Warning! selling your home is a security and preparation issue

Location, central heating, air conditioning, double glazing, good neighbours, good schools and a long lease these are just some of the factors that buyers consider when buying a property. So it was some surprise when we learnt that that new UK research commissioned by the Homebuyer Show revealed something completely different.

The survey reports that 72 per cent of home buyers say good security is rated as being more important when making a buying decision than a home overall condition and size.

Home buyers also ranked security above other key house buying factors such as the quality of the neighbourhood and local facilities.

Less important when deciding on a property is the state of the interior decor, 51 per cent regarded this as irrelevant.

One in three buyers are unconcerned by the provision of lack schools and a similar amount were indifferent of the size and state of a property's garden.

Security Security, Security!

The study also looked at the improvements and gadgets in a home. Security again topped the list with homebuyers regarding a state of the art security system as being more desirable than kitchen gadgets and plush designer furnishings.

Nick Clark managing director of Homebuyer Events said "Home Security has been moving up the homebuyers' agenda for a number of years but it has now become one of the main priorities."

Despite the findings of the study it is clear that to sell your house it requires a great deal of preparation. Those sellers who feel that they are wasting money improving their homes before they sell will not sell their home fast. In fact this lack of preparation could cost them thousands in price reductions. A broken fence or damaged guttering will only serve to add negotiating power to the buyer.

Price and presentation are critical to sell your home

First impressions count, buyers will have already formed an impression before they step into your property. A well-kept garden, pathway and fence, plus a freshly painted front door are immediately appealing, whereas a scruffy outdoor space with a litter bin outside the front door may turn many prospective buyers away.

De-clutter - don't underestimate the appeal of a tidy property. Throw out the junk - use moving as a good excuse to get rid of old, unwanted and unused items.

Clean - dust and clean the whole house thoroughly, from cobwebs on the ceiling to crumbs and stains on carpets and rugs. Remember to wash down paintwork and clean windows.

Natural Colours - research shows that, most buyers prefer natural, earthy colours to bright, bold shades. Although there is a wide range of paint colours available, magnolia is still the top-selling colour.

Add a bit of colour - to prevent rooms looking too bland, use strong colours for accent walls or cushions and accessories.

De-personalise - remove personal items, such as family photographs and children's drawings, which may distract potential buyers. It may sound harsh but it really helps sell property

Maintenance - Complete all minor repairs. Major Jobs- If you don't spend out on home improvements to complete major repairs it could have a disproportionate affect on the value of the property.

Lighting - the right lighting can improve the mood of a room. A room looks cosier with a few table lamps rather than bright general lighting. Create a scent - it may be a bit of a clich? to bake bread or grind coffee beans just before the arrival of a potential buyer, but scent does plays an important role in creating the right impression.

Open windows - most buyers like the smell of a freshly cleaned and aired room. Open the windows every day to let fresh air into the house. Avoid strong food odours - don't cook foods such as fish or curry before a viewing as the smell will linger.

Take pets out - ask friends or family to look after pets during viewings. Fresh flowers and fruit - flowers and a bowl of fruit will brighten up a room and provide a pleasant smell.

Define your rooms - a property will be more appealing if rooms have a specific purpose and this allows buyers to see the full potential of the property.

Seasons - the best time for selling property is spring and autumn; the market slows down during late summer and over Christmas/New Year. If a property is sold while the market is buoyant, it's much more likely to attract the asking price.

So if you want to sell your home quickly preparation is crucial and upgrading your security arrangements is a must.

Nicholas Marr is a lifetime proiperty investor. His UK based overseas property marketing company Marr international Ltd has one of Europes fastes growing property web sites at http://www.homesgofast.com

Home security tips

HOME SECURITY TIPS

Did you know a single-family home is twice as likely to be burglarized than apartments?

Cash, small electronic equipment, home computers, cameras, jewelry, furs, tools and handguns are the most popular items for a burglar Few people really bother about security until something happens to them or a neighbor. Your lack of home security is the burglar's best friend and your worst enemy. There are many things the average person can do to make their home less of a target.

A burglar needs to get in, commit his crime, and get out fast without being seen or caught. Some basic precautions you can take are listed below which will greatly increase his reasons not to choose your home A burglar will typically attack an empty home, so anything you can do to make the place secure and look like there is someone home will help move him on to another target. When you are away do not change the look of the house. For example do not close up all the drapes and send the dog to someone else's house. Pay a kid to come and walk it and feed it each day you are away.

Put a timer on some of your main room lights and TV so they come on and off at the usual times. Have a neighbor put the trash cans out for you etc. Making the place look lived in will help a lot. Put yourself in the place of the criminal. If you were to break in to your house where would you start? Do the same drill with a friend and see what he comes up with.

Talk to you local police and get their recommendations for making your house safer for you and your family. Here are some other helpful hints that may save you a heartbreaking experience.

Trim back overhanging branches so a burglar can't get access to upper floors. Check to see if there are any other easy ways to get on the roof or in through an upper window i.e. ladders lying around, lattice against the house walls, roof drains etc

Plant thorny shrubs and bushes outside any low windows. Trim any shrubbery that a person could hide in against the house

Do you have skylights can that be removed from the outside or easily broken? If so get them secured.

Inspect your roof area and see if there are any possible entry points where a person could gain entry. Even a loose roof vent could provide access or a child burglar

Do not store you spare keys outside. What you think is a good storage space will be obvious to any experienced housebreaker. Everyone puts their keys under a pot plant or over a ledge. Leave the key with a trusted neighbor or friend so anyone who does legally need to get into your house will know where to get it.

Install exterior lights with motion detectors by all doors. Set these so a person will set them off but not a pet. They can be aimed a little high or the sensitivity can be raised a little

Ensure that your exterior doors are at least 1-3/4 inch thick 9 they probably are already) and made from solid wood or reinforced with metal? Any decent quality exterior door will provide good protection. All exterior doors should have a dead bolt as well as the regular door lock. Make sure this dead bolt is installed with a heavy-duty strike plate and long heavy screws that go well into the door jamb and framing lumber behind it. A weak strike plate and screws will give way to a good kick or heavy shoulder.

Do not have a mail slot that a person can get their hand through and reach the door locks. Also glass panels in a door can defeat the whole plan, as they are easy to break and the locks can then be reached. CAUTION: A double keyed dead bolt, with a key to operate each side is a fire safety hazard and are not recommended in a living space. A pet door is also easy access for a child to get in and unlatch the door for a burglar. Upstairs windows are also easy access for a thief.

Any exterior glass doors need to have a security lock on the inside. These can be clamps that go on the top and bottom rails, a broomstick cut to fit in the lower track or even a dead bolt type system. Also you can add a few screws in the upper track after the door is installed. Do not screw these all the way in, just enough to allow the door to slide easily. This will prevent a burglar from lifting the door out of its frame to gain entry

Pay special attention to the garage. Often a side door to the garage gets overlooked and is not a high quality door like the rest of the house. There should also be a dead bolt from the garage to the house so this can be locked at night. If you do not have an electric garage door opener then make sure you can bolt the garage door from the inside to prevent forced opening. Also lock you car and set the alarm when it is in the garage as added precaution.

Check your windows. Are they easy to open from the outside? Ask a friend to try and break in, as he will see it differently to you. Windows in easily accessible positions should have a secure locking system or bars to prevent access. CAUTION: Any bared window should have a release devise so the window and bars can be easily released for emergency exit. Consult you security specialist for this.

All your irreplaceable items should be stored in a fireproof safe or a bank safe deposit box. Computer backups should also be kept in another location. Make a video of your house contents and store this off site also. This is a great reminder tool should something go missing or to help the insurance company in the event of a disaster. Keep a record of all serial numbers, make and model numbers and file these. Mark all TV's and important items with a readily identifiable mark that can be seen easily by police or anyone who may be thinking of buying stolen items. There are many products on the market for this. You can also store all this data online at http://www.osldb.com/ Contact them for data on this program

Also take still photographs of your possessions so you have the record in case of emergencies.

Are you going away on vacation? Here are some things that can help protect you home and valuables

Arm the security system if you have one when you leave the house. In a dangerous area an internal security system just covering certain rooms that would catch an intruder at night may help you sleep better. Make sure a pet will not set these off. There is also an automatic dialer that can be added to security system that will automatically call the police and 1-2 other numbers if the alarm goes off.

Have neighbors on both sides watch your house for you. Leave them an emergency number where you can be reached. You can also leave a key with them if you know them well enough.

Get your lights and TV, radio etc on a timer so they come on and off at normal times.

Do not cancel the gardeners. DO cancel the mail and newspaper delivery or have a trusted friend or neighbor collect the mail daily. The post office will do this for you and you can go and collect you mail when you return. Lastly, call your local police and inform them you will be away for an extended time and ask if they can keep a watch on the house. Make sure they know who has keys and how to get hold of you.

If all the above fails go to http://www.osldb.com where you can list your stolen or lost property. This is a new web site where you can enlist the help of others to find your valuables. Better still use the advice above and don't get burgled.

CTW Inc is the owner of http://www.officialstolenlost.com web site. The company founders have done red carpet security for celebrity events, movie premiers, large concerts, general event security & personal celebrity security. We have extensive experience with private investigations with the legal profession. Personal and home security have become our specialty. Free articles at http://www.osldb.com

Home Security Systems Provide a Safe Environment for Family Members

There were 4 million household burglaries in the United States, nearly 500,000 resulted in bodily injury, and 20,000 resulted in homicides, frightening statistics. Additional statistics reveal that a home without a security system is three times as likely to be burglarized as compared to one which is equipped with a security system. These facts make it obvious that a home security system will reduce your chances of intrusion, and can protect your life and property. It is therefore necessary to conduct an extensive home security review, to determine the appropriate systems necessary to secure the safety of yourself, and home.

Several points should be kept in mind while conducting a home security review. Security needs should be a first consideration. While it may be obvious that you should be the best judge of security requirements, a security expert has the experience to evaluate your home for vulnerabilities that are not obvious to a layperson. After a full examination of your home, a security specialist will be able to make note of all soft spots, and suggest the kind of equipment necessary to strengthen these soft spots.

The next consideration is security monitoring. Security monitoring can be a sophisticated central monitoring service, or a simple home security system, cost and needs are the determining factors. The central monitoring services are ideal because they ensure that appropriate measures are taken whenever an intrusion is detected. A monitoring team that works from a central station verifies every suspicious activity the moment it receives an alert. While an ideal deterrent, this type of monitoring is relatively expensive, and subject to the experience and professionalism of the company. You must find out if the central monitoring station is certified by Underwriters Laboratory; that it has a power back up system that can run for 10 to 15 hours; that it is run by trained staff; that it alerts local authorities within seconds of receiving a security alert.

Less costly is a simple home security system consisting of a control panel, a couple of magnetic switches, a motion sensor or two, and an alarm device. This can be hard wired or wireless. The more advanced systems feature a video camera that can be monitored by family members. The biggest advantage of this system is that it scares away potential intruders. This may happen when an intruder sees a yard sign, a decal sign or any of the installed sensors or video cameras. There is a one-time installation charge, with no recurring expenses.

While there are no guarantees, any home security system could scare away potential intruders. Any type of prevention will go along way to reduce the likelihood of a break in, or home assault by a stranger. Remember, the main objective of any home security system is to provide a safe environment for family members, and to limit the loss of property.
Jay B Stockman is a contributing editor for Best Home Security Companies. Visit http://home-security-usa.com/ for more information.