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Second, begin gathering up moving boxes as early as possible. You can buy or ask for some boxes from your neighborhood stores. Boxes that were once used to carry fragile items like glasses and bottles are ideal for you. Ensure that all the boxes are clean and well-built, they can be supported with packaging or duct tapes. Number and label each box properly and don’t forget to indicate what is inside, so that your things will be treated accordingly. For example, if you label the box fragile, the movers will know that inside is something breakable and will proceed to handle it with care. As added precaution, write your name on each and every box and make a list of its contents to make sure that nothing will get lost.

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殆どの人はハイシーズンに休暇を取ります。だからこそ、「ハイシーズン」なのです。 しかし、中にはさらに寒い季節になって何処かへ出かけるのを好む人達もいます。なぜなら、ハイシーズン中のホリデー地の人ごみを避け、オフシーズンのホリデー料金を利用したいからです。 投資者としての目標は、あなたのホリデーハウスに ホリデー費用に見合う価値と同等の意味を持たせることです。

こちらに役に立ついくつかのヒントがあります。

• あなたの宣伝を冬に備えて下さい。ジャグジーやサウナルームなどあなたの家の特典を強調してください。 心地よい、かわいい、快適、暖かいなど、気をそそるような言葉を使って下さい。 人の気持ちをくすぐり、誘発するような絵を描いて下さい。例えば、「あなたの回りを静かに奏でる暖かいジャグジーの泡に半分体を沈めて、雪を被った山の美しい景色を眺めているあなたを想像して下さい」というような。そして、あなたの家のオフシーズンの写真を1枚か2枚、ご自分のウエブサイトに追加して下さい。

• オフシーズンの特典を出して下さい。 例えば同じスイートで「一晩予約するともう一晩が無料に」というものです。 誰でも良い掘り出し物が好きで、冬には期待するものです。 夏に予約を希望して連絡を取る人に、週末の予約は40％割引というような「冬の料金」を勧めて下さい。こうして、場所を早めに視察してもらうことが出来ます。 またはオフシーズンの特典に、「オフシーズンの予約を2回すると3回目のオフシーズンの予約は無料」というのも良いかと思います。 純利益を忘れずに、創意工夫をするには何があなたにとって重要なのでしょうか。

• 休暇を最大限に活用して下さい。 11月始めはクリスマスツリーを置いたり、ヒイラギの木を飾ったりするのには早すぎます。 あらゆる階層の人たちの十中八九が、ホリデーの飾りを楽しむこと請け合いです。

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Majority of people have their vacations during peak season, hence the phrase “peak season”. But there are also those who prefer to go somewhere in the colder months because thay want to: avoid the crush of people in vacation spots during peak season and take advantage of off season vacation rates. Your goal as an investor is to make your vacation home synonymous with value for vacation money.

Here are a few things that are sure to help.

• Winterize your advertising. Emphasize amenities in your house like a jacuzzi and sauna room. Use inviting words like snuggle, cuddle, cozy and warm. Tickle their fancy and paint tempting pictures like “Imagine yourself gazing at picturesque vistas of snow-capped mountains while half submerged in the warm jacuzzi bubbles gently playing around you.” Then add an off season photo or two of the house to your website.

• Give off season promotions. An example would be book “one night and get one night free” in the same suite. People love good bargains and they anticipate one in winter. When you get inquiries from a caller hoping to book in the summer, offer them a “winter rate” like 40% discount on a weekend booking – that way, they can inspect the place earlier. Or, your off season promo can go like this: Make 2 off season bookings and your third off season booking is free. What’s important is for you to be creative while not forgetting about your bottom line.

• Make the most of holidays. Early November is not early to put up a Christmas tree or deck the halls with boughs of holly. People from all walks of life, from 9 to 99 are sure to enjoy the holiday trimmings.

Are you ready for the world’s first billion-dollar home? In this age of economic crisis, the idea of such extravagance feels like its bordering on sinful. Well, apparently to Mukesh Ambani, the fifth richest man in the world, and his wife Nita, if you’ve got it, flaunt it. The head of Mumbai, India-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries is building the world’s largest and most expensive home: a 27-story skyscraper in downtown Mumbai that will be 50 feet high with 400,000 square feet of interior space, all with a cost nearing $2 billion. They contracted the services of architecture firms Perkins + Will and Hirsch Bedner Associates, the designers behind the Mandarin Oriental, based in Dallas and Los Angeles. Once finished, the Ambani home, called Antilla, is set to have six stories of parking lots, a lobby with nine elevators, a ballroom, a health level with an ice room where guests can escape the Mumbai heat with man-made snow, a four-story open garden and entertaining spaces for the business guests.

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Luxurious condos are also on the rise. While the ownership of these are centered more around a buyer looking for a quality lifestyle, extravagant amenities, and great locations, there are many that are willing to pay the price. In Florida last year, a 4,800 square foot condominium was sold for $4.65 million dollars. In 2005, California experienced a 90% jump in condominiums priced over one million. There were 1,677 condo sales, all in the one million dollar price range. Many of these luxury condominiums are located in areas of wealth and many have top-notch views. Amenities in such luxury condos may include quality furnishings, such as appliances, granite counter tops, and window treatments. Many luxury condo buyers like the fact that the properties are secure and feel their items of wealth are protected in this type of environment and they don’t have to pay the added cost of security. Condo hotel developments are on the rise in larger cities, as well. This type of luxury living affords one the opportunity of living in their own condominium with all the amenities of hotel living, such as room service, maid service, and concierge service. Research shows the average condo hotel buyer to be between the ages of 35 and 50 years old and many simply are purchasing them as both an investment property and vacation property.

The recurring theme of this contemporary addition is openness � in space and in thought. For Joan Parker, the three-story addition to a traditional home she and her husband David Gordon and sons Alex and Charlie had lived in for more than 10 years meant flowing the inside with the outside and providing space to entertain. �The first floor open plan means we spend more time together without being on top of one another,� Parker says. For Alex and Charlie, the addition to their Northwest Washington home provides more space downstairs to play pool, watch TV, and have friends over. It also gives them a homework corner on the main floor that relates to the rest of the home. �You can see what�s going on,� Charlie says, while Alex likes the light from the corner windows.

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As much as it is tempting to do so, do not give in to the urge to make-over your place with latest trend’s lay-out. The process I assure you, is painstakingly difficult and would consume so much time that if you undergo it incorporating the latest pop art design, you might more likely than not, regret it in the long run as revamping an out-of-style look will take as much effort as making it, if not more. Remodeling one’s home is an investment, so make sure you don’t commit to a wild and too pop like designs just for the sake of jumping into the bandwagon.

Aside from having that fantastic rock and water finishing, you can also add steps and various entries for your pool. Depending on your pool size and depth, you can have as much as 5 steps before your whole body dips into the cool water. You can even add lighting fixtures under each step so that the edges will illuminate. Having a running fountain right in the middle of the pool is also good. Your guests can dip into the pool and play with the fountain’s water or they can perhaps relax on their cots, mesmerizing the beauty of your creation.

Photo taken from http://www.landscape-design-advisor.com

If you have a swimming pool in your backyard and you find it plain looking (perhaps, it takes the shape of the usual circle, rectangle or square pool), you might want to give it a face-lift.

If your swimming pool is next to a wall, call your contractor for him or her to make a riprap wall out of it. You can ask the contractor to use granite finishing to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. After that, you can attach a tube or pipe at the back of the wall to make the water run down the granite towards your pool. Your guests will surely love this new addition to your recreation and relaxation area.

Photo taken from http://www.larapools.com

Fireplaces are helpful during winter. When Christmastime comes and your heater can’t seem to stabilize the temperature (maybe it’s busted), fireplaces are a good alternative. Also, if you wish to be that Mr. Romantic in a special evening with your someone, you can light up the fireplace and share wine by the fire. However, fireplaces have this con. Not all the smoke rise to the chimney. Some escape to the opening (just a little). And the result? The topmost center edge of your fireplace turns to black.

Blackened edges.

You can eliminate that ugly part by replacing it with an electric fireplace. No need to scrub that blackened spot!

Electric fireplace.

Photo taken from http://www.irritatedvowel.com and http://www.interiordigs.com