Virtual Library

If you are viewing the Virtual Gallery from home, you will need your Orange County resident library card to access some of the resources.

Tips for Selling Your Home

 

Make Your Home "Anonymous"

The number one rule of home staging is to depersonalize. If you do nothing else, you absolutely need to pack away anything that makes the house 'yours' as opposed to theirs. Your family photos may be precious to you, but to a buyer, they're clutter. Clear off counters and shelves, pack away books and take down photos off the walls.

From Buy-and-sell-house-fast.com | Let these ideas for decorating your home inspire you in your efforts to sell your home.

 

Showing the House

When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights – even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas. Your house looks more homey and cheerful with the lights on.

From realestateabc.com | Try these ideas for simple lighting suggestions.

 

Windows & Doors

All back of door hanging items must be put away. Cluttered doors can really weight a space down and give the feeling that the room is too small. This step also helps depersonalize the space.

 

Freshen up the front door with a good cleaning and, if appropriate, a fresh coat of paint. If it will work with the color scheme of the home, a red front door can really make the home stand out.

Clean the windows inside and out.

From The Staging Source| Renovate your property and improve the market value of your house.

 

Walls & Painting

Color. "Real Estate Beige" comes in many different shades these days, but whatever shade of neutral you decide to go with, make sure it is properly applied. If painting over dark colors, be sure to use a primer. Hiring quality contractors to paint for you is worth the money. Walls in good condition are important, but so are walls that buyers can see.

From real-estate.agoodplace4all.com | Need to repaint your house? Use these books for tips.

 

Carpet and Flooring

Cush-up the carpeting - Don’t replace the carpet on the cheap. Invest in the BEST padding you can find. Buyers will in most cases have to remove their shoes when walking through your home. In their stocking-feet, they will feel the difference!

From Real Estate Ezine @rticles | Learn how to make basic repairs to your home.

 

Keep the House Free of Clutter

One thing you should not overlook as you search for decorating ideas is to de-clutter your house. Through day-to-day living, it is too easy to let things accumulate. Eliminate those piles and you'll be surprised at how different it can make a room look.

 

Use these simple and inexpensive decorating ideas, and you can give any room a fresh, new look.

From RealEstate.com | Un clutter your home, and un clutter your life.

 

Buying a New Home

The trick in buying real estate is to view all decisions with both a logical perspective and an emotional perspective. If a situation presents itself that requires a trade-off, decide on whether there is a huge conflict or a small one. Logic should win the big conflicts, but emotion should always be a factor, even winning the small ones.

 

You will find yourself owning a warm, happy, safe home – and an investment for the future at a price you are willing to pay.

From realestateabc.com | Use these resources to get the best interest rate for your home.

Become a Real Estate Agent

People decide to become real estate agents for many reasons. Many like to work with the public. Some want to be in control of their own schedules. Others are interested in buying real estate for themselves and think that agents have access to "the best deals." No matter what your motivations, take a little time to become familiar with the realities of being a real estate agent before you jump in and become licensed.

From About.com| Learn how to sell homes.


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Library Materials

 

Books

DIY- Home Repair

Browse this list to learn how to do home repair projects yourself and save money.

 

Fictional Real Estate Stories

Tired of the facts and want some fiction? Here are some fictional stories to kick back with.

 

Home Maintenance & Repair Fiction

Enjoy these home maintenance and repair fiction stories.

 

Sell Your House

Use these materials to get tips on preparing your home for the market.

 

Magazines
(Back issues circulate at some locations.)

DIY Periodicals

Planning on doing a home improvement project? Explore this collection of periodicals and find information and tips before you get started.

 

Home Maintenance

Learn how to maintain and simplify your home.

 

Interior Decoration

Get ideas and tips on interior design and learn more about home decorating with these magazines.

 

Videos

Home Improvement Videos

With a wealth of information on decorating and home repair DVDs, you can get started in no time!

 

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Library Online Resources

 

Community Connections - Living in Orange County

View an extensive selection of Web sites featuring need-to-know facts and tips for Orange County residents.

 

General OneFile
Interested in finding tips on DIY projects? Find articles and information on home improvement from The Family Handyman and Custom Builder magazines.

 

LearnATest

Want to become an agent? Take a Real Estate Practice Exam now!

 

MyLibraryDV

Download and install MyLibraryDV to view hours of home improvement programming, like episodes of the show Today’s Homeowner. With MyLibraryDV you can watch what you want, when you want.

 

Orlando Sentinel
Look up real estate articles and news in Orlando's local newspaper!

 

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Web Sites

 

FloridaMoves.com

Find listings of real estate in the state of Florida from Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Inc.

 

Realtor.com

View this official Web site of the National Association of Realtors to search over two million real estate listings nationwide.

 

Orange County Property Appraiser

Use this Web site to obtain a legal description of your property.

 

Orlando Neighborhood Maps

Explore neighborhood maps of Orlando. They’re available in different sizes.

 

Orlando Sentinel Real Estate

Search the Orlando Sentinel real estate section for places to rent or purchase.

 

RealEstate.com

Find homes for sale, real estate listings, home prices, new homes, real estate agents, and mortgage rates.

 

RentoMeter

A useful mashup that can help you determine if you are paying too much in rent.

 

Yahoo
Looking for resources to help you find a great home? Get information on housing and real estate all in one place. Use Yahoo's online tools to help you calculate a mortgage before you buy!

 

Zillow

Zillow will allow you to see the value of millions of homes across the United States, not just those up for sale.

 

Blogs

 

Overseas Property Blog

This is a blog dedicated to tracking the latest updates from the most authoritative and relevant news sources concerning global real estate markets.

 

The Real Estate Blog

Read the latest news and articles on real estate technology, real estate marketing, mortgage information, real estate investing, rehabbing, and land lording.

 

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OCLS - Orlando, Florida