The Top 10 Ways to Make a Bad First Impression on Inspection Day

It's inspection day! The last last thing you want to do is leave the buyer or their inspector with questions about how the home has been maintained and cared for over the years. It's time to put your home's best brick forward, so here are 10 things you'll definitely want to avoid!

The Top 10 Ways to Make a Bad First Impression on Inspection Day

1. The front door is in need of repair; weather stripping is loose, exposed, or dragging on the floor.
2. The doorbell is not intact and/or does not work.
3. What's that smell?! The house smells musty, moldy, or tired. (Dirty carpet plays a big part in this impression).
4. The home is cluttered. (You want the buyers and their inspector to be able to access all areas of the home. An obstacle course will not be welcomed with too many smiles).
5. There are water stains at the ceiling, around the windows, within the sink cabinets, or beneath the shower/bath areas.
6. Windows are inoperable or do not open and close easily.  (You'll want to address any cracked glass or missing hardware as well).
7. Kitchen appliances are not in working order or surface lights and/or fans are inoperable.
8. There are loose, uncovered, or painted electrical outlets and non-working switches.
9. There are no visible smoke and CO detectors. Or they are not working.
10. There is damaged drywall from door knobs, picture frames, etc.

Maintaining and repairing the above items (and anything else on your to-do list) before the inspection will always be to a seller's advantage. And who doesn't want to make a great first impression on buyers during the selling process anyway? But do remember to call in a professional when necessary. A repair done improperly could end up being more of a headache than the original condition!

This is a repost from Chrissy Doremus ~ U.S. Inspect ~ Home Inspections

Chantilly, VA Chrissy's Blog can be seen on ActiveRain.com

Christmas Tree Farms

Tis, the season!

 

 

****CLICK HERE FOR 2013 UPDATED POST****

 

For all you local residents looking to spruce up your holiday cheer with an authentic experience of cutting down your own Chrismas Tree, Here is a list of local tree farms. Also for the best experience, Don't forget to read the Tips for your Tree cutting trip.


Twin H Tree Farms, Inc. 
Christmas trees- you choose and we cut, Precut Christmas trees, Living Christmas trees (to plant later), Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations, trees tied
620 West Chumley Road
Bloomington, IN 47401
Phone: 812-824-7458
Email: jehopwood@twinhtree.com
Website: http://www.twinhtree.com/
Open: Daily, 10:00 am until Dark; Open for Christmas trees from the Friday after Thanksgiving until two days before Christmas.

Woodcrest Tree Farm
Choose and cut Christmas trees, Christmas gift shop, Pre-cut trees, Greens, Wreaths, Living-balled trees to plant after Christmas, Pine cones, Grave pieces, Garlands, Centerpieces
1427 Pinhook Road

Bedford IN 47421

(812) 279-5164

Email: jamicain@msn.com.
Open: 10:00 am to dark

Beasley Creek Farms 
Christmas wreaths and boughs, Christmas decorations, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo
210 St. John Road
Martinsville, IN 46151
Phone: 765-342-0209
Email us at: lstjohn4@yahoo.com.
Open: Friday 1pm - 10 pm Saturday, Sunday - 9am to 10 pm. Payment: Cash, only.

Chappelow's Christmas Trees
Christmas trees-you choose and you cut, Christmas trees- you choose and we cut, Christmas wreaths, trees tied, trees baled, saws provided, winter hay rides,
5763 East Dayhuff Road,
Mooresville, IN 46158
Phone: 317-831-2833
Email: chappelowtrees@aol.com.
Open: Friday November 24, 8am to 5pm 8am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday November 26 to December 24. Payment: Cash, only.

Jay's Tree Farm
Choose and cut Christmas trees,
7520 East Hendricks County Road,
Mooresville, IN 46158
Phone: 317-834-3804
Website: www.jaystreefarm.com/

jaystreefarm@aol.com

Open: Weekends 9 am to 5:30 pm, Weekdays 3 pm - 5:30 pm.

Snowy Pines Nursery
Choose & Cut, Precut, Retail TREE SIZE: 2’ – 10’ Accepts Credit Cards              
1375 N. US Hwy 231 
Greencastle, IN  46135
Phone: 765-653-5304
Open: Nov 22- Dec 24 
Hours: 9:30 am – 7:30 pm everyday

Wagoner Christmas Tree Farm
U-Choose & Cut your own: Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir
2148N CR 440W
Greencastle, IN 46135
Phone: 765 739 6135
Open: November 24 to December 24 9:00-5:30

Peiffer Farm  
Choose and Cut
1185 E 600 S
Franklin IN 46131
Phone: (317)933-9194
Email: peifferjoe@yahoo.com
Open: Nov 25 and weekends through Dec
Hours: Sat & Sun 9:00-Dark

Tower Family Christmas Trees
Choose & Cut; Precut
Tree Types & Services: Scotch Pine, White Pine, Fraser Fir, Other Firs, spruces, Wreaths        
Tree Size: 5’-12’
4416 W. Lowell Rd.  
Columbus, IN 47201
Phone: 812-378-.3505
Website: www.towerfamlychristmastrees.blogspot.com
EMAIL: towered@att.net
Open: Nov 25 ‘till sold out  
Hours: Mon - Fri 1-6pm;  Sat/Sun 10-5pm

Roberts Tree Farm
Choose & Cut; Tree Types & Services: Scotch Pine, White Pine, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Spruces,
Balled Trees, Wreaths, Garland, Centerpieces, Grave Pieces Tree Size: 4'-12'
9977 N CR 25 E
Seymour IN 47274
Phone: (812)522-1288
Website: www.robertstreefarm.com
Email: idok@dishmail.net
Open: Nov 25-Dec 19 Friday-Sundays
Hours: 12:00-Dark Friday-Sunday

AND if you REALLY want to make a Holiday trip...  Why not Hit SANTA CLAUS, IN...

SANTA CLAUS's Candy Castle
Holiday World
SANTA CLAUS Visitor's Guide

Market Update Week of Nov 7th

Last week, more signs appeared that things are coming our way in housing. Wednesday the Census Bureau reported that the nation's home ownership rate moved up in the third quarter to 66.1%, slightly ahead of the prior quarter. Some commentators feel the three-year decline in home ownership might be starting to bottom out. Home ownership may have been encouraged by rising rents, with the vacancy rate now up to 9.8%.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) chimed in with a forecast that existing home sales should be up 1% this year, then up another 4.3% next year. Although the median price will fall slightly this year, it's predicted to rise 2.6% in 2012. New home sales, after dropping 4.7% this year, are projected to rise 21.3% in 2012. And this year's 1.8% price hike will be followed by a 3.8% gain next year. Let's hope they're right.

BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK...Passion counts for a lot. The relentless intensity and commitment you need to succeed come from enjoying what you do and believing it's worthwhile.

• Review of Last Week 

CLASSIC GREEK DRAMA...The European Union's efforts to avert a Greek tragedy featured a soap opera produced by the Greek government. One day they announced the EU bailout proposal would be put to a vote by Greek citizens, the next day opposing parties agreed to accept it. This melodrama pushed stock prices down, up, down, and after posting gains four weeks in a row, the S&P 500 scored a 2.5% weekly loss. The Fed also contributed, issuing a policy statement citing "a moderate pace of economic growth over coming quarters" and predicting "the unemployment rate will decline only gradually."

Friday's October Jobs Report revealed employment levels consistent with weak-to-moderate economic growth. Just 80,000 new jobs were added in October, but prior months were revised upward and the unemployment rate edged down from 9.1% to 9.0%. ISM Manufacturing and Services indexes showed business still growing, although very slowly. Consumers are doing their part, with weekly chain store sales UP 3% for the year by one survey and UP 5.2% by another. 

For the week, the Dow ended down 2.0%, to 11983; the S&P 500 was down 2.5%, to 1253; and the Nasdaq slipped 1.9%, to 2686.

Investors worried about the European debt situation flocked to the bond market in droves. Yields and mortgage rates edged down, as bond prices escalated. The FNMA 3.5% bond we watch ended the week up 1.79, at $102.05. National average mortgage rates dropped again, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey, and remain at very low levels.

DID YOU KNOW?...This week's University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index is a survey of people's feelings about their financial situation and the economy. The index was normalized to 100 in 1964.

• This Week’s Forecast  

VERY QUIET ON THE ECONOMIC NEWS FRONT... Following last week's Fed meeting and employment report, this week's sparse economic news provides a nice breather. Initial Unemployment Claims should stay near the 400,000 level. The September Trade Balance is forecast to hold steady, with imports about $45 billion ahead of exports. Michigan Consumer Sentiment is expected to improve.  

• The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar


Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Economic Calendar for the Week of Nov 7 – Nov 11

Date	Time (ET)	Release	For	Consensus	Prior	Impact
W Nov 9	10:30	Crude Inventories	11/5	NA	1.826M	Moderate
Th Nov 10	08:30	Initial Unemployment Claims	11/5	400K	397K	Moderate
Th Nov 10	08:30	Continuing Unemployment Claims	10/29	3.690M	3.683M	Moderate
Th Nov 10	08:30	Trade Balance	Sep	-$45.8B	-$45.6B	Moderate
F Nov 11	09:55	Univ. of Michigan Consumer Sentiment	Nov	61.5	60.9	Moderate

 
• Federal Reserve Watch    
 
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months...Economists do not see a change in the Funds rate through mid-2013. A dramatic rise in inflation could alter that of course. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Dec 13	0%–0.25%
Jan 25	0%–0.25%
Mar 13	0%–0.25%

Probability of change from current policy:

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Dec 13	<1%
Jan 25	<1%
Mar 13	<1%