Thinking About Renting Your Home? Have A Look At This! - 06/30/12 07:03 PM

 That's not a ZZ Top beard on the air filter. Dirt, pet hair, human skin, bed bugs, and frankly other things I dare not consider are plugging the filter.
 While helping an investor prep his rental home I came across this baby. The renter had not changed the filter all year! There was a stack of brand new filters sitting in the closet by the air return. This would have been a 30 second fix not requiring a ladder or any tools. The renter was simply too dam lazy to slap a fresh filter in every now and then.
… (3 comments)

Another one Sold! Three bedroom Home Colfax LA! - 06/29/12 08:49 PM
Another one Sold! Three bedroom Home Colfax LA!

After a lengthy time on the market with two other firms, Bayou Properties Realty was able to bring 900 Sixth Street to a successful closing. Though the rural location made marketing a challenge, the smile on the seller's face made the efforts worthwhile.
 The young buyers seemed eager to get started with the home renovations. My guess is they stopped by Lowes AND Home Depot before heading to their new home. And the seller? She was doing the closing happy dance! There's nothing like a happy closing to cap a busy week … (0 comments)

Mid-Century Modern Home Alexandria La--Price Reduced! - 06/28/12 06:49 AM
Mid-Century Modern Home Alexandria La--Price Reduced--

 Searching for a home with character in Alexandria, La? 505 Kimball is a perfect example of Mid-Century Modern architecture. Smooth flow from room to room, floor to ceiling windows, and a nice blend of indoor and outdoor living spaces mark this build style.
 
Are you fond of built-in cabinets, pocket doors, and really neat period tile? If so, 505 Kimball is a must see. For only 137,500 dollars you could call this Mid-Century Modern home!

 Call Doug Rogers with Bayou Properties Realty today (318) 613-1994 for a private tour.

… (0 comments)

Welcome Home Adam and Jillian. Bayou Properties Closes Another One! - 06/27/12 06:56 PM

 I met this young couple at one of my foreclosure listings. After a brief tour, we decided to search for something more move in ready. In a few short weeks, 302 North Spring Drive in Woodworth hit their radar.
 And really, what's not to love? Minutes from Alexandria, yet outside the reach of high city utility bills and taxes. The property has been recently updated including a brand new roof!
 What was not updated in the home? Well, to be honest the dining room light was straight out of Walmart circa 1997. But a quick stop by Home … (1 comments)

Welcome Home Stacey And Chuck. Hope You Love Your New Home! - 06/27/12 08:17 AM

 I've know Chuck and Stacy longer than I care to admit. Needless to say when we first met gray hair was something "old men" had. Now when we enter a room folks ask if it is snowing outside. Did I mention Chuck works for the Sherrif's office and thus carrys a gun? No pressure right?
 After a short search they feel in love with this ranch home outside of Pineville. Who could blame them? Plenty of land for their toys, an updated interior, and room for all the kids. All for a VERY modest price!
 
 Those grins … (2 comments)

In This Business We Learn By Being Burned - 06/25/12 09:22 AM

 Sadly most real estate lessons come from the school of hard knocks. Regardless of what they teach in the real estate classroom, nothing beats knowledge picked up the hard way.
1) We will sign the listing tomorrow-- The listing appointment went great, the sellers loved your price/ marketing plan, yet they want to sleep on it. No problem, let's sign tomorrow! Over milk and cookies that night you consider how awesome that listing will be. This will be your foothold into the subdivision. The next day the sellers slap a FSBO sign in the yard. But they did appreciate the … (7 comments)

Monday Real Estate Got You Down? Take a look at my New Orleans Trip! - 06/25/12 08:31 AM
One of the benefits of living three hours from New Orleans is the ability to take spontaneous trips. A four star hotel for 80 bucks? One of my favorite groups in a small art gallery concert? That's all I needed to crank the Jeep!

 Here's my view from the 18th floor of the JW Marriot. Yes, that's a sister Marriot across the street. The Mississippi River can be seen between the two high-rise hotels. We were directly on Canal Street, Steps from the French Quarter...

New Orleans is heaven for real estate nerds. Care to guess how much these … (5 comments)

Is It Fall Yet? - 06/21/12 07:53 PM

 Take a look at this lovely Fall picture. The grass is dormant, there was a chill in the air, and the day mercifully ended before 8 pm.
 I type this lovely post at 945pm. The first call came in at 8:03 this morning (required an Iphone scroll to look up), and hopefully the last one just ended. There were showings, property management, a listing call, pretty much a real estate buffet.
 Am I complaining? Nope, sure beats NOT being busy. But i'm sweaty, my head hurts, and there is no beer in the house so I have a right to … (6 comments)

Home For Rent In West Alexandria 71303 - 06/20/12 05:16 PM
Home For Rent in West Alexandria 71303--

 Searching for a three bedroom home for rent in West Alexandria, La? 446 Lula lane offers an open floor-plan, new ceramic tile flooring, and a large backyard for a reasonable price.

 The living room and dining area combine for one large space, perfect for entertaining. There are multiple windows to allow plenty of natural light.

 The 18inch ceramic tile continues from the living room into all bedrooms. 446 Lula lane is completely carpet free! The location off Jackson Street Extension is also located minutes from shopping and entertainment options.
For … (2 comments)

A Closer Look At Village Green Subdivision Pineville LA - 06/19/12 05:25 PM
A Closer Look At Village Green Subdivision Pineville LA--

 Looking for affordable housing that offers bang for the buck? Interested in Pineville La homes for sale that qualify for 100% financing? If so Village Green Subdivision should be on your must see list. Let's examine what this Pineville Subdivision has to offer...
 
 As the sign says, Village Green Subdivision offers its owners many upscale features.

 It's hot in Louisiana. Who needs the hassle of a backyard pool when residents of Village Green get access to this oasis? Worried about your children? Relax, there is a lifeguard on duty … (0 comments)

Wave to Your Rival When You List A Home In His Neighborhood - 06/19/12 07:08 AM

 As I hung up the phone I couldn't help but giggle. The caller was a friend from church who wanted me to list his home. The thought of planting my sign in the yard brought a grin to my face normally reserved for old British comedies. What gives, am I that hard up for listing inventory? Well yes, but that's another blog post...
 This listing is a few houses down from one of my competitors. As he lives deeper in the subdivision, he will see my sign every time he comes or goes. How do I know this stings so … (6 comments)

Renters +Buyer Home Tour=Wasted Showing - 06/18/12 03:57 PM

 I just returned from a delightful afternoon of showing Pineville homes for sale. Today's target range was homes priced from 275-330k bucks, very upscale for this market. So why was it so easy to mark two off the list? Because the renters sabotaged the showings!
1) Home One-- "Don't worry Doug, the renter is a nice guy and EZ to work with. You won't know he is there"! As I walked up the drive I noticed his burning cigarette in the carport ash tray. Maybe this would be easy! After ringing the doorbell three times and pounding on the door, … (8 comments)

Upgrades That Do Add Value To Your Home - 06/18/12 09:38 AM

 With zero interest credit card in hand, our buyers race straight from the closing table to the nearest home improvement store. Let's take a look at some smart upgrades that may add value to your new home.
1) Quality flooring-- if the tile is smaller than 18 inches or the word "laminate" appears on the box keep looking. Think hardwood flooring and quality tile. And don't skip on installation. Nothing looks worse than an installation job that appears "almost professional".
2) Upgraded Counters-- My investors scored a killer deal on these granite counters. For 1,500 bucks they transformed the feel … (5 comments)

Neat Upgrades That Add Nothing To the Value Of Your Home - 06/17/12 07:29 PM

 People take pride in their homes. There's something about giving 1/4 of your gross pay to a mortgage lender that makes folk proud of their palace. But not all upgrades equal value come time to sell. Let's look at some of the worst offenders...
1) The Above Ground Pool-- Why dig a hole and pour cement when you can go to WalMart and call it a day. Don't forget the upgraded plastic ladder of dramatic effect. Seriously have you seen the ring of death this glorified Zip-lock bags leave behind?
2) "Plush Carpet Padding"-- Why settle for the standard pad … (7 comments)

No Sir, We Can't Tour Twelve Homes Tomorrow - 06/15/12 07:30 PM

 Working with first time buyers, a common request is to pack as many homes into a single tour as possible. After all, we want to buy ASAP, so why not knock out 12 homes in one day. Let's examine why packing that many properties in one outing is a bad idea.
1) There's a reason House Hunters only shows three homes-- Ever wondered why the producers have the buyers pick from the best of three? Any more and features tend to run together. Which house had the nice walk in closet? Who can remember? I have seen such confusion more … (49 comments)

Chicken Spaghetti Prospecting - 06/14/12 11:25 AM

 Like most of my recent marketing ideas, this one came to me at the ball park. With three girls in softball, the bulk of Spring is spent at the diamond. And there I sat, staring down another ball park burger for dinner.
 If only we had time to cook a proper meal. And then it hit me, other families are busy as well. I bet they would appreciate a home cook meal during the summer madness.
 The creation above is called chicken Spaghetti. Chunks of chicken, noodles, special cheese, and in the oven you go. This recipe is one we … (11 comments)

My Agent Pet Peeve of the Day - 06/14/12 10:44 AM

 This post has nothing to do with consumers. Frankly a prospect can communicate using Morse Code for all I care, I'm just happy for the potential business. My pet peeve today deals with agent phone message etiquette.
 In the early summer housing rush most days find me in the field. Returning calls is typically done between point A and point B. "Hi This is Bob with Down on your luck Realty, can I show your listing today? Call me at 465-373-0505.
Let's examine what's wrong with this message...
1) Which listing?-- Most agents have more than one. If you leave … (10 comments)

Big Sign or Little Sign? - 06/13/12 03:09 PM

 Later this month Bayou Properties Realty will order another batch of signs. Frankly the listing rush has caught me off guard and I should have ordered some reserves earlier in the year. Oh well, if we must have problems...
 At my old firm we used the mac-daddy signs. You know, the ones that had to be disassembled in order to fit in a Jeep. When we opened our shop last year, I grudgingly agreed to use the smaller signs.
 Frankly the smaller ones make life easy. Slap one in the back seat and off to listing land we go! And … (12 comments)

Housing Market Report for Pineville Louisiana 71360 - 06/13/12 01:36 PM
Housing Market Report for Pineville Louisiana 71360--

 Even in the face of oppressive Summer heat (can you imagine what August will be like), demand for housing in Pineville Louisiana remains strong. With Low interest rates (some buyers are getting 3.5% fixed for thirty years), and a healthy local economy listings are seeing brisk activity.
Homes for sale in Pineville
Currently there are 106 homes active on the market in greater Pineville in the 75k-260k dollar range. With an average list price of 156,640 dollars these homes remain affordable. There are condos, homes with land, and subdivision properties represented in this … (0 comments)

My Home is Vacant, Why Should I Leave the Utilities On? - 06/12/12 11:47 AM

 Depending on the seller's time frame, it may be necessary to move prior to the listing going under contract. With bills from both homes flowing in, the natural tendency is to seek ways to cut cost. Let's examine why turning off utilities is a bad idea...
1) It gets hot in the South-- With the outside temperature over 90, how hot do you think it is inside? I've literally felt the hot air hit me when opening the front door. My buyers aren't sweating because of the fancy crown molding...
2) Dark Rooms are Scary-- During the summer buyers often … (66 comments)

3 Bedroom Home For Sale in Woodcliff Subdivision, Pineville,La - 06/11/12 09:26 AM
3 Bedroom Home For Sale in Woodcliff Subdivision, Pineville,La--

 Searching for a 3 bedroom home in Pineville, La? Need to find a home in JI Barron School district? If so, 196 Woodcliff should be on your must see list.

 In the grand New Orleans style, 196 Woodcliff features exposed brick and STUNNING wood floors. Imagine hosting a Thanksgiving Feast in this space.

The living room features high ceilings and a wood burning fireplace. Homes in Woodcliff Subdivision feature amenities like this for a modest investment. The best part? With low interest rates owning 196 Woodcliff is … (1 comments)

When prospecting stops a sudden pay cut is just around the corner - 06/11/12 08:52 AM

 This was a TOUGH lesson for me to learn. The phone is ringing, houses are being toured, listings are closing. Nirvana right? All that's left is to pick the 3-series sedan or sports coupe.
 Then "it" stops. The listing closed, the buyers bought from their cousin, and all the sudden the phone no longer rings. Well, except those lovely calls from the mother-in-law, but those don't end in a check!
 When you stop prospecting this is like a plumber patching a leaky pipe. There may still be water on the floor, but said liquid was already in the tube. Once … (8 comments)

The Inspection Report is Back, Now What? - 06/10/12 09:10 AM

 "You told me the inspector was a pro, but you failed to mention that his report is 44 pages long. What the heck am I suppose to do with this"?
 Nothing will deflate a buyer faster than a giant inspection report. After all, could anything positive come from a report that resembles a Lord of The Rings novel? Relax, inspection reports are long because, well they need to be. Let's take a look at how to approach an inspection report...
1) Collect more information if needed-- Got a question for the inspector? Don't be afraid to call him/her. Sometimes a … (20 comments)

3 Bedroom Home For Sale Pineville Louisiana. Price Reduced! - 06/09/12 09:33 AM
3 Bedroom Home For Sale Pineville Louisiana. Price Reduced!--

 Searching for a three bedroom home for sale in Pineville, La? Need extra space for an office or home school room? If so 3022 Donahue Ferry Road should be on your must see list!

 Good luck finding such a large kitchen for under 110,000 dollars. The new owners of 3022 Donahue Ferry Road will enjoy a kitchen not typically seen in this price range.

And there she is in all her glory! This is not a bedroom doing double-duty as a office. This is a separate, private space that … (0 comments)

Another One Sold! Three Bedroom Home In Deville Louisiana - 06/07/12 09:37 AM
Another One Sold! Three Bedroom Home In Deville Louisiana--

 After a quick three months on the market, Bayou Properties Realty was able to find a buyer for this lovely home at 74 Stock Landing Road.

 The new owner will undoubtedly enjoy this open kitchen with plenty of cabinet space. There is already talk of a nice 4th of July party just around the corner.

The best part? The buyer was able to secure this three bedroom home in Deville for less than his rent! And thanks to 100% Rural Development Financing his down-payment was ZERO,ZIP, as in … (3 comments)

3 Bedroom Home For Sale Alexandria Garden District 71301 - 06/05/12 01:25 PM
3 Bedroom Home For Sale Alexandria Garden District 71301--

 Searching for the PERFECT Alexandria Garden District home? 2308 Marye Street features 3 bedrooms, period details, and a fenced backyard for only 132,500 dollars!

The wood floors will be a source of pride for the lucky new owner. High ceilings and fresh paint make the living room a focal point for entertaining.

 The kitchen at 2308 Marye features plenty of storage space and modern appliances. Enjoy the charm of a historic home but retain the convenience of modern living.

 One can own an Alexandria Garden District home … (1 comments)

Tips For Avoiding Sponsorship Fatigue - 06/04/12 08:06 PM

 As the owner of a small business and parent to four kids I am often asked to sponsor community events. Hey mister, can't you spare a few bucks (or several hundred) to help ____________ cause? Not having the resources of a Donald Trump, I have learned to say no from time to time. Here are some conditions I consider when asked to spare a few bucks...
1) Are My Kids Actively Involved-- This spring I sponsored my daughter's softball team. Would I have parted with 350 bucks had she not been on it? Probably not!
2) How Much is this … (2 comments)

Vacation Is History, Back To Work in the Morning - 06/03/12 08:49 PM

 Please excuse my week-long absence from the ActiveRain community. But with a view like this who could blame me? I honestly brought the laptop with the plan of working a couple of afternoons. Thanks to my great business partner I was able to almost completely unplug for the whole week.

 The week featured much fresh ice cream. Mable Slab, Cold Stone, and Shakes offered all sorts of treats. My youngest loved the in-house waffle cones. You won't find anything like this in our home town.

 The sugar-white Destin sand was perfect for making your siblings disappear. But the … (2 comments)

 
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Doug Rogers- Your Pineville Louisiana Agent

Pineville, LA

More about me…

Century 21 Millennium

Address: 2690 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, LA, 71360

Office Phone: (318) 640-2121

Cell Phone: (318) 613-1994

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