The Hard Reality of a Soft Market

If you're listing your home during a downswing, you'll need to follow a specific plan of action to ensure you receive the most amount of money possible.

Here are some strategies to assist you in selling your home during slower times:

• Buyer Incentives - Many sellers offer incentives such as appliances, furniture or help with closing costs to make their home more attractive during a competitive market. These little extras can really make a difference especially to first time buyers who don't have much left after their down payment.
• Price to Sell - Pricing your home correctly in a competitive market is absolutely critical. It's best to set the price a little less than comparable homes in order to acquire a competitive edge. Overpricing your home can be disastrous as not only will it quickly lose its 'just listed' appeal but the market could decline further causing you to 'chase the market' into a downward spiral of price reductions.
• Use an Agent - You may want to reconsider if you're thinking of selling your home yourself to save commission. A real estate agent exposes your property to a larger supply of potential prospects which creates more demand. Your chances of selling for a higher price are far better with an agent. It's tough times like these when you need an agent the most.
• Consider All Offers - You may have to be somewhat flexible with your price so it's important to seriously consider all offers no matter how low they are. Keep your emotions out of the negotiation process and remember that every offer has the potential to significantly increase despite your first impression.
• Get Ready, Get Set, Show - In a competitive market, you have to be ready to show your home on a moments notice so keep it ultra clean and clutter free. Walk through each room and pack away personal items like photos and sentimental knick knacks. Space is a huge selling feature so remove any unnecessary furniture to make your home appear larger.
• 1st Class Curb Appeal - First impressions are especially critical in a competitive market. With so many homes to choose from, buyers may not even bother seeing the inside based on the home's exterior. Stand outside your home with a friend who'll be honest so you can figure out different ways to make it more appealing to prospects.

For every dark cloud, there's a silver lining. Although the market may have slumped, try and stay positive throughout the entire process knowing that you'll likely negotiate a great deal on the purchase price of your next home! Just make sure your financing's arranged so that when you receive a suitable offer on your property, you'll be in a position to confidently move ahead.

How to Make the Super Bowl Fun for Toddlers

The Superbowl is one of the few nights a year that many people attend or hold a party. Parents of a toddler don't want to miss out on the fun just because they have a young child. Instead of staying home, there are some easy ways to make the toddler part of the action.

Things You'll Need:

• Superbowl clothing
• Football-related crafts and games

1. Dress the child in team gear. Make your toddler look like a true fan and outfit him with team gear or colors. He will get lots of compliments, enhance his mood and encourage interest in the Superbowl.
2. Let the toddler help in the kitchen. Toddlers love to be helpful. They can assist with the food preparation by mixing brownie batter, pouring chips into bowls and helping throw away trash.
3. Encourage the child to get involved in the Superbowl. This is one of few nights that your toddler can yell, jump and run all over the house to cheer the team. Since many party guests are likely to be behaving in the same fashion, it will not be a challenge to get your toddler to join in the fun.
4. Bring football-related crafts and games to do in the car or when the Superbowl action slows down. Since a toddler's span of attention is not extremely long, bring something to distract him when needed. Simple arts and crafts ideas include football coloring sheets or activity books.
5. Forget about bedtime. As difficult as it may be, don't stress over bedtime. One night off schedule will not cause irrevocable harm. In fact, it will probably encourage the toddler to sleep a little more the next day.