Keenland is most certainly a very friendly place. Just because the weather was bad, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! This young man will always remember petting the big horse at the racetrack. Grampa won’t forget it soon, either! In between rain showers, and during some, the horses were still running!
Between storms the horses are still grazing, the grass is growing and it’s a beautiful place to be. The horses love it.
Here in Lexington we have a Starbucks where the management has thoughtfully planted Blackeyed Susans for those of us who use the drive-thru. I don’t know if they realized that their flowers would be only part of the show for us.
Starbucks Bird
If I hadn’t looked down at the beautiful flowers at the drive-thru…If the flowers hadn’t been found by this little bird… I would have simply bought my coffee and moved on down the road. Instead, I got to watch this little guy enjoying his feast of seeds, and it made my day so much brighter.
Thank you little bird.
Your New Kentucky Home
Are you waiting for the prices to drop more? They probably will. But, consider this, there will be more foreclosures, and this will place more homes on the market. The more houses available, the cheaper they will be as sellers try to entice buyers to their property. It’s simple supply and demand economics. When the world is covered in gold, the value of gold will be less. When gold is rare, it’s priced higher.
This would seem to be a good thing for shoppers, but here’s the catch…looks like about April 1st the government will allow the interest rates to rise and we’ll see the interest rates go up substantially and quickly.
So, here’s the thing…you might get a better price on a house, but it will have to be a lot to make up what you’ll be spending on the higher interest rate. Unless of course, you have the cash to buy what you want without worrying about the interest. In that case, lucky you!
Buffalo in KY
Banks are going down the proverbial toilet, Stocks can’t be counted on anymore…who knows what the government is going to do next? What should you do with your savings before it has lost even more value?
KY Farmland Investment
Invest in farmland. It’s safe, it’s secure, and farmland is getting more scarce by the day. If you have a good piece of farmland, it’s going to be producing an income with the crops it provides, whether you farm it or someone rents it from you. Managed well, it’s going to produce income enough to pay its taxes, as well as give you a hefty tax deducton on anything you spend on it…including your trips out there to check fences and livestock. And in a few years if you decide to sell it, there will always be a market. Unlike stock, it will never be worth nothing.
If you buy a piece of land with water, either a creek or a large pond, and with a good fence, you’ll aways be able to rent it out to someone for their horses or cattle. Put a good barn on it and your land value goes way up. Now you have a place for the tractor.
And, you can depreciate the barn.
You’ll also have a place to go when city life makes you nuts. Go to your own farmland, where the smell of good cow manure can bring you back to your senses.
Why should I invest my savings in farmland? Ask your accountant. She’ll tell you.
We’ve all heard the old saying that there should be cookies in the oven when someone comes to visit. (especially when they might buy your house for sale). But, cookies are not bringing the same response they used to. Everybody knows what they’re really there for. How about lets cook something different?
How about a pot roast? Or, if it’s fall, maybe roast a turkey breast and let that smell warm up the house you have for sale. Crock pots are an often overlooked source of inviting aroma…perfect for an Open House “lure”.
Lets make sure though that some things are avoided. Although I love fish, cabbage, curry and garlic, but they are not universally loved. So, avoid the ones that may offend. A little bit of onion can be a wonderful smell, but a lot may be too much. Just imagine walking into the house after a long day at work…what do you want to smell cooking on the stove?
Personally, I love the smell of fresh baked bread.
Whatever you cook, make sure it has a pleasant, inviting smell. Try to avoid foods that people might feel strongly against. Chili is nice in the winter. Coffee and cinnamon buns is great for a morning visit. You’ll find something that you love and others will love, too. Then all you have to do is wait for them to decide it feels like home.
Parlour in Miniature Mount Vernon at Visitor's Center
Here in the south (Yes, if you extend the Mason Dixon line…Lexington, KY is most certainly south of it.) when people welcome a guest they often will say, “Pull up a chair and sit a spell.” In the north they would say something more like, “Have a seat.” Of course, I wouldn’t know…not being from that part of the country. But around here if you visit the neighbors you’ll hear that phrase regularly. If your house is for sale, you’ll want people to feel that phrase if they don’t hear it. Make your home a welcoming place for buyers and they’ll start feeling “at home” themselves.
Wherever you are though, when people put a house up for sale they often times forget that buyers want to feel comfortable. They don’t want to see your “stuff”, nor do they want to trip over it. They look for comfort. They want to see if the house “fits” them. And the best way to do that is to help them relax while looking it over.
But, if you’re in the mood for a more formal meal, or if you want to seat more than two at a time, check out the dining room. Can you see yourself as you pull up a chair and sit a spell?
Selling a place requires one thing. Someone has to be able to see themselves living there. Of course, that someone must also have the means to pay for it. But, first and foremost they have to want to call it home. The rest is just details. (yes I know…the devil is in the details)
At any rate, make your guests comfortable…even if you’re not there. You may come home to find you have a buyer.