There's Still Time To Sell

The fourth quarter of the year can cause some sellers to worry if their home hasn't sold yet. But according to Trulia.com, there is still time to sell.

Typically, many buyers want to move and get situated before the actual end of the year and holidays are here, but that shouldn’t give you pause. Yes, the spring is considered a prime time to sell; however, there is still time to sell your home whether you live in a cold or warm climate.

Overall, there are some important factors that may help you get your home sold: 1) remember that the number of buyers may be reduced as we head closer to the holidays; 2) there are always serious buyers looking during the holiday season, especially if they're out looking at homes in dreary weather or nearing the holidays.

Knowing this, be sure to make the most of every showing; don't get lazy with  the upkeep of your home despite the fact that you are juggling selling a home, working, or taking care of the kids. Getting your home sold in the fourth quarter must be a priority (with the goal being to sell sooner, rather than later, in the quarter).

Next, look at the rates of sales activity in your market to determine how long to keep your home listed through the holidays. Some areas may not be hot, but that doesn't mean there's little chance of selling. Some people may even have to purchase before the end of the year to meet their tax guidelines.

Also, staging your home well is also vital. the fourth-quarter sale requires a good strategy like using an expert stager where you can decorate for the holidays, but don’t overdo it so as to turn prospective buyers off when they see your home. With a reduced number of buyers seeing your home, make the most of each showing by having a well-staged and clutter-free house to show off. In any market, proper staging strategies provide a competitive advantage.

Lastly, the fourth quarter can see more buyers because interest rates remain historically low. The impending threat of a rise in mortgage rates could have more buyers willing to lock into an exceptional rate, despite that it means making a move during the holidays.

A more serious pool of buyers coupled with stronger interest rates and less competition makes the end of the year a great time to sell. Please contact us if you have any questions about your specific situation.

There Are 118 Days Left In 2012...

5 Motivational Secrets of Successful People

Some make success look easy but the truth is that when a person who has reached the brass ring is noticed it’s only after the most difficult steps have been traversed, and not when they are struggling, which all people who have worked hard have done.

Luckily for those who want to follow in their footsteps, the secrets to success are not secrets at all. In fact, there are five things that all successful people do in order to achieve their dreams.

1. Successful people take responsibility for their actions and inaction

Have you ever wished for success but never put forth the hard work? If you can admit it, then you are on your way to becoming successful, because a person looking to become something bigger than he or she is will be honest enough to say ‘I made a mistake,’ or even ‘I was not totally committed to my dream.’

Most people would rather lie to themselves. They’ll buy new gadgets while on the brink of bankruptcy, eat out when they should be on an at-home budget, and sit around playing video games and eating snack foods while they tell themselves that they are going to be in a body building contest.

2. Successful people are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their dreams

Sacrifice is a must for success. Sometimes it is spelled out like the amount of time it takes to finish college. Other times it’s not, like the amount of rejections one must go through in order to publish a book.

The length of time that it may take is of little consequence when you want something badly enough.

3. Focus and Determination

When one is chasing a dream the pursuit must be a single-minded focus at times, which requires immense determination.

Aspiring pro athletes will be in the gym when they are not in class, and some will let their grades slide in order to ensure that their bodies will be able to operate at a higher level. Like these athletes, musicians will spend countless hours perfecting their technique and compositions, and this does not come but with the focus that brings about time allotted for practice.

Abraham Lincoln was noted as having practiced his speeches repeatedly. From this, he was able to overcome being unsure of what to do with his hands and keep his voice from breaking into a high pitch.

4. Focus leads to field expertise

From this focus people become experts in their fields. A musician knows all of his scales. Business people know all of the proper terminology, such as gross and net income, ROI, ROE, and billable hours.

Without focus, people who want to be successful may find themselves in embarrassing situations.

5. Successful people have a written plan as well as a personal mission statement

Without a written plan, it is unlikely that success will be achieved because goals are not reached in a day, but daily. Every day must involve something that helps a person achieve their goals.

Over time priorities change and so do people, but a good plan should not. If it is not readily available along with a personal mission statement then it will more likely than not be forgotten like so many other dreams that were really just wishes.

Do You Have an Attitude of Gratitude?

LIVE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE 

 by Glen Hopkins

Imagine for a moment one of those nights when you just can't fall asleep and you have to get up early the next morning for a very important meeting of which you are the keynote speaker. Your alarm clock goes off early in the morning waking you from what little sleep you had. You stumble out of bed, have a quick shower, grab a coffee and some toast, and off you go to fight the traffic on the way to work.

Does that sound like the start of a terrible day? Most would answer 'yes'. Few people however, would answer, 'no'. These are the people, who are in my opinion blessed with a gift. A gift that determines how they view their life. These people live with 'an attitude of gratitude'. For them, the situation described could be worse. Much worse. For example, think of the man who doesn't have a bed, let alone a roof to over his head. When he is awoken from what little sleep he is able to get, it is by the rain falling on his cold body. He too stumbles to his feet and begins his journey to work in his bare feet. His work is in the field of survival. He searches though garbage cans for scraps of half-rotten food to eat and odd bits of clothes to keep him warm.

The purpose of this example is to illustrate that we all have so much to be grateful for. Even in times when it seems that nothing could be worse, there is always a reason to be grateful. And when you feel a sense of gratitude, you feel a sense of happiness and content. My challenge to you today is to learn to look for the good in every situation and live with 'an attitude of gratitude'.

I assure you, if you were the fellow searching for food in garbage cans you too could find things to be grateful for. You just have to look hard enough and 'open your eyes' to what is around you. You have to focus on what's good in your life, not what's bad.

"I once was distraught because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." - Unknown

Life works in mysterious ways. Time and time again there have been stories of people who are in a dire strait yet they are found helping others who are experiencing greater turmoil. This is because once you have helped someone in greater need than yourself, you always feel better. You feel better because you have helped another human being, and this forces you to change your mindset from focusing on your problems to focusing on their solutions.

Always focus on the solution, not the problem and live with an attitude of gratitude! Mother Teresa was a primary example of this phenomenon. Her entire life revolved around helping others in need. As a result she experienced a great deal of love and self-satisfaction in her life.

I challenge you now to take a moment to think of five things in your life that you are grateful for today. For example, your friends, your family, your job, your sense of smell, touch, sight, and sound. The list can go on and on. Imagine what your life would be like without these things. Write them down on a piece of paper and really think about the things you are grateful for. You will be amazed at how great you will feel!

Glen Hopkins