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1. Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves. You don’t see mentally strong people feeling sorry for their circumstances or dwelling on the way they’ve been mistreated. They have learned to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair. They are able to emerge from trying circumstances with self-awareness and gratitude for the lessons learned. When a situation turns out badly, they respond with phrases such as “Oh, well.” Or perhaps simply, “Next!”
2. Give Away Their Power. Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions. They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.
3. Shy Away from Change. Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge. Their biggest “fear,” if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and stagnant. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.
4. Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control. Mentally strong people don’t complain (much) about bad traffic, lost luggage, or especially about other people, as they recognize that all of these factors are generally beyond their control. In a bad situation, they recognize that the one thing they can always control is their own response and attitude, and they use these attributes well.
5. Worry About Pleasing Others. Know any people pleasers? Or, conversely, people who go out of their way to dis-please others as a way of reinforcing an image of strength? Neither position is a good one. A mentally strong person strives to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak up. They are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset and will navigate the situation, wherever possible, with grace.
6. Fear Taking Calculated Risks. A mentally strong person is willing to take calculated risks. This is a different thing entirely than jumping headlong into foolish risks. But with mental strength, an individual can weigh the risks and benefits thoroughly, and will fully assess the potential downsides and even the worst-case scenarios before they take action.
7. Dwell on the Past. There is strength in acknowledging the past and especially in acknowledging the things learned from past experiences—but a mentally strong person is able to avoid miring their mental energy in past disappointments or in fantasies of the “glory days” gone by. They invest the majority of their energy in creating an optimal present and future.
8. Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over. We all know the definition of insanity, right? It’s when we take the same actions again and again while hoping for a different and better outcome than we’ve gotten before. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past behavior and is willing to learn from mistakes. Research shows that the ability to be self-reflective in an accurate and productive way is one of the greatest strengths of spectacularly successful executives and entrepreneurs.
9. Resent Other People’s Success. It takes strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s success. Mentally strong people have this ability. They don’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well). They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying on shortcuts.
10. Give Up After Failure. Every failure is a chance to improve. Even the greatest entrepreneurs are willing to admit that their early efforts invariably brought many failures. Mentally strong people are willing to fail again and again, if necessary, as long as the learning experience from every “failure” can bring them closer to their ultimate goals.
11. Fear Alone Time. Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone. They use their downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Most importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods. They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.
12. Feel the World Owes Them Anything. Particularly in the current economy, executives and employees at every level are gaining the realization that the world does not owe them a salary, a benefits package and a comfortable life, regardless of their preparation and schooling. Mentally strong people enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their merits, at every stage of the game.
13. Expect Immediate Results. Whether it’s a workout plan, a nutritional regimen, or starting a business, mentally strong people are “in it for the long haul”. They know better than to expect immediate results. They apply their energy and time in measured doses and they celebrate each milestone and increment of success on the way. They have “staying power.” And they understand that genuine changes take time. Do you have mental strength? Are there elements on this list you need more of? With thanks to Amy Morin, I would like to reinforce my own abilities further in each of these areas today. How about you?

Cheryl Conner, Contributor
Forbes.com

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Each year, it seems the housing market takes on a different tone – and whether it’s going to be a sellers’ market with inflated prices and bidding wars, or a buyers’ market with tons of choices and low prices – there’s no denying that the 2014 spring housing season is upon us. So what does it have in store? Well, if you’re thinking of listing your home, that’s an important question.

Here are 6 market insights that will give you a head start!

Right Now = A Great Time To Sell
The winter home selling season was crippled by the polar vortex, especially in the east and northeast, so there’s pent-up demand from buyers who’ve been waiting for better weather to brave the house hunt. Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, so buyers ARE poised to buy and ready to hit the streets.

Know Your Numbers: 60%
Sixty percent of all homes in 2014 will be bought and sold from May to August. Putting your home on the market at the beginning of the selling season will help your chances of snagging a winning offer before buyers turn their attention back to school starting in September.

Price It Right
Many metros in the country have seen double-digit price increases in the past year. But this last quarter, prices started to slow nationally – and pricing is a critical component to getting your house sold. With this fluctuating market, you need to look at comps of similar homes in your area, and recency matters: make sure you’re looking back no more than 60 days. The sale price of homes that sold recently paints a much better picture of what to expect than the price of homes that sold six months ago (or of homes that have yet to sell).

Bidding Wars Aren’t Back (Phew!)
Bidding wars were common in the summer of 2013, but we’re hearing less about them right now. So don’t bank on fielding two or three offers at once. There is, however, a good chance that you’ll still get the one that will be a win/win for both you and the buyer.

It Pays To Be Ahead Of The Curve
Trying to get a jump on the competition? Right now we’re on the cusp of prime selling and buying season, and if you list soon, you’ll have less competition than you would if you put your house on the market in May or June, when more homes will flood the market. Since it’s still early, your home can have its ‘moment in the spotlight’ more than it will when inventory increases – and the buyers who are braving the cold to house shop are clearly motivated.

Make It Pop Off The Computer (Or Smartphone) Screen!
In this new mobile era, a huge percentage of buyers use smart phones to start their home search online. And that percentage is expected to rise this year as more buyers take advantage of easy access to the wealth of information online. Get in on this trend by making sure your home pops on those computer screens. Great homes with mediocre quality photos will be quickly discarded and ultimately get less showings. Sellers should insist that their agent take the time to beef up their online listing so the quality of the home jumps off the screen and gets buyers’ attention.

Trulia, Contributor

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The spring selling season is upon us! It’s a time when buyers come out for open houses on the weekends and home sales reach their peak. All across the country, homeowners are sprucing up their properties in anticipation of prospective buyers touring their homes.

There’s a lot to do to get your property ready to bring to market. Here’s a quick list of to-dos for in and around your home.

1. Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint

Paint is an inexpensive and easy way to spruce up your home. It makes a house appear brighter and well-maintained. Do the baseboards need touching up? Could the front door use a new coat?

Walk through your home as a prospective buyer. Are there “unique” colors that may not appeal to everyone? While your daughter may prefer princess pink, stick with neutrals throughout to appeal to the masses.

2. De-Clutter Your Home

Not only does clutter distract people viewing your home, but it also makes your house seem smaller and crowded. When showing your home, you want to paint a picture for prospective buyers. By cleaning out the clutter, you are secretly whispering into prospective buyers’ ears, “Buy this house, and you will be clean and organized like me!

“Start de-cluttering the main living areas, but don’t forget to free up some room in closets and crawl spaces. (Prospective buyers love spacious storage areas.)

Rent a storage unit, or move items to Mom and Dad’s basement as a temporary fix. Get anything and everything you can out of your house.

3. Depersonalize Your Home

This can be hard for many sellers, but it’s important to take the “you” out of your home when you’re trying to sell it so prospective buyers can visualize their own lives fitting into the house. Try to minimize family photos, personal interests, and individual taste as much as possible. You want buyers to look at your home — not your family’s latest ski trip photos.

4. Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal

If buyers don’t like the outside of your property, they won’t ever set foot inside. When selling your home, it’s important to make your property shine from the foundation to the chimney. Power wash, clean, paint, and plant.

Once you’re done with your house, head next door to help your neighbors clean up their property. Don’t think potential buyers won’t notice the trash in the yard next door.

5. Clean, Clean, Clean

A clean home is a seen home. Clean your home from top to bottom, and keep it clean.

Clean the windows, the floors, the basement, the garage, and the baseboards. Don’t forget to dust light fixtures and make your faucets shine.

6. Gather All Pertinent Documents

If you really want to make it easy for potential buyers to purchase your home, help them do their homework. Do you have a recent property survey? Warranties for appliances? Homeowners’ association documents? If you have all of this information available to buyers when they visit your property, it will help solidify their decision in your favor.

7. Make Repairs

When you sell your home, the buyer has the opportunity to perform an inspection. Most likely, there are things around your house that may present a problem in the long run, such as roof leaks, plumbing problems, electrical issues, and water damage. Rather than waiting until that time, make the repairs now. It can save you money, and it will be one less thing to deal with once you’re under contract.

8. Interview Agents and Hire the Best One

When looking for your real estate agent, it’s important to shop around. You should hear different opinions on the pricing of your property, along with different marketing strategies. Not all homes sell, so be sure to ask what percentage of their listings do. What is their average percentage of sale price to list price? How will they handle communication, showings, and contracts? Most importantly, make sure your personality will mesh with your agent’s. You will be working with him or her very closely, and you want it to be a positive experience.

When looking to sell your home, there’s so much to think about. It can be nerve-wracking to ask strangers to walk through your house, but it’s easier when you know your home is clean and presentable. Hopefully, this list will point you in the right direction as you jump into the frenzy of the housing market.

What are your best tips for helping homeowners get their property ready to list?

Source: Linkedin

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As real estate markets continue to recover around the country, buyers are out in full force.

Many of today’s buyers make judgments about homes within moments of seeing a listing online. They are also more cautious than before the housing crisis. They want to make sure they’re buying the best house and for the best amount of money. For sellers, that means giving buyers what they want. Though it’s a home first and foremost, it’s also an investment. If you’re planning to put your house on the market, here are ten ways you might be turning off potential buyers.

1. A garage turned into something else

If you’ve sacrificed the garage for something other than the garage, the trade-off might actually be a turn-off, especially to people where parking is at a premium. Even in the suburbs, most people want a covered, secure place to park their cars. Don’t forget that a garage often doubles as a storage location. The garage houses everything from lawn mower to the excess paper towels and cleansers. If you convert your garage into something else, you’re likely to force a buyer to look elsewhere.

2. A bedroom turned into something else

Aside from location, one of the first things a buyer searches for is number of bedrooms. Why? Because it’s an important requirement. You might think having a wine cellar, with built-in refrigerators, in your home will make it attractive to potential buyers because it was attractive to you. And while it’s true many people work from home today at least part of the time, that doesn’t mean they want a dedicated home office — especially one with built-in desks or bookcases that would need to be removed. If you must convert a bedroom into something else, make sure you can easily convert it back into a bedroom when you go to sell.

3. Carpet over hardwood floors

Many people today like hardwood floors. They are cleaner looking, add a design element, don’t show dirt as much, and they’re definitely preferred over carpets for people with allergies. If you have nice hardwood floors, show them off. Let the buyer decide if he or she wants to cover them. It’s easier for a buyer to purchase new carpeting of their choosing than it is for them to get past yours.

4. Over-the-top lighting fixtures

A beautiful chandelier can enliven a dining room. But it can also turn off buyers who prefer simpler, less ornate lighting fixtures. Did you fall in love with a dark light fixture on a trip to Casablanca? That’s great. And you should use it for your own enjoyment. But when it comes time to sell, replace it with something more neutral.

5. The kid’s room that is a miniature theme park

Little kids have big imaginations. They tend to love Disney characters, spaceships, super heroes, and such, and their parents are often all-too-willing to turn their rooms into fantasy caves. But the more you transform a kid’s bedroom into something resembling a Disneyland ride, the more you’ll turn off most potential buyers. Your buyer might have teenage children who will see the removal of wallpaper, paint or little-kid-inspired light fixtures as work. If you can, neutralize the kid’s rooms before you go on the market.

6. An above-ground pool

Does it get hot in the summers where you live? Wish you had a backyard pool but can’t afford to have a ‘real’ pool installed? Then you might be tempted to buy and set up an above-ground pool. For most potential buyers, though, these pools are an eyesore. Also, an above-ground pool can leave a big dead spot of grass in your backyard — another eyesore. If you must have it, consider dismantling it before going on the market. Of course, be sure you’re really ready to sell or you may be stuck without a place to cool off next summer.

7. An in-ground pool

You might assume that a gorgeous backyard pool will make a splash with potential buyers. Except in warm climates, where pools are truly an important amenity, many people see a backyard pool as a huge maintenance issue — not to mention a liability. If you live in an area where pools aren’t that common, seriously consider your decision. If you’re planning to be in the home for the long haul and you’ll get lots of use out of it, go for it.

8. Avocado-green kitchen fixtures

If your home is decades old and the kitchen looks like something from The Brady Bunch, consider investing in a quick once-over. Some new stainless steel appliances and granite countertops can be installed in no time and the cost and hassle is a lot less than you think. More buyers prefer to move right in. Do the work for them and you increase your bottom line.

9. Cigarette smell through the house

Over time, the smell of smoke permeates your home. It gets into the carpet, drapes, wood paneling, just about everywhere — a big turnoff to most buyers today. Getting rid of the smoke smell can be a big job. If you’re a smoker, seriously consider how you want to present your home to the market. For a long- term smoke-filled home, it means new paint, removing carpets and doing lots of deep cleaning.

10. Keeping Fido’s bed and toys front and center

Let’s face it; family pets bring a lot of joy to the home. But, they don’t always bring the same joy to a prospective buyer. Dog’s toys, filled with saliva, dirt and dust can be a sore both for the eyes and the nose. If you have a pet, put a plan in place to move the food and water bowls as well as the toys and dog’s bed to a better location, like the garage. Homes that smell and show like animals can scare buyers off.

It’s your home — for now

Part of the joy of owning a home is that you can do whatever you want with it, to it, and in it. You should enjoy it. But if you want to sell it easily and for top dollar down the road, try to picture how others might react to any renovations, additions or modifications you make. The more specific you get — such as turning your kid’s room into a miniature castle from Cinderella — the harder it will be to sell your home later, and the less return on investment you’ll get. When considering changes to your home, always consider resale.

Source: Business Insider

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Ask any homeowner what the top amenity that they love about their home and their response is usually the views and the location. In fact, many homeowners can stand to live in a smaller home if it means they will have a great view, and the windows that deliver this view is essential. Every room in your home can benefit from beautiful windows and there is countless number of design styles to choose from. If you have been looking for ways to brighten your interiors, look to your windows. Here are 10 ways your home’s window design can influence your interiors.

1. Natural light is a source of healthy living:

Humans are no different than green plants. When placed in a natural lit room they grow beautifully and when kept in the dark they wilt and will eventually die. Natural light is the source for our body, mind, spirit and connectivity to the outdoors and is a primary source for healthy living. Regardless of how your window looks, ensure your home has a source of natural light in every room, when possible.

2. Choosing windows that compliment the room:

If you are fortunate enough to plan out the design of your home with an architect or contractor, consider the space the window will be placed in. Tall ceilings and voluminous rooms could benefit from clearstory windows high above the ground or multistory windows that are typical in atriums and multistory foyers. Smaller rooms can still take advantage of plentiful sunlight and views with windows that have a lower sill height to the floor. Choose a style that takes into account your room’s best features.

3. Framing the perfect view outside your home:

There is nothing quite like waking up to a picturesque view of the ocean through floor to ceiling glass windows or enjoying the city lights below through your curtain wall windows of your urban loft. Windows are more than just openings in the wall, they help you capture the outdoors and bring them into your home. If designing your home from the beginning, determine what perfect views you want to capture first and then choose a window that will enhance it.

4. Opening your ceiling view with skylights:

Another wonderful way to take advantage of natural light is through skylights. Your ceiling or “5th wall” has always been a surface that many homeowners forget about when designing their interiors. Skylights offer privacy and a source of natural light to rooms that normally couldn’t because of lack of space for windows on exterior walls. Skylights also serve as a design feature and come in fixed and operable varieties and you can install window treatments over them for light control.

5. Consider a variety of opacities for your privacy needs:

Do you have that room in your home where you would love to have natural light pour in but you need privacy too? Bathrooms are a prime example of where privacy is priority but bringing in light is as well. Consider a variety of opacity levels for your window style. Transparent glass you can see straight through, while translucent glass is common in glass block windows in bathrooms. The view is obscured but natural light can still enter. There are many window manufacturers that offer a variety of windows for your privacy and design specifications.

6. Clerestory windows let in light but leave valuable wall space free

In many homes wall space is at a premium. Whether you are an art collector and like to display wall artwork or you prefer privacy on certain exteriors walls, clerestory windows are the perfect solution. Clerestory windows are located high off the finish floor level, usually close to the roofline to still enable natural light to pour in but frees up valuable wall space. They also are used as a design feature by architects to give the appearance of the roofline as floating above the structure and can be used in a variety of applications.

7. Design your windows around the orientation of your property

If you are in the planning stages of your home consider the geographic location of your home and how your house will be situated on your property in accordance with the sun. Architects and contractors alike will tell you to “walk the property” when choosing design features of your home. You may not want to put a window wall of glass in a bedroom where the early sun wakes you if you’re a late riser! Similarly look at climatic changes and seasonal changes for your area to maximize hot and cold temperature changes when choosing the right window.

8. Use a variety of shapes and sizes of windows for visual interest

There are no specific design rules when it comes to choosing window shapes and sizes and therefore let your design side come out when choosing the perfect ones! Many architects like to play with voids and solid space on walls and place windows in interesting configurations that are appealing to the eye as well as takes advantages of gorgeous views. From rectilinear and curvilinear varieties to custom shaped windows look to window manufacturers to see all of the options available to you.

9. Look to solar glazing to save energy and your furnishings

Another consideration when choosing windows is how much heat gain and loss through your glazing or windows is transmitted. Several window manufacturers sell solar glazing or windows that keep more harmful Ultraviolet or UV light from penetrating into your home. We already know the potential harmful affects of UV light when outdoors but the light can also fade your furniture and finishes as well.

10. Use your window wall as the “artwork” for your interiors

There isn’t any better piece of wall art than nature. When choosing colors and finishes for your rooms look outside to the view to get inspiration. A kitchen that overlooks a gorgeous garden through picture frame windows may not need a lot of color to compete with the beautiful view. Windows can help you reinvent your interiors by using the view as inspiration!

Source: Freshome.com

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