Ideas for Fixing & Flipping Houses

Start by cleaning the exterior of the property. Does it need light sweeping or a heavier job done with a pressure washer?

Check for peeling paint. Can it be touched up, or does the exterior need a full paint job?

Is the trim wood in good shape? Any rotted wood will need replacing. Any unpainted or unstained wood will need to be covered.

How does the front of the property look from across the street? If plants cover windows or need trimming for other reasons, cutting them back can make a big impact.

If there are no pretty plants in the yard, consider planting long-lasting flowers to add color and charm.

Any leaning or broken fences or gates should be repaired or replaced.

If the lawn is dead or full of weeds, watering and weeding is in order.

Replace dated fixtures, house numbers, and other accents.

Be sure the front door opens smoothly and looks nice.

Cleaning the whole house may make the biggest impact of all. If the house is in otherwise good shape, cleaning kitchen counters, bathrooms, windows, etc. will make a shocking difference and good first impression.

Washing windows brings in more light and sparkle.

Be sure to vacuum window sills and runners, where dead bugs seem to gather.

Where possible, add higher wattage lights for brightness.

Walls may need cleaning (especially if the house was owned by a smoker).

If the condition of walls is beyond simple cleaning, perhaps a full paint job is in order.

Walls in good condition, but with odd or dark colors, will be improved greatly by covering with white or very lightly off-white paint. This will make the room seem larger, as well.

Look over window coverings. Are they an asset or a liability to the property? If in poor shape or outdated, remove them.

Any décor item that is not attached to the real estate will still be the seller’s property to take home once the house is sold.

Therefore, investing in a few décor items, such as mirrors, art, new bath and kitchen towels (that may be used in the next house or one’s own home), etc. can give the house a homey feeling and direct buyers’ eyes to specific areas.

If window coverings need to be added, choose light, neutral colors. Windows with a great view may be best left uncovered.

Some homes need cute decorations, some more expensive houses need elegant decor. Access the home and choose decor that enhances the particular home.

To save money, decor can sometimes be borrowed from friends or even one's own home.

'DIRTY' WORDS IN REAL ESTATE ADS

By JEREMY OLSHAN



Here are seven dirty words you can't say in real-estate ads: exclusive, quiet, private, bachelor, kids, walking and playroom.

Despite repeated warnings in state-mandated training sessions that such language could violate anti-discrimination laws in the context of selling or renting an apartment, the seemingly innocuous terms continued to appear in ads.

So this week, real-estate giant Corcoran officially banned more than 200 potentially "offensive" words and even installed new software that makes it impossible for brokers to type them into their ads, according to a memo e-mailed company-wide.

Laws such as the Fair Housing Act were written to prevent discrimination against buyers or renters on the basis of their race, gender, occupation, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

Now, due to a slew of recent court cases and increased enforcement, companies such as Corcoran are taking pains to strip terms such as "bachelor pad," which may discriminate against couples, and the terms "couples" and "family-friendly," which may offend singles.

The Corcoran list considers mentions of nearby churches and synagogues as sinful, while the word "professional" is out because an ad cannot discriminate based on occupation.

The company also excised the term "exclusive" because it may be interpreted as meaning racially exclusive. The reasoning behind some of the banned words - like "quiet" and "safe" - could not be readily determined.

The guidelines have some Corcoran employees frustrated.

"By saying 'walking distance,' I would be discriminating against those who are unable to walk," Christine Toes, a Corcoran vice president, wrote on the blog urbandigs.com. "Hopefully, I can still use 'close proximity to public transportation.' "

A spokeswoman for Corcoran said Toes' views did not represent those of the company.

Officials from the city Commission on Human Rights and the state Division of Housing did not return calls for comment.

Brokers are required to take Fair Housing training to get their license, and refresher courses are regularly given. But despite this, potentially discriminatory information such as the identity of the local school district and mention of amenities such as playrooms continue to find their way into ads.

Ensuring that real estate is available to all regardless of age, race or occupation is a noble cause, but the new interpretations of the law seem to extend such protections to the extreme, Toes said.

It is not against the law for brokers to describe a coffin-sized studio as "cozy."

jeremy.olshan@nypost.com

Source: http://www.nypost.com/seven/03122009/news/regionalnews/dirty_words_in_ads_159197.htm

Apartment Hunting Tips

Finding an apartment in New York City is always difficult, for people of all income levels. Be sure you know all there is to know about looking for an apartment before beginning your search.

Ways to Find an Apartment

#1: Brokers One of the most common methods of finding an apartment in New York City is using a real estate broker. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in, it's usually best to find a broker based there. Many brokers also have Web sites where you can view available apartments, sometimes even with photos and detailed descriptions.

#2: Word-of-Mouth There is good news for those who would prefer not to pay hefty brokers' fees: a substantial number of New Yorkers find their units by word-of-mouth, mostly from friends, relatives, and co-workers. If you're looking for an apartment, make sure everyone you know knows that you're looking.

#3: Classified Ads The third most common method used by recent movers is a classic: the classified ad. Movers cite using the New York Times, the Village Voice, the Daily News, local or community papers, and Newsday. Foreign-language or ethnic newspapers, such as El Diario and the Jewish Press, are also a good source of classified ads. Many newspapers now post their classified ads online, so make sure to check out the Web sites of local papers and online message boards like newyork.craigslist.org.

#4: Walking Around A small but notable percentage of movers find their apartment when they simply see a "For Rent" sign. It can pay to walk around the neighborhood you want to live in and look around.

#5: Housing Office If you're living here for professional or educational reasons, don't neglect your organization's housing office or service. They know what you often don't about renting in New York City and it's their job to help you find a great new apartment.

#6: Referral services are a growing resource that savvy hunters, especially those who are comfortable searching on the Internet, should not neglect. For a monthly fee these services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available.

#7: Apartment Referral Office Finding a Vacant Apartment in Same Building Other movers find their apartments in the same building in which they already live. Be proactive and talk to neighbors, doormen, supers, landlords, and/or your management company to see if another apartment is available in the same building.

#8: Going on Waiting Lists Affordable housing is often offered through waiting lists or application lotteries. If you have time before you need to move, put your name on waiting lists and/or fill out applications for affordable housing through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), or the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA).

#9: Community Groups You may occasionally find housing through local government offices or community groups that keep information on neighborhood housing notices.

#10: Apartment Guides Lastly, don't forget to rely on resources like our Apartment Guide. These general references provide information about leases and other housing issues.

Real Estate Rollercoaster

Brooklyn's Amazing Sights

Brooklyn Heights

Grand Army Plaza

Brooklyn Flea Market

Coney Island

Botanical Garden

Bensonhurst

Prospect Park

Downtown Brooklyn

Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Bridge