Yesterday I visited a neighbors house- He had many very nice things from Europe- he made a comment that the stuff might be worth more then the house- he might be right - but he didn't know.

Any number of things could cause a disaster for your valuables.  Money many times can't replace them but money will sure help start over.  Insurance companies often times guess or "factor" the valuable when issuing a policy but you should "Know" the value so your not over nor under insured.

A simple way to do this is to make a digital video just like a home tour but out line every thing within the house.

Start with the basic fixtures lights, carpet, drapes next appliances zoom in on serial numbers make sure you can tape the model, read it into the recording if necessary.

If you ever move and rent the house this part is finished.  But if you live in the house the next step is most important, now go back around the house stopping at art work, furniture, even your cloths closet.  If you have appraisals or floater policies (this will help if you missed something) you can make a voice note as well.

Store this information in a safe secure place away from the house.  Review it with your insurance agent and make sure your covered.

If you would like more information about the process, you can reach Brian at 772-579-1981, email him at b@SharkeyRE.com or visit his website at www.SharkeyRE.com or www.BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com.

When you find the right home, I can represent you and negotiate on your behalf.

My goal is to help you buy the right home for you at a very fair price.

When you make an offer, the seller can:
* Accept it
* Reject it outright if the offer does not meet the specifications in the listing
* Counter it with different price and terms

If there is strong demand for properties, a seller may not even make a counter offer, but accept one of several offers û usually the one with the highest price or most qualified buyer.

Here are some tips to help you get your offer accepted in any market:

* Pre-approval: Make sure you have been pre-approved, not just pre-qualified.
* Strong deposit: Provide a substantial earnest money deposit. This is "good faith" money and shows the seller you are serious about purchasing the home.
* Contingencies: Limit the number of contingencies; include only the ones you really need, like financing and an inspection, etc.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about making an offer, negotiating, or the buying process. I will work diligently to help you find and purchase your new home. Call or email me when you are ready to take the next step.

Sincerely,

Brian Sharkey- Realtor

www.BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com
Brian@BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com

772-579-1981

In Case of Emergency-  Add the number of the loved one you would want to be notified should you be unable to communicate in an accident in your phone with the name as ICE.

Police and other emergency responders are being trained to check your phone under the name ICE.

Simple way to protect yourself just In Case of Emergency.

Telling clients you care is one thing showing them is another.  Try it and hope they never have to use it.

According to a recent report, about 75% of homebuyers surf the Web to begin their home search. That means home buyers are well aware of what properties are available on the market and the prices they are selling for. Therefore, now more than ever, pricing is the key to selling your home.

Some sellers think that a higher price will give them some negotiating room. But in fact many buyers don't even look at a property that is overpriced, much less make an offer on it.

This can lead to the property's becoming "shop-worn." Buyers often inquire about the length of time a property has been on the market. If it has been on the market a long time, they wonder if there is something wrong with it. The sellers then have to drop the price, taking less than they might have if they had priced it correctly to begin with.

Homes that are well-priced attract the buyers in their price range. The buyer's perception is that the home is a good buy, and then the seller is positioned to receive the listing price or close to it.

Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions. I would be happy to provide you with a market evaluation on your home to make sure it is competitively priced in the marketplace so you will receive the best offer.

www.BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com
Brian@BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com

Be careful because not all contractors will operate within the law.

Here I collected some tips that will red flag the less than reputable contractor for you:

• solicits door-to-door; now if a lawn guys stops at your house because your grass is high that's one thing but if he is going to every house, I would wonder...
• offers you discounts for finding other customers; contractor should earn the refferal business
• just happens to have materials left over from a previous job; need I say more
• only accepts cash payments; check please!
• asks you to get the required building permits; the contractor should be able to do that without a problem, unless s/he has a problem
• does not list a business number in the local telephone directory; I'm not talking about a big ad just a listing
• tells you your job will be a "demonstration;" WHAT?
• pressures you for an immediate decision; no, no,no take your time prices are not going up in this market
• offers exceptionally long guarantees; nothing is forever
• asks you to pay for the entire job up-front; I'm thinking s/he s lucky to have a job and get paid for dong a good one AFTER its finished.
• suggests that you borrow money from a lender the contractor knows. If you're not careful, you could lose your home through a home improvement loan scam. That would not be good...

I've had a policy to be very careful about hiring people because I've seen many friends and family get burned.  Please send me a successful comment about your last contractor and what you did to protect yourself.

Brian Sharkey- Realtor

www.SharkeyRE.com

When you are ready to sell, you'll want to maximize the emotional appeal of your home. People who are enchanted with your home upon walking in the door are more likely to buy, and at a fair price.

Here are some tips to enhance the emotional appeal of your home:

* Turn on the lights to create a warm glow and remove the shadows.
* Make sure the windows are clean, and open the curtains or blinds.
* Keep the kitchen and baths clean and sparkling. Don't leave dishes in the sink.
* Remove all clutter, make the beds, and pick up toys.
* Pack away items that may detract from a buyer's ability to mentally move into your home such as family pictures or teen posters.
* Make the closets look bigger by packing up the clothes you are not using.
* Create a relaxing atmosphere with soft music.
* Make people feel at home with homey scents such as freshly baked cookies or bread or good potpourri.
* Check for pet odors and keep pets safely out of the way when your house is being shown.
* Clean out your basement and garage and neatly stack boxes you have stored there.
* Add charm and appeal with fresh flowers and plants.

Set the stage to show your home to its best advantage. Please don't hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions, or would like some professional tips on preparing your home for sale.

Sincerely,

Brian Sharkey- Realtor
www.BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com
Brian@BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com

Looking for a Short Sale Specialist? (edit/delete)

Brian Sharkey of Riverside Properties is the Short Sale Specialist other agents go to for their short sale transactions.  Sharkey is known for his negotiating skills which are essential when dealing with lenders on a regular basis.  He is always exploring different ways to provide his clients with the best possible solution for their financial situation.When the market changed and short sales were considered "deals to be avoided" due to their difficulty, he saw them as an opportunity for growth and a way to assist homeowners in need.  He also helps fellow realtors to understand the process and they in turn come to him for advice and guidance.

Sharkey's strong problem solving skills have provided him a base from which he has built a successful business.  He is continuously networking with other real estate professionals such as mortgage brokers, title companies, and other realtors to provide his clients with the best possible vendor to service their needs.  He is highly self-motivated with a passion to deliver superior service.  And due to his enthusiastic personality and high energy, it's no wonder the majority of Sharkey's business comes from referrals.

Sharkey has an extensive amount of Short Sale experience and is a Certified Short Sale Professional.  He specializes in Short Sales in St. Lucie County, Martin County and Palm Beach County in the state of Florida.  If you would like to know if you qualify for a short sale or just want more information about the process, you can reach Brian at 772-579-1981, email him at short@SharkeyRE.com or visit his website at www.TraditionRealEstate.com or www.BrianSharkeyRealEstate.com.

All the talk about short sales this blog outlines how to get ready to sell.

If you've decided to go ahead and sell your house, it's important to have a sales strategy planned out before you even put your house on the market if it's short or not; your agent can tell you or just call me.  772-579-1981   It's also important to have a strategy that both you and your agent agree on, right down to the last detail. With all the details of your plan firmly in place, you'll have a strategy that will help your sale go more quickly and more smoothly when you start receiving offers from buyers.

What Should a Good Strategy Include?

Your sales strategy should incorporate two mini-plans, one for marketing your property, and the other for financial considerations and interacting with buyers.

Marketing your house effectively is a crucial part of the sales process. Marketing is designed to get as many people as possible through your front door, because the more interest you create in your property, the better your ability to negotiate a good sale price. This section of the plan should include things such as:

• Advertising, photographs, and signage.
• Whether or not you decide to hold open homes.
• How you're going to "stage" your property to increase its appeal.
• Ways to emphasize the strengths and downplay the weaknesses of your property and neighborhood

The second part of the plan should include the following considerations:

• Your initial asking price. Do you want to consider a range pricing strategy?
• If the market is slow, how long will you wait before making a price reduction, and how much will the reduction be?
• Negotiation with potential buyers.

Range Pricing Strategies

Range pricing is a way of getting more buyers through your front door. Using a range pricing strategy means listing your house at a price range you find acceptable, rather than a firm price. For example, if your home is valued at $275,000, you might list your range as $250,000-$275,000. This way, you get more buyers coming through your home, and while they may offer bids that are lower than you want to accept, you have the option to negotiate a price that's more to your liking. Range pricing strategies are an excellent way of generating interest in your property in a slow market, but are less useful when the market is strong.

Negotiating with Buyers

During the offer and counter-offer process, what do you want to stand firm on, and where are you willing to compromise? Consider such things as:

• The length of the closing period.
• Who pays closing costs?
• Who pays for repairs that might be needed. Will you pay for the repairs yourself or negotiate a reduced sale price to compensate the buyer for repair costs?
• Beware of so-called "open-ended contingencies" when negotiating with potential buyers. An example is a buyer who makes an offer subject to them selling their own property before buying yours. If you end up negotiating with such a buyer, counter with a clause that states you have the right to accept a better offer if it should be offered to you.

Other Things to Consider

• Will you hire a home inspector to do your own inspection before putting the house on the market? It's an extra expense, but it can give you a firmer negotiating position if you're aware of problems the house may have before it goes on the market.

Review your strategy regularly. If something isn't working for you, don't be afraid to change it if you and your agent can work out a better one.

Sharkey short sales, short sales, expert facilitator

It falls to the floor.

Why? Has it lost its magnetic properties? No.

It was simply a weak magnet and therefore could not attract enough.

We all hold this same "magnetic ability" to attract all of our life's experiences.  So just use it more then others.

By empowering the mind and body you can enhance your magnetic ability - thus attracting most anything you think of.

While most people are unaware of their own power of attraction, are like the fridge magnet that can't attract the simplest things in life.

How strong is your magnet?

Do you hope to get a new buyer today or will you attract one today with your power to attract.  Don't believe me, fine.  Think about a buyer, what they will need, want, think of how you can help them, take action share with some people around you  (on line at the store) what your thinking about.

Let me know what happens today..

You can reach Brian Sharkey @ Brian@BrianSharkeyrealEstate.com

HOA Documents

I'm listing a property in a new subdivision and another agent just asked me why I'd want to read them before I list the property.  (When I say new subdivision, less then five resales have taken place in the whole community so far.)

Interesting question- I've put a plan in place to become the most productive agent in the "New Area" of town.  I've lived here for over five years now.  Visiting association board meetings, reading HOA documents, talking to builders has given me a distinct advantage over other agents. 

More importantly I become the sourse for all the real estate information in the community,

Why do you think a listing agent should read the docs before listing?

Brian Sharkey Can be reached via email at Brian@Briansharkeyrealestate.com or by phone at 772-579-1981.