisfied if they were able to see the actual features of the house.

All of these things are boiled down to the fact that generating leads through “parade of homes” is relatively effective because homebuyers get to see what they are paying for. Hence, they get to be assured that where their money goes is worthy of its cause.

And you are not alone. Every single agent’s mind has crossed this idea for the simple reason that looking for leads is about the most tedious task there is in the real estate business. Unfortunately, it is also the first step in getting any business. Without leads, you would have no business at all.

You probably have had more than your fair share of frustration in building your network and exhaustion in creating as much connections to as many people as you can. You also probably worry over avoiding the $11,000 penalty that comes with the “Do-Not-Call” Rule. With this new rule alone, you’re probably asking yourself, how can you possibly find leads then, let alone viable ones?

Fortunately, there are solutions that address these concerns. They help you build an extensive network, maintain your contacts and save you from the DNC rule while getting you reliable leads that are a stone’s throw away from a closed deal.

This is called response marketing, which is getting buyers/sellers to respond to an ad you placed and having them initiate contact with you.

The fact that these buyers/sellers are responding to your ad puts them in a mindset ready to do business. This is a huge difference from cold calls where it’s usually a hit-or-miss when it comes to whether they want to do any business at all.

Another plus is that since these leads made the first contact, you are free to call them without having to worry about the DNC rule.

How Does It Work?

You start off by placing an ad that’s designed to make prospects want to respond to it. (More on this later.) You then provide a means for these prospects to contact you, usually in the form of toll-free numbers.

“Wait a minute,” you may ask. Will I be the one to answer each and every call that’s made? Wouldn’t I have to hire a whole lot of representatives to answer these calls for me?

The answer: Yes and No. The person who will answer the phone every time an ad respondent calls will be you – in the form of a recorded message. It is personal in that it is your voice the respondent hears. But it is detached enough to make it comfortable for the prospect since he/she does not have to worry answering probing questions during the first contact.

The respondent has the general options to leave you a voice message or even calling you directly through a call transfer feature. Should they want more to know more before they call you, they have immediate access to information you want to share through a fax-back option. This feature is particularly useful in sharing documents like company/personal profiles, floor plans, brochures, maps and even helpful tips in doing business in real estate.

By allowing your prospects access to such information at this level of ease makes them more inclined to do business with you. Experts and consultants in the industry have noted that nearly 75% of prospects end up transacting business with the agent they made first contact with. For an agent, that means doing what you can to make sure you’re the first person a prospect would call.

Every time a prospect calls your hotline number, you are notified right away of the call through your fax, email, cell phone and/or PDA. This immediate notification is essential since as mentioned before, leads will most likely transact with the first agent they come in contact with. The sooner you make your own response to theirs, the sooner you establish rapport, the more likely you will be able to close a deal.

And Now, Some Words About Your Ads

The ads you place must be designed to compel a reader to call you first. You do this by offering something a prospect wants to have. The nature of being a prospect shows that they are interested to know more about the real estate business. So why not offer information you feel they need to know?
Also, make it clear how you can help your prospect. They’re more interested in that than reading about how you are one of the top sellers in your district. Showing that you can and want to help makes you more inclined to be called.

Same Business, Some New Tools

The things mentioned above do not in any way replace the trusted methods of establishing rapport, conscientious follow-up and genuine character building. In the bigger picture, this accounts for the closing more than any other fancy tool.

Finding leads through these means simply save you the time and the effort in mining for new leads and allows you to devote your energies to more enriching tasks both for yourself and your prospects.

For this reason, most realtors know that they have to do their best to attract more clients and to keep up with the growing competition in the market.

In one aspect, realtors value their leads the most. They know that real estate leads are the primary source to their success. They know that without leads, there would be no deals. And without deals, there will be no sales. That is why they try to find ways on how to generate more leads and boost their sales.

Consequently, with the advent of information technology, the Internet has always been the primary source of effective marketing tools and strategies. This is because the Internet has a wider reach that can generate millions of people in just one sitting.

Hence, experts contend that realtors must conform to the growing trend of marketing today, wherein most salespeople generate their leads using the Internet.

And how is that? They build their own web sites.

Alternatively, in a recent study, the demographic profile of the Internet users showed that 50% of it have college degrees, the typical earnings of Internet users is $52,500 and almost 42% earn beyond that, and the total frequency percentage rate of Internet users on a daily basis is almost 88%.

This goes to show that more and more people are using and accessing the Internet. And with the average income of most Internet users, the National Association of Realtors contends that 96% of the Americans who would buy houses will access the Internet to find their dream houses.

These facts, in turn, require a realtor to create his or her own web site to gain the profit they wish to obtain. Most realtors just do not understand the potential of the Internet in generating the sales that they need. They do not realize that the generation of leads through the Internet can significantly increase your sales.

However, creating your own web site is a lot of work. There are a lot of various expertise and flairs that need to be mastered especially if you do not have a basic knowledge on web designing and developing. It entails the use of graphic designs, programs, search engine optimization tools, different software, etc.

On its total concept, it is really hard to incorporate all of these things on an instant. Actually, it is not a requirement that you have to create superfluous designs and features on your web site, but keep in mind that the Internet market has more fierce competition when compared to the outside world.

Hence, it is relatively important that you pay attention to your web site and come up with something that will generate leads for your business. The trend of the market today is based on the fact that the more proficiency and skill you can incorporate on your web site, in any aspect, the tougher your competitive spot in the market.

Therefore, the important aspect that you should focus more when creating a web site is on how you can generate your leads, work on it and turn it into prospects, and convert prospects into deals. That is basically how you can generate your income.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you can derive from creating your own web site:

1. You get to connect with other web sites that have greater flow of traffic where they generate almost 60,000 of visitors a day.

2. You get to create your own listings, which can significantly add usefulness to your website.

3. You can use email marketing to get hold of individuals in the target market, who are more than willing to gain updated information on real estate listings.

4. You can participate on virtual tours such as Yahoo virtual tours and on other web sites and provide links that can generate traffic to your web site and generate your leads.

5. You get to advertise your properties without the expenses that the typical advertising can give.

Indeed, creating one’s own web site should be the primary marketing tool of every realtor. Realtors should grasp the growing potential of the Internet in increasing their sales. The drift of the market today is based on the fact that the money is in the Web.