Life’s a Beach

Once a year we would get packed into the car, I mean packed, and head to Wildwood, New Jersey for a week at the beach. As far as I can remember we always rented the same house. It had something to do with a friend of my Fathers. The house was small and within easy walking distance of the beach.  It was close enough that we could walk home for lunch and then go back for some more sun and sand. Usually, there would be a bit to much sun and we would need to have Noxema cream rubbed on our shoulders and backs. I can still smell the cream.

Outside next to the house was a shower so that we could get the sand off before coming in the house. After dinner we would head to the boardwalk and enjoy the shops and games along the way. I don’t know how many times we made these trips, but I know it wasn’t many. Some of that had to do with money and some with my Fathers deteriorating health.

Eventually, the family vacation took us on day trips to Lion’s or Cedar lake, also in New Jersey, but not as far. Here they charged an entrance fee and then you picked out a spot near the beach and basically set up camp for the day.  The water was called “cedar” water and flowed into the lake from an outside stream. It was dark brown and discolored everything it touched, including your skin. The skin part wasn’t bad since it made it look like you had a great tan, at least until you showered.

Each lake had a nice sandy beach that surrounded the lake. In the water there were a couple of platforms you could jump off of and at the end there were actual diving boards. At the time the water was way over my head, at the deepest part, but around the platforms an adult could stand up with no problem. Usually, we would arrive with our family and maybe some aunts and uncles and cousins. The first thing we did was unpack the car and get everything set up. We always brought a grill, clothesline, lounge chairs and several coolers full of soda, beer and the makings for sandwiches.

On every family outing, Mom had her “pink bag”.  It was pink vinyl or plastic with a white draw string. She seemed to have everything in there. If someone needed a band-aid, it was in the pink bag. If Dad asked for matches to light the grill, they were in the pink bag. If you needed tweezers or nail clippers, they were in the pink bag, next to the suntan lotion, Bengay, sunglasses (for the whole family and some spares), washcloth, air pump and needle, toilet paper (just in case) and numerous other articles. I just know that if we were attacked by a bear at the lake, Mom would tell someone to get that crossbow out of the pink bag.  It was very comforting knowing that Mom had her pink bag. It was always the first thing anyone asked about when we arrived at our destination; Mom, did you bring the pink bag? I never remember seeing the pink bag at home. I also don’t remember ever seeing Mom restock it, but it was always there and always had what you needed.

Later as I grew up and started making trips with my friends, rather than my family, I would try to recreate what I remembered from our family vacations. For some reason going to the beach at Wildwood or Atlantic City, with my friends, never produced the same feelings as when I went with the family. For one thing we were never able to get a little house within walking distance of the beach. The public beaches had gotten much smaller and the boardwalk had changed. At the lake it was also very different. The atmosphere was not the same as when I had come there with my family. The water wasn’t as deep, although it was the same color. Something was missing. Maybe it was Mom putting suntan lotion on my back that I missed or maybe the security of having the pink bag around. Whatever it was, it wasn’t the same as when I was with my family.

Well, as always, time went on. Now I have a wife, kids and grandkids of my own and once again the beach is enjoyable.  It’s not the same as when I was a kid.  Now we go to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, it’s very commercial  and finding a place on the beach to spend a week is very expensive.  Although there are some public beaches you can go to, you have to pay for parking. Once you are on the beach it usually makes for a great day. I love getting in the water and throwing the kids around. I love walking on the beach and feeling the sensation on my feet when the water takes the sand from under them. Even the sun on my back feels different than, say, working in the yard.   There are so many things that I like about the beach; the planes with the banners, the waves, finding weird looking shells. It’s all great, but most of all I think I enjoy watching my family be happy and that always seems to happen at the beach.

If you are thinking about what to do this summer, visit my site at beach vacations and find out where the deals are. If you like that site, then please visit my blog and check out the other “Hot Links”  for information on a variety of subjects. So go to the beach, if even for a day and be sure to take the kids.

Selling Your House? Make it Sell-able

My job has me on the road daily. I cover a five county area that includes major metropolitan areas, the suburbs and what I call the boonies. The boonies include all those places where you drive down two lane roads with only dirt roads to turn off on. These are the ones where you drive for miles and see no stores, gas stations or other conveniences. I digress.

As I drive, I like to look around and see the sites, since staring straight ahead results in my dozing off. Generally, I notice all the things that I think my wife would like to see, as well as places I might be able to take my grandson for an afternoon. I also see a lot of homes for sale. Sometimes it’s just the signs that get my attention. I really like “For Sale By Owner”. Who else would be selling it?

Anyway, I also look at some of the homes behind the sign, if they are not miles from the road (as in the boonies). What I look at is the condition of, not only the homes, but the surrounding area as well. I see trash, junk, old cars, overgrown shrubs and general disarray around what would otherwise be a pretty nice place to live. On the other hand I have seen well kept areas with a home in need of a serious makeover.

Now if I was out looking for a home to buy as an investor, I might actually think that I could get a good deal. I could probably negotiate on the “needs repair” factor and then clean it up and flip it for some extra cash.  But if I was looking for a home that I was going to move into and raise the kids, I’d be concerned. If the occupants were not taking care of the home and/or the property around it, what might I find if I bought it. Who knows what kind of “critters” might have moved in and found themselves a home. How long have the needed repairs been needed? Have they gotten worse over a period of time? Maybe what was once only visible as a nick or spot has grown to deep rot or insect infestation.

Don’t get me wrong, there is probably a buyer for every home, regardless of condition, but it’s not me. I want the home that looks ”great” from the street and only goes down to “good” when I get close. When I go inside and take the tour I don’t want to notice things that will later become obvious. When I’m done I want to be thinking “this place is in good shape” and then if my wife likes it, we’ll buy it.

So I think that if you want to sell your house, you should make it sell-able. It really doesn’t take much to make the house “appear” inviting. Trim the trees, pull the weeds, cut the grass and throw away the junk (or hide it). BAM!! The outside is done. Now go inside and get ride of the clutter, clean the carpets and furniture and fix the things you’ve been meaning to fix. If you have a lot of things to throw away call me and I’ll sell it on eBay.

In short, if you want to sell your house, make it sell-able. It’s really not that hard, especially if you’ve always taken good care of it anyway. If you want, just tell me where you live and I’ll drive by and give you an honest assessment. If you want some professional advice visit www.SellYourHouse.TellMeAboutThat.com  and check out all the advice on doing it right.

House Flipping for Fun and Profit

House flipping is the process of buying a home, usually fixing it up little (or a lot) and then selling it for profit, generally in a very short period of time.  Many real estate investors have been doing this for years, mainly concentrating on homes in need of repair and those with tax liens. Some have made small (and large) fortunes doing this either full or part time.  Although it has always been profitable, given the right set of circumstances (right house for the right money in the right location), it is even more so right now.

The current housing situation has put thousands of homes in foreclosure status. Since the banks are not in the business of managing real estate, they are desperate to get rid of them. In virtually every city you can find available foreclosures in a variety of neighborhoods and styles. Many have already been sold at public auction to investors. These investors now want a return on their money and are still willing to sell at well below the going market price.

All of these points make it easy, for even the novice investor, to get involved in House Flipping.
Before the home is purchased you should make an initial assessment of the repairs that will be needed. Once you have a good idea of the overall condition, you must decide if it is right for you or more than you are willing to take on. In some cases the folks who lost their homes, in foreclosure, were pretty upset about giving it up. In a fit of desperation they may have purposely caused damage as a sort of “take that” to the bank.

Naturally, the most profit will be realized if you can perform the majority of repairs yourself. There’s no telling what a few friends will do for free beer and burgers. In some cases you can make noticeable changes with a lot of soap, water and paint, but that will depend on the house. As time goes on you will naturally discover a trick here and there to make things easier.

Remember, house flipping is an investment. As with any investment, there is always the possibility that you will make nothing or even lose money, especially in the beginning. So it is critical that you prepare yourself with all the current information available.  So visit my site and check out all the latest books, videos, ads and articles on House Flipping. Get the information you need and then come back often. Don’t forget to sign up for updates at www.TellMeAboutThat.com (right there on the right).