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When you are preparing your house for sale, you have worked hard to get the place looking pristine.

You have arranged all the ornaments to just the right angle and have the cushions plumped just so. Your house for sale is ready. But this is the time to relax the rules. Let your prospective buyers sit, walk (with shoes on if they whish – if this is not too extreme for you), and set their mug down where they like. If you are hovering in the background with a critical eyebrow-raise and a cloth to wipe up water rings from the coffee table, they may get the impression that you are not quite ready to hand over the keys to your precious home.

Of course, this means that you do have to run around cleaning up and plumping cushions again after each visitor leaves. When the next people arrive, they need to be made feel special and don’t need to be reminded by dirty cups in the sink that they are just one in a string of people (hopefully) coming to view the place.

Another hosting trick that can put you ahead of the game is to learn a little about prospective buyers before they arrive.

This can give you an idea of what to talk about and what might be especially appealing to them about your home or its location. If you learn that their mother tongue is different to yours, you should learn a few words in their language. This really helps a person to feel appreciated. The key ones are obviously “hello”, “thank you” and “goodbye”. If you can manage “Would you like a drink?” that would be very special.

It can also be helpful to know a little bit about their cultural background. Some cultures love to talk and chat, others respect silence. Of course, individuals are individual, but you can be prepared so that you don’t seem disappointed or offended if your efforts at small talk are not reciprocated.

It is challenging to sell at this time of the year but these few simple tips can give you an advantage.

Be ready with the kettle on for tea and hot chocolate or, if you’re feeling really brave, even some mulled wine!

It’s getting cold outside and the children have settled back into a new school year;

perhaps not the optimum time for upping sticks and moving house. Property tends to move slowly as the weather worsens since people feel less inclined to go to viewings and it’s more difficult to see the potential of a beautiful south-facing garden through the dreariness. For many people also a move may involve new schools, a difficult task when the kids are already settled into their existing one. So how can you get an advantage with the people who do want to get unpacked into a new home before Christmas?

When it’s cold outside, you need to make sure your home is warm and cosy on the inside. Have the fire lighting and the heating on.  Place a good mat by the front door to control the wet footprints and an umbrella stand to catch the drips. Make sure you have plenty of soft furnishings to make the rooms feel more warm and inviting. Get a big shaggy rug for the sitting room and an extra throw for the sofa. And as always…. ensure there is something baking in the oven!

When it’s dark outside, get it bright inside.

Let in as much light as possible by opening the blinds. Make sure the windows are clean and the low sunshine really shows up any dirt. Turn on all the lights and get some lamps to brighten up any dark corners. You don’t want people squinting to see inside the storage areas either – some strip lights under the kitchen cabinets and inside closets can really help. Mirrors are also helpful in making a place feel bright and airy. Whilst these things may cost a bit it really can make all the difference and the money spent may seem negligible when compared to the overall sale price of the house.

If you have a garden, it can be difficult to make it shine at this time of the year.

But there is no reason you cannot keep it clean and tidy. Sweep the leaves and clear away any deadwood. If there is snow in your part of the world, make sure the footpath is kept clear. You don’t have anything flowering in the garden this time of year (which you can by getting some winter bedding)? Buy a nice colourful pot with something flowering in it to have by the door to give potential buyers the idea that the garden can be beautiful too.

If you are showing people around the house yourself, it is vital to hone your hosting skills. You need to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, as if it is already their own home. Be ready with drinks and snacks and give them space and freedom to roam around at their own pace.

To be continued tomorrow…

What do you look for in a place to live?

Are you a city mouse or a country mouse? I think location, location, location is definitely near the top of the list no matter your circumstances or situation.

But I was recently made rudely aware of how the rest of the list may differ wildly for different areas not so far from each other.

In Ireland (my home for much of my life), I think people are concerned about light. We love open plan kitchens, garden and a spare bedroom/office. A separate utility room is a handy thing to have too. We want south-facing gardens and lots of windows to bring in light. There is a very popular TV show in Ireland which involves an architect travelling around our country and placing big glass boxes (rooms) onto the back of people’s properties to create a ‘wonderful sense of light and space’. In a country where it is so often cloudy it is not a surprise that we crave light so much. Also we typically prefer to have a games room than a garage, as we are not usually plagued by extreme weather. Generally, we can get much of our list if we are willing to pay as we are not a densely packed country.

We were recently looking at apartments in New York City.

Now this is a completely different beast. The right location is still a priority consideration – how far is the subway? Being close to transport links is essential for city life. But no longer are we thinking about spare beds and TV rooms. The new questions are about washing machines and storage space. It had never occurred to me before spending time in New York that you might have to bring your dirty clothes in a bag down the street to a Laundromat. Or that I’d be using my suitcases that I’ve previously stored empty in the attic as a box to keep my towels in because I don’t have enough space in the cupboards.

Another thing that was new to me was the idea of building amenities. When you have so many people living on top of each other, each building becomes its own mini neighborhood. And many provide their own services. Some offer just a small fitness center. Others have beautiful roof decks with grilling stations, swimming pools, basketball courts and one of the most popular toys– golf simulators. You can potentially also find libraries, poker tables, arcade games, cinema rooms and even a climbing wall. All without leaving your building. Of course you pay handsomely for these facilities. It could be up to $200 per month in prime Manhattan locations for the privilege of being able to scale a climbing wall before breakfast.

To be continued tomorrow…

It’s the first thing I look for when I come into a house or a hotel room – the simple hook.

I like to hang my jacket on a hook. Nobody wants to have piles of coats loaded on the banister or on the bed in the guest room or taking up valuable space on the sofa. And perhaps I’m lazy but I don’t want to have to take out a hangar to hang it up properly every time I come in.

Hooks are also bathroom essentials.

I don’t know how many hotels have the towels beautifully folded or rolled beside the sink. But what do you do with a towel after you’ve dried your hands on it? You can’t roll it back up and put it back where it was. You need a hook! I’ve resorted to hanging towels over the edge of the sink, over the shower rail, on the cupboard door. None of these are satisfactory solutions, however. And who has the time to hang a dressing gown properly inside the wardrobe and take space away from dresses and shirts that need this treatment? A hook is the only answer.

And hooks are not just for coats and towels. They are for keys and aprons, jewelry and mops, utensils and handbags, dog leads and oven gloves. So if you want to make your life a little more organized and your guests a little more comfortable, invest in a few hooks. I stay in a lot of Airbnb’s and I am sure the presence of hooks has been a major contributing factor to a good review for these properties! Anyway, whether you are a house maker or a host it’s a simple upgrade, which will be much appreciated. Go on – give a hook!

Does money really grows on trees? Of course trees are important but could they bring up the value of my property?

It is true that trees come with natural and financial benefits. A tree in front of my home with some well kept landscaping can definitely increase the value of my property. If placed in the right spot to provide shade on my house I can even save on my annual air-conditioning costs.

Did you know that looking at trees reduces stress?

That is also true for possible buyers. They might even imagine themselves hanging up a hammock or a swing for the kids on that tree…

Of course I have to choose the right tree for my property. The soil has to be right for my tree. Also, the proper distance to the house has to be decided, especially if I’m looking at a tree that grows very tall.

Why not plant a tree that is known for its valuable wood?

Like that, whenever I may decide to cut it, it gives me a little extra. If you are from Europe, the first tree that comes to your mind may be the good old fashion oak tree. But they might be a few other gems that could be considered.

I recently stumbled upon the wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis). Apparently it is one of the most valuable hardwoods in Europe. I was surprised as I never heard about it. After making some research I found out that it was named the most beautiful wood in the world at the Paris World Fair in 1900. The wood is as strong as from an oak but lighter in color and more expensive.

If I would have more space in front of my house I would definitely plant one of these.

How do you like to spend your Sunday afternoons? Take a nap or walk the dog? Serious brunching or more serious biking? Window shopping or online browsing?

We recently were driving on a Sunday afternoon and saw a sign for an open house so we stopped to have a look around, as we weren’t in much of a hurry to get to where we were going. We spent maybe half an hour walking around this place purely for our entertainment. When we got back on the road, we noticed more and more of these open house signs and we wondered if we had stopped too early and if we had chosen the most interesting house to judge.

This is the thing about Sunday afternoons. I think even people who have to work have a different attitude about Sunday than about any other day of the week. It’s a day to be relaxed and refreshed, exercised and entertained. Of course this concept does not carry through to Israel where we lived recently. There, Shabbat is over on Saturday evening and everyone is back to work and school on a Sunday morning, the equivalent of Monday in the rest of the world.

Another thing Sunday afternoons are great for is big ideas. You’ve had a great weekend but now you start thinking about your routine starting up again the next day. You’re one of the lucky ones if this gets you more excited than disappointed. So maybe you have a dream to do something different – travel, set up your own business, start a movement, or buy a dilapidated property to renovate. This could be why Sunday is the busiest day for propertyunder20k.com: a combination of time off and escapism. We aim to cater to all these Sunday afternoon dreams.

One word: Crowdinvesting.

Crowdinvesting already allows small amounts to be invested in the lucrative real estate market.

The Austrian and German property market for example is very popular with investors because all big cities are growing steadily.

That’s due to the fact that more and more people are moving to big cities. In Vienna as an example, it is estimated that in 2029, more than two million inhabitants will live there. However, this is associated with major logistical challenges, most important of all: new housing is needed urgently.

This has triggered a real estate boom in the Austrian capital in recent years. The only problem with this was that without a large sum of money in your hands, participation in this lucrative market was impossible.

Now, however, small investors also have the opportunity to earn money from the real estate boom through crowdinvesting.

The idea behind it: The necessary amount for a housing project is not raised by a single large investor. Rather many investors provide the capital through smaller amounts. In return, the small investors receive high returns.

In order to keep track as an investor, several websites provide a good overview and this as a good source for developments and trends, including for the real estate market. The crowdfunding platforms provide clues and ideas for future investment decisions without spending much time on research and analysis.

This could be interesting for those who want to invest in this market for the first time and have not yet had the overview or the necessary capital.

Passive income through crowdinvesting

Crowdinvesting means that smaller investments in the real estate market can also be made. With some Austrian and German platforms one can already invest  small amounts of 100 to 1000 euro.

Here are 2 examples:

Austia – www.rendity.com
Germany – www.exporo.de

In Austria there is no limit for individual investments and in Germany, you can invest up to € 10,000 in a project according to law.
What sounds very simple in theory is not child’s play in practice. The Internet offers a sheer infinite choice of possible investment platforms.

Only a few mouse clicks to the first investment

Once you find an exciting project, it usually only takes a few mouse clicks to complete the investment.

Even though initially only little capital is available, this increases rapidly due to the compounding effect, so you can save a decent amount in just a few years. Also, due to the short maturities, the money still remains available at short notice.

Include total failure of a project

Most crowdinvesting investment properties have a short maturity and carry an annual payout.

At the same time, however, it must also be clear that in the worst case, a total failure of a project can occur. You lost your investment. To avoid this it pays to scatter, so to invest in several objects at the same time.

However, crowdfunding platforms seek to minimize investor risk when complying with the Small Investor Protection Act or Alternative Financing Act (“AltFG”).

Still wanting to prefer to invest in your very own project? Why not start with a small project abroad? Here you can find properties for less than 20,000 EUR:
www.propertyunder20k.com

This is a follow-up to our last article which examined the new requirements for short-term holiday lets in Spain.

In brief there are new regulations coming into place in Spain. This requires properties being let for less than 2-month period to be registered with the authorities. Here we will briefly discuss the process for register the property:

The first thing to note is that, in typical Spanish fashion, it is not the same for the whole country. Regional differences apply. Already each region have different laws and guidelines regarding tourist rentals. Check what laws are specific to your region.