Buyers like peace of mind. Give it to them.

>>improvement list for your for sale Columbus home <<

Your home is for sale. You want to make a good impression on would-be buyers and stand apart from the crowd. You want to convey as much meaningful information as possible without getting emotional and you want buyers to know that your house is better/more sound/more improved than the rest of the homes for sale in Columbus, Ohio.

Do this. Make a list of improvements you’ve done to your home since you’ve owned it. Put the big improvements at the top. Don’t be shy, put the associated price tag. Buyers want to buy your home for the least amount of money possible and when they see the money you’ve put into your home, they’re less likely to hold your list price against you. Better yet, they’re going to feel great about purchasing your home because they know when the roof was put on, when the air conditioning unit was installed, when you updated the electric lines to that portion of the house and they know you paid real money for it. Even if your cousing Larry did the improvements, you paid him money and you should document it.

You don’t have to have receipts, just a line item list like this one goes a long way to putting the buyer at ease. Especially if you haven’t been in your home long and especially if your asking more than the competition because, darn it, your home is better. Prove it.

By providing the actual costs you go a long way toward transparency and Read the rest of this entry »

In this post-analog age, aren’t you glad your Realtor is a Delicious Realtor ?  Smart, Engaged, Informed, adding value.

(Of course this is all tongue in cheek. The impetus behind this post was to check the laptop cam straight to You Tube option–an incredibly easier option than first recording on the laptop and then trying to upload a gigantic file to the net)

Recently, Delicious Real Estate applied to be a Columbus Greenspot.  The process helped to spell out a plan, template going forward and office policy for energy conservation on top of what we already do.

Here’s how we will inform and engage

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• By January 15 of each year, we will record and submit the green initiatives we have begun or continued as a result of being part of GreenSpot.
• We will create and display an environmental policy or mission statement.
• We will measure our compliance with local, federal, health, safety, and environmental regulations.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will challenge a neighboring business to become a GreenSpot by referring them to the GreenSpot website.
• We will display our GreenSpot decal in a window or some other prominent place.
• We will keep employees informed about our green efforts by including updates in newsletters and bulletins.
• We will openly encourage employees to be responsible environmental stewards in their personal lives.
• We will post a list of the requirements for becoming a GreenSpot business where both customers and employees can see it.
• We will set aside time at each staff meeting to talk about our green efforts.

Here’s how we will reduce, reuse, and recycle

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will buy office and other supplies made with recycled materials.
• We will establish a business-wide recycling program that includes-at a minimum-glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, steel, and paper.
• We will perform a waste audit of our business.
• We will track our monthly waste.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will buy products in returnable, reusable, or recyclable containers.
• We will communicate electronically-instead of on paper-whenever possible.
• We will donate unwanted furniture, supplies, scrap materials, linens, phones, etc.
• We will email or post staff memos and schedules in a central place instead of printing copies for each employee.
• We will expand our recycling program to include additional materials, such as plastic film, refrigerants, re-use of water, hangers, etc. Additional materials we will include in our recycling program are…
• We will provide employees and guests reusable dishware instead of disposable.
• We will purchase condiments (milk, sugar, cream, etc.) and supplies (soap, toiler paper, etc.) in bulk.
• We will purchase or obtain used office furniture.
• We will purchase reusable rather than disposable office supplies, such as refillable pens and erasable white boards and wall calendars.
• We will recycle electronics that no longer work, or are no longer useful.
• We will recycle toner and inkjet printer cartridges.
• We will reduce our paper use by:
  • Not making unnecessary copies, and double-siding the copies we do make.
  • Not using a separate cover sheet for faxes.
  • Reusing paper for scrap paper.
  • Removing our name from junk mail lists.
  • Keeping our customer mailing lists current, without duplications.
• We will replace chlorine-bleached white paper napkins and towels with one of the following alternatives:
  • Recycled content, non-chlorine-bleached paper towels
  • Reusable cloth towels and dispensers suitable for washrooms
  • Reusable cloth towels cleaned by a linen service
  • Energy-efficient air dryers
• We will reuse packaging (bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, polystyrene peanuts), or donate them to a local shipping company.
• When creating mailings, we will design them so they do not require an envelope.
• We will make recycling bins convenient for employees, placing them at desks and in the kitchen.
• We will reuse our holiday decorations.
• We will use rechargeable batteries or solar power for calculators.

Here’s how we will conserve & protect water

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• If applicable, we will fully comply with the City’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan requirements.
• We will check for leaks by performing a water audit (if we have more than 100 employees) or by closely reviewing our water bills (if we have fewer than 100 employees).
• We will fully comply with the City’s Fats, Oils, and Grease Regulation.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will clean all outdoor areas-like parking lots, sidewalks, alleys, and patios-with a broom and/or damp mop instead of a hose. If hosing is required, we will collect the runoff and dispose of it as recommended by the City of Columbus
• We will keep receiving areas and dumpsters clear of litter by periodically sweeping the area, and ensuring each waste receptacle has a tight-fitting lid.
• We will encourage our employees to report water leaks.
• We will provide our employees with conservation tips for the office and their homes.
• We will use utilize car washing facilities that recycle the water, and encourage our employees to do the same.

Here’s how we will conserve energy

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will perform an energy audit, or use EnergyStar’s Portfolio to track our energy use.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will apply window film to reduce solar heat gain, or shade sun-exposed windows and walls during the warm season by using awnings, sunscreens, shade trees, or shrubbery.
• We will convert to energy-efficient light bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and/or upgrade existing fluorescent tube lighting with T-8 or T-5 lamps with electronic ballasts. We will begin with five light fixtures-or 10% of our lights (whichever is greater)-and commit to changing the rest in the next two years.
• We will implement a facility-wide policy of turning off equipment and lights when not in use.
• We will perform regular maintenance on our HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and refrigeration systems-or ask our landlord to do so.
• When replacing equipment and appliances, we will ensure they are EnergyStar rated and/or equipped with energy-saving features.

Here’s how we will streamline transportation

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will encourage all employees to participate in “Two by 2012″-a commitment to commute to work twice a month using an alternative form of transportation (not a single-occupancy vehicle).
• We will install a bike rack in our facility, or provide employees with another secure location to store bikes.

If applicable, we will make our fleet more efficient:

• We do not have a fleet of 10 or more vehicles, and transportation is not a major part of our business.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• If we reimburse employees for driving, we will also reimburse them for biking.
• We will encourage employees to walk or bike to meetings, lunch, etc.
• We will provide green driving tips on an employee bulletin board or in newsletters.
• We will provide employees with information about ridesharing and bus transportation on a bulletin board and/or in newsletters.
• We will encourage teleconferences and web-meetings

We’re committed to becoming a GreenSpot.