Flooring Information

While most people prefer other businesses, some people get into laminate flooring business. Like any other business in the world, if done right, its a quite profitable business. Laminate flooring has been successful since it was introduced on the market, first in Europe and then in the United States in 1996.

Here are some basic steps to follow before you start your laminate flooring business:

You should make specific short and long-term plans with clear goals and ways to evaluate them. Determine the resources needed such as the place from which you will work, people, money etc.

You should have a pretty good idea of what products and services you will sell and the benefits people who buy them will get.

Find important information about your competitors like their strengths and weaknesses because it helps you in setting a competitive bid. Always try to be unique.

Focus your promotions effectively by knowing who will buy your products/services. Think about the different promotion strategies and find out the best that suits your business. Focus your promotions in reaching the greatest number of customers.

Set up your laminate flooring business. Find out the start-up costs gear, furniture, licenses etc.. Also find out how much you will have to pay to stay in business. These costs usually include rent, taxes, utilities, promotional expenses, etc.

Insurance is a must. There are several types of insurance that you must have like health and property insurance, for example. You may have to talk to an insurance agent to determine what suits your particular situation.

Take care of all the legal matters. You should contact your states department of commerce and industry and find out all the things you need to do in order to start your own laminate flooring business. In most cases you need to get a business license from your local municipality.

Start a business checking account and use it to perform any money related operation like depositing your income or pay your business related expenses. Setup a fairly simple bookkeeping system to record all your income and expenses in a way that makes tax preparation and monitoring your situation easier. Ask your tax advisor or accountant to make sure you do this right.

This list is far from a complete one so use it just to learn the basic steps to be taken when starting your own laminate flooring business. You should consult a business professional and do additional research to make sure your business will be successful.

About The Author

Laminate flooring enthusiasts unite! Installation, maintenance, selection, e.g., Harmonics, Pergo, Shaw, Mannington - you name it, we are talking about it. Join us at http://laminateflooring.oncloud8.com.

timlaminate@yahoo.com

About the Author

free lancer

If you want to become a real estate investor, find a "fixer-upper" owned by an anxious seller. Finding distressed houses at bargain prices, fixing them up, and then selling them on a consistent basis can make you a millionaire.

Why Sellers Sell At a Discount

Homeowners problems often prevent them from staying on top of their homes upkeep, and factors such as job loss, divorce, serious illness, various addictions, or other personal problems quickly overwhelm them. These sellers cant make the needed repairs because of financial or physical limitations, and when that happens, their home becomes a low priority and sometimes will go into foreclosure.

Look for the "Triple D"

Home sellers with three problems give beginning investors a great opportunity. A "Triple D" is a Doghouse, involved in a Divorce, and in Default. The label "doghouse" comes from Southern California Realtors who used this term to describe the worst fixers. These houses maybe "tired" and need only cosmetic work in order to favorably compare with other homes in the area.

What to Look for in a Doghouse

The hardest house for a homeowner to sell is a "doghouse," "dump," or "fixer-upper." These run-down houses scare off most buyers, who dont have the money to cover the down payment, closing costs, new furniture, carpeting, appliances, roof repairs, and other deferred maintenance required to bring the home back into top condition.

As you look through the classified ads or at realtor listings, keep an eye out for terms like "handyman special," "as is," "fixer," or other tell-tale words. Also have your agent use similar terms when scanning the Multiple Listing Service for your target area.

Once youve found a property that you can turn from doghouse to dollhouse, find out the sellers problem and then offer a solution. Distressed sellers frequently experience financial problems and need cash as soon as possible. Therefore, if youre ready to close quickly, youll be set to negotiate a lower sales price.

How to Close Quickly

Find an experienced lender and get yourself not only "pre-qualified," but also "pre-approved." Taking that second step assures worried sellers that you already have your loan in place for their property, and this puts you well ahead of other potential buyers.

How to Know When "Bad" Is Good

When you first start out in the real estate "fixer" business, youll want to look for "ugly" houses needing only cosmetic work. Look for entry level fixers that just need some cleaning up, painting, and carpeting.

When youre new to the fixer game, always remember your limitations and use caution when considering houses needing structural repairs. My husband replaces structural beams, sub-flooring, walls, plumbing, and electrical systems, but he acquired those skills after years of experience.

If you find a house with structural problems, get estimates from reliable contractors to do the work. Experience teaches you how to do more over time. Until then, rely on experienced professionals to do the repairs. Take professional estimates into account before deciding whether or not to purchase an investment property.

The Easiest Houses to Sell

A dollhouse, located in a popular neighborhood, sells the quickest. For instance, we once sold a home we named "Orange Tree Cottage" in just three hours! To qualify as a dollhouse, a home must be in a location that buyers want and must offer the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and amenities theyre seeking. Beyond the price, however, buyers purchase the house that meets both their basic requirements and their emotional needs.

Filling Buyers Emotional Needs

After many years of investment experience, weve found that using Design Psychology and Marketing Psychology techniques greatly increases our profits. Both concepts go far beyond "curb appeal."

For instance, we use colors that target our prospective buyers income level and match the selling season. Generally, buyers of higher-priced homes prefer complex colors, and using cool colors during hot weather and warm colors in cold seasons makes buyers feel more comfortable. We also paint the front door a happy color and entice buyers into the house by placing potted plants on the porch.

Over the years, weve bought and sold dozens of distressed properties. By using caution and common sense, as well as following a few simple rules and using Design Psychology strategies, you, too, can become a wealthy real estate investor!

c Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Credit Help!, Joy to the Home, and other books. Jeanette teaches Real Estate Investing and Interior Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, and newsletters, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm. JeanetteJoy@gmail.com

A strong tendency towards a sellers market will continue until the baby boomers finish the cycle of buying and selling real estate, estimated to end in 20 years, according to the Senior Real Estate Association. Baby boomers born between 1946-1964 are in their peak years for real estate investment.

Real estate investments will continue to be lucrative throughout the cycle. The realtor and seller must work together to develop strategies to compete in this market. New construction is booming, and re-sells are competing with them. If a buyer looks at a house that needs work, they may assume it’s available for a bargain price, the ‘handyman’s special.’ Avoid this, and obtain the maximum amount for your home sale.

The Value of Obtaining a Home Inspection

There is a number 1 rule in selling real estate for the highest dollar. The seller should obtain a home inspection before putting the home on the market. An inspection will uncover hidden problems in the home before the buyer views it. If the seller waits for the buyer’s inspector to inform him or her, the seller will either have to fix it or lower the price. In some cases, sellers lose the deal over issues uncovered at inspection. Sellers can waste 30-45 days during these negotiations, while the home could have been on the market for another buyer.

Curb Appeal

Remember, the buyer makes 85% of the decision about whether to buy a home when they first drive up . It’s much more difficult to sell a house when all the shingles do not match in color, even if the roof is in good shape.

Exterior Cosmetics

Sellers need to make sure the house has curb appeal for a great first impression. Is the trim freshly painted Replace rotted wood and eliminate any clutter outside the house. Make sure gutters are cleaned and are attached to the house. The roof should be cleaned of debris with no loose shingles. Be certain vinyl siding on the exterior is secured and in good repair.

Lawn, Garden, Shrubbery

The lawn, garden, and shrubberies are critical. Spend about $15-$85 for some plants and mulch for the front yard. If there is no grass, seed the lawn. Bushes must be trimmed and away from the building to prevent moisture damage. Cut the lawn regularly, and weed the garden.

Finishing Touches

Some finishing touches include placing 2” of pea gravel around the house between the bed area and the grass area for drainage. If the house has a gravel driveway, put fresh gravel down. Check all outside wood for termite or moisture damage that needs to be replaced and treated.

Interior Painting

Paint your house in neutral colors: sand, magnolia, cream. Rooms look best with a yellow tinged base paint because this coloring reflects light and makes the room seem larger. Avoid black ceilings, stenciling on walls, or painting your home in white so it resembles a hospital maternity ward. If there has been a previous leak in the roof paint over the water stains on the ceiling. Fill in any nail holes in the walls.

Flooring and Windows

Bold patterned or bold colored rugs should be removed. It’s best to keep the floor coloring neutral for to appeal to many tastes. If there is cracked ceramic tile, or the vinyl floors are scratched or damaged, replace the flooring. Rugs must be freshly shampooed to remove any odors, and carpet holes and stains should be repaired and removed.

Windows need to be cleaned and repaired so buyers can look outside unencumbered. If the blinds are missing slats replace them or remove window coverings altogether.

Bathrooms/Kitchen

In the kitchen, you may want to put a fresh coat of paint on painted cabinets, or if they are wood-- oil them. Check the countertops for burn marks or stains, cut marks, etc. and replace them if it is necessary.

In the bathroom, make sure there is no visible mold. If there is, then bleach, caulk, or re-grout tubs, sinks and toilets.

Details

All clutter should be boxed up and stored. Do not place it in the garage. Obtain a storage unit or Pod.

Make certain closet doors open and close easily. Don’t forget to replace doorknobs, hinges, brackets, or other missing or broken items.

This may sound like a great deal of work in preparing a home for the market. This attention to small details will help your home sell quickly for a higher price. In some areas of the country, you’ll even receive multiple offers for your home. Home buyers are not the only ones who look at these details. Appraisers also tend to assign a higher value to property which is in good condition.

If a property needs attention an appraisers price or buyer’s offer will reflect it. Obtain the highest price for a home by investing some time, thought, energy and resources into the details and you will be rewarded handsomely.

About The Author

Elaine VonCannon is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she manages investment property as part of her business. Elaine is also an Accredited Buyers Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. She has helped numerous clients invest in and make money on property in Southeastern Virginia.

vonmor1@cox.net