The two prototype homes were built with funding help from the MGM Mirage Voice Foundation and the Lincy Foundation, along with materials donated by local building suppliers.  Due to the high cost, not all homes will be built by this high standard but many efficient features of the home may be copied.  There are many top of the line features in this home that will not be replicated to all of Habitat for Humanity homes.  The improvements will benefit the future home owner who will greatly save on their energy bills every month.  A typical Habitat for Humanity home costs around $130,000 to $150,000.  The family selected to live in the environmentally friendly house will only pay the cost of the house, without any profit margin for the organization.  The families also must put in 300 hours of volunteer labor and have a full time job to be qualified to purchase the home.

For more on Green Real Estate visit our website and look under Go Green.

However, an open house can be an unnerving event; after all, you’re opening your home up to complete strangers, and in most cases, you won’t be there to witness the event. By knowing what to expect, you have a better chance of selling your NV home – all while keeping a handle on your peace of mind.

• Remember that an open house is just one part of a larger marketing process. No one wants to sell your home more than your Henderson real estate agent, and the best approach in any sales climate is to reach as many potential homebuyers as possible. That means diversifying the way you market to include those who prefer the low-key atmosphere of an open house.

• Don’t expect immediate results. Few people enter an open house and make a purchase right then and there. The real outcome is most likely going to be a few appointments for a private viewing or future appointment.

• Remove your valuables, money, keys, pets, medications, and any paperwork that has personal information on it (such as bills). Although a good real estate agent will keep an eye on your property to avoid damages, anything that is of value (for either monetary or personal reasons) should be safely tucked away. This can actually help sell the house in the long run, since personal effects tend to turn buyers off.

• Do a walk-through with your real estate agent immediately before and after the open house. This will allow you both to determine damages or thefts with an objective eye.

• Remember that an open house can tell you a lot about your property. Your real estate agent will be able to draw conclusions based on the turnout and the overheard comments. If few people show up, it could indicate that your asking price is too high, or that your curb appeal simply isn’t up to snuff. A large turnout with few leads could mean that the problem lies with the layout or “dressing” of your home.

Selling a home in NV can be difficult in today’s market – but it isn’t impossible. By approaching your marketing strategies with an open mind – and an open house – you can get your home effectively promoted throughout the Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin housing market with better results than ever before.

The truth is, there’s no reason why your Henderson home has to be the size of a small country in order to appeal to homebuyers. Small spaces, while more of a challenge to decorate and stage, have quite a bit of potential for appealing to those looking for charm, coziness, and class. If you’re doing the staging for your home yourself, here are few important tips in making your small home look like it’s worth every penny.

1. Get rid of the stuff. In any home staging effort, you want to get rid of personalized items and all the miscellaneous knickknacks that find their way into your home – including paintings and even overly unique drapes. This is never more important than when you’re trying to make a small house look bigger in NV.

2. Go for neutral colors. Dark colors make rooms look smaller in size. By using light, airy colors, you’ll give the appearance of more light – and therefore, more space.

3. Offer storage options. Most people need to really “see” themselves in a Henderson home before they buy it. If you find creative ways to set up storage (such as in hidden cupboards, in strategic locations behind the couch, or even in a great set of shelves), you’ll give the impression that the house is not only beautiful, but livable.

4. Go for high-end details. Many of today’s homebuyers are willing to overlook a smaller space as long as it still retains a high value. Things like crown molding, built-ins, great appliances, and hardwood floors can go a long way in adding to the charm factor.

5. Use bright, strategic lighting. As with choosing lighter colors for wall paint, the idea of using light to give the impression of space is a good one. This is especially true if you can use track or recessed lighting to streamline the space even more.

Remember, there is no such thing as a typical homebuyer. By neutralizing your space and offering the little luxuries that allow people to envision themselves in your home, you’re allowing them to look beyond square footage to see how your Henderson house for sale will help them create a lifetime of memories.

To view all homes currently listed in the Las Vegas Valley visit our website.

Buyers are more serious during the holidays. Anyone shopping for a home during the holidays probably has to buy before a certain deadline. Therefore some buyers may be looking to relocate before the new year. Investors may also want to close before the end of the year for tax reasons. If you live near a university, students and staff may be looking for homes between academic sessions, and if you live near a military base, servicemen and women may be moving to the area. Work with me, Stephen Roberts, your agent to target these motivated buyers. Buyers have more time to house-hunt. Buyers who are looking at this time during the holidays are serious about making a purchase. Some buyers purposely wait until their families are together for holiday vacations to start looking for a home. Homes show better in the winter. Decked out in lights and garland, homes often look their best during the holiday months. Take advantage of the Holidays and spruce up your homes to make them more festive. Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard, just enough to make your prospects feel at home and your home still looking spacious.

Home sellers can’t always take a holiday from keeping their house on the market. Instead, they should consider ways to turn the holidays to their advantage. By holding a holiday-themed open house – maybe instead of the traditional Sunday afternoon open house; your home could be open in the evening to take advantage of a festive holiday light display. Keep in mind to not block or cover up important selling features such as fireplace mantels, stairs, stained-glass windows. Tone down the size of tree. In place of a 10-foot tree, try decorating a table-top, four-foot version. Set a plate of cookies on the counter, next to festive paper napkins for guests. Giving house hunters a place to escape from the cold is another excellent way to get them inside your home.

The holidays are stressful enough without having to think about staging and open houses, so if you’re not truly motivated to sell, it’s probably best to wait a few months. But if you absolutely have to sell, don’t be discouraged. A good agent like myself can take the burden off of your shoulders, giving you more time to enjoy the season.

With these tips in mind, it is possible to enjoy the holidays and still successfully feature a home for sale on the real estate market. Now is still a good time as ever in the Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin Nevada areas.  To search our local MLS listings visit our website.

According to Rhone Resch, CEO of Solar Energy Industries Association, “There has never been a more exciting time for solar energy.”  The workers in this field are trained in solar construction, maintenance and how to audit residential energy use.  This fall alone the program will be training nearly 400 workers.  Other groups such as the Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee of Southern Nevada have also been training electricians in mass numbers for solar work.  The training and classes are in high demand due to the anticipated work that will be coming up.

This new boom is creating many new job opportunities for the many electrical workers who may be out of work.  Many are being trained in the field of energy auditing.  There is not much demand for it right now but by the year 2011, buyers of existing homes in Nevada will be required to have a home energy audit.  Demand for the energy audits will increase as energy costs rise. Hopefully this will open up a window of opportunity for many unemployed electricians in the Henderson and Las Vegas Area.

For more information and links to everything Green visit our website.

Tesovara said that the air inside the casino will be of a higher standard than other casinos because of the ventilation technology inside Aria.  CityCenter has sought many means to reduce its carbon footprint, such as installing low-flow water faucets on a mass scale.  MGM Mirage energy chief Cindy Ortega said that she was shooting for just a Silver Star rating for CityCenter but decided to go beyond what was necessary to ensure that level of requirements was attained.

The gold-star rating that CityCenter has received makes Aria the world’s largest green building.  This beat out Vegas’ previous record from the Sand’s Palazzo as the largest green building, which attained silver certification last year.

For more information on Green Real Estate please visit our website.

However, as any responsible real estate agent will tell you, buying a fixer-upper can be a big challenge. Excessive or hidden damage in a home can be both dangerous and costly. Before you make the plunge, make sure you follow a few important fixer-upper guidelines.

1. Always get an inspection. Nothing will give you a better idea of what kind of repairs you’ll come across than a thorough home inspection from a trusted source. Don’t take on more damage than you, your contractor, and your budget can handle.

2. Pay attention to the layout and structural foundation of the house. If you’ve always dreamed of a large kitchen, make sure your potential new home can be adapted in terms of wiring, plumbing, and layout. Sometimes, the skeletal structure of a house prevents certain types of cosmetic changes.

3. Location matters. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a single family house in Henderson or a condo in Las Vegas; a home’s value is only as high as the neighborhood in which it’s located. A rundown building in a nice neighborhood has the greatest potential to bring an enormous resale price.

4. Know the difference between “big fixes” and “small fixes.” Things like drywall, painting, floor refinishing, landscaping, and hardware are easy to do yourself. Things like plumbing, electrical work, windows, and roofs can be more expensive and difficult. Stick to changes you can make for certain based on your skill level and budget.

When buying a home in Henderson or looking at Las Vegas real estate options, a fixer-upper can be one of the best ways to get the home of your dreams for a low overall cost. Just make sure you enter into the transaction with your eyes open, with flexibility in mind, and with Stephen Roberts at your side.

Even though the prices on many homes have dropped by 40 to 45 percent since the real-estate boom in 2006 we still may see ourselves in a seller’s market for certain single-family homes.  Although Nevada may lead the country in foreclosure ratings, many of those foreclosed homes have not yet hit the market, due to the government neighborhood stabilization programs that are renting out houses for up to five years.  This results in many sellers of those single-family homes that are on the market to get more than the list price.

Despite the large amount of unemployment and the downed economy, this is still a seller’s market.  It may be one of the biggest paradoxes in the history of the Nevada housing market.

For all your Real-Estate needs contact Steve Roberts at 702-739-4392.

Within the first minute, people decide if they could live in your home. The problem is that there are so many homes on the market right now, that if yours doesn’t catch their eye immediately, then they have other choices. The struggling housing market is forcing people to take more drastic measures to sell their homes. Many homeowners say they need all the help they can get. With the market not being so good, there are ways you can make your house stand out. Staging your home is the way to make your house stand out in the Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin Nevada areas.

The idea of home staging is to highlight your home’s best attributes and positively affect potential buyers. Staging your home isn’t about your own tastes. It is about making the home appealing to the general population. Whether you go at it alone or use a stager, you need to have the attitude that your home is no longer your home.

Following are some tips to consider:

• Take down family pictures. Potential buyers need to picture themselves in your home, not you!
• Staging your rooms to show off their true potential. Clear out clutter or other personal items that will distract buyers.
• Painting the walls yourself is the cheapest upgrading option you have. This will really attract buyers. Try a neutral tone.

Staging your home is a great option to make your home stand out in the Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin Nevada areas. Let myself, Stephen Roberts, your agent offer you advice about how to make your house more attractive to buyers.

Get rid of those items that have been sitting around for years without being used or even handled. This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Buyers and real estate agents should see your house in its best condition from the very first day it’s on the market.

Here are a few approaches to take to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”

Another way to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell is to make those minor repairs and best of all, make the house sparkle! Only do one room, or even one small area, at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Your best friend is the trash bag; when in doubt, throw it out. Many find it easier to use boxes to sort items, so you don’t have to find a home for everything as you unclutter. Most important, be quick and decisive when sorting. Tell yourself:
• If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

If you are getting your house ready to sell in the Henderson, Las Vegas, Summerlin Nevada areas, then take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas where you can unclutter your home and let myself, Steve Roberts, your agent help you to get your house ready to sell.
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