Just as you wouldn’t dream of using your soon-to-be-former-spouse’s attorney in your divorce proceedings, so should you not use the seller’s real estate agent when you purchase a home. Sure, buying a home isn’t quite the adversarial process that a divorce is, but real estate agents, like divorce lawyers, are trained to be committed to the interests of only one party in a negotiation. They have certain ethical principles they must abide by that, most of the time, preclude them from representing both parties. It is a clear conflict of interest. And, the practice is either illegal or heavily reg ..read more

The American consumer was slow to catch on, but today we have a growing awareness of the environment and how it’s impacted by humans. “A new study across 24 countries reveals 58% of adults are more mindful of their impact on the environment, and 85% said they’re willing to take personal action to combat environmental and sustainability challenges.” according to MasterCard newsroom editors. We also expect large corporations and brands to follow suit and to “… behave in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way.” Change begins at home, don’t you agree? Today we share some tips with you about thre ..read more

Selling a home and garage sales. They’re like cookies and milk, macaroni and cheese or peanut butter and jelly – they just go together. Especially if you’ll be staging the home before putting it on the market, depersonalizing and getting rid of clutter are important steps. Plus, those tasks help lighten the load when it comes to packing for the move. We recommend going through your home, room-by-room, scrutinizing every item. Do I really need/want this? If not, start a “garage sale pile” or box[es]. Whether it’s a giant or moderate purge you’re looking at, holding a garage sale is a great way ..read more

American homebuyers primarily shop for homes online before choosing a real estate agent. They crave lots of interior and exterior photos and many won’t read about a listing that doesn’t have them. For example, a consumer wrote in a forum at CityData.com “As I am looking at a listing, if there are no photos, I disregard the listing. . . and if the bedrooms and baths aren’t shown, I disregard the listing.” There are reasons that a listing may not include photos of the home. These include: The seller requests that no photos be published The photos aren’t ready to be published yet Often, homes i ..read more

Something interesting happens to folks when they make the decision to buy a home. That decision is like rocket fuel, propelling them into the car and on the road to their local Sunday open houses. While this may be fun, it’s not an efficient or intelligent way to shop for a new home. If you had a real estate agent at this point in the house hunt he or she would counsel you to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Only then will you know how much you can spend on a house. But wait – don’t step onto the launch pad just yet. Have you ever watched that TV show about first time homebuyers? The real est ..read more

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: When buying a home, the down payment isn’t the whole ball of wax. When budgeting for a home, you’ll need to factor in other expenses as well and one of the largest of these are closing costs. Because they aren’t due until closing, many homebuyers don’t focus on them as much as they should. Yes, they can be pricey but there are ways to save money on them. First-time buyer? Closing costs include all the fees charged by the lender and others to help facilitate your purchase of a home. Before loan approval, you’ll be given a Loan Estimate. This is a three-pa ..read more

Twenty-five percent of May 2021 homebuyers waived the home inspection in their efforts to win a bidding war, according to research from the National Association of REALTORS®. It’s a dangerous tactic and one we don’t recommend. Yes, the results of a home inspection can derail the entire deal. At best, especially if the problems are significant and the buyers are still willing, it can significantly slow down the transaction while negotiations reopen and work gets done. But waiving your right to an inspection isn’t wise. Which repairs are mandatory? Various states require certain fixes before th ..read more

No, we’re not loopy – a variety of seeds can and should be started indoors and January and February are the ideal months to plant many of them. So, thaw out that green thumb, dig into those seed catalogs you’ve been using to keep cabin fever at bay and get a head start on this season’s garden. Some flower seeds to start now Save some money in spring by starting your own flowers from seeds now. Some to consider include: Sweet pea – Sweet peas are best planted in fall if you want them to bloom in early spring. It’s not too late to plant them, however. They will bloom, but just a bit later than ..read more

It’s wise to have a plan for that day when you say “I’m outta here!” to the work world. Your happily ever after won’t be so rosy if you’ve put off the planning. We aren’t talking financial planning here; after all, we’re real estate agents, not financial experts. What we’re talking about is geography–where you’ll live. The lifestyle you hope to pursue will bear on your choice of location. At least it should. Do you plan on slowing way down or going into this phase of your life with wild abandon? If it’s anywhere near the latter, we have a suggestion for you: Downsize. Especially if lots of tr ..read more

Nationwide, crime is skyrocketing. Sadly, we recently saw the homicide rate explode to the highest rate “… in modern history,” according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies. Non-violent crimes, or crimes against property, have also increased, although the rate is far less than the homicide rate. Last year, for instance, there were 2.5 million burglaries in the US. Home invasions (when someone violently breaks into the home), burglary (home break-in) and larceny (when someone saws the catalytic converter off of your car parked in the driveway) are the crimes homeowne ..read more