Why disclose information about your property? Take a moment to reflect what you are looking for when you want to look at a home for yourself. Don't you want to know what has happened to the home before you buy. People want to know that you care enough to let them in on the dirty little secrets. Come on people! The is not a single home built that has never had an issue. Sooner or later the roof will need to be replace, stains in the ceiling, drop ceiling panels need to be replaced, so will the water heater, the air conditioning, the sink faucets will leak, toilets get stopped up. When you don't need the dishwasher to stop working it will. Stains on the carpet, gouges in the floor, cracks in the tile. Don't cover this things up, DISCLOSE, DISCLOSE! The buyers will have much more respect when you disclose all information about the homes condition. When you don't disclose that means you have something to hide! Buyers deserve the right to know what's happened, they are more likely to write you an offer when you tell the truth about those dirty little secrets! Property Disclosure is important to everyone.

It really doesn't matter how Big or Small your home is, pictures Do make the difference! Take the time to present your home in the best manner possible. That means putting away the extras just sitting around taking up space. Find a home for the excess items, remove old magazines, pick up paperwork that needs to be put away, keep the dishes clean and put away. Take the time to pick dirty clothes, hang those wet towels up, empty the trash, clear of the table. And, Don't Forget the garage, everyone dumps in the garage. Stop dumping, by placing items you wish to keep in boxes or sealed containers clearly mark those boxes and stack them against the wall, or if you have shelving put them on the shelf. Clear out middle of the garage so buyers can see how big the garage is.Take a picture of the garage it does make a difference. Most people who are looking for a home expect to look in the garage, make it presentable. Put your animals in crates, it's for everyone safety. You don't want your animals to be accidentally let out the door and get lost.  Clean up outside, putting things away make it more Eye Catching! Pressure was your home, clean it up, pictures are worth a 1000 words.Did you know that more than 77% of prospective buyers start looking on line before they ever jump in a car to see what's available to findh their new home? Make them Stop and look at your home by presenting your home online with pictures. It does need to show the element of care, it doesn't have to be "Top of the Line Furnishings", just clean tidy and something for the right person who is looking. Your home could be, the Perfect Home for them! Don't take the chance in loosing them to another house. Take the time to think about you want to see when you look for a new home. It does take a seller's participation to sell a home, without your efforts it doesn't matter how much advertising we do, a home won't sell if it's not taken care of.

Home Sellers make things easy for everyone! You can do some things that help provide your prospective Buyers information to help them make a quick decision on buying your home or the home of somebody else!

Get your utility bills together, call your local company for your electric, water, gas, security system, water filtration's systems. Ask your utility company to fax it or mail it to you prior to your listing your home for sale. If you don't have access to a fax machine call your agent they should have the ability to obtain this information and place it in a book for your prospective buyers to review.

All your efforts will pay off! Just being prepared to sell your home makes everyone at ease! Do prepare you will be rewarded with an offer for all your preparation!

Home Sellers, please take the time to carefully think about your personal valuable items. Those things you can't replace. Here are some tips to prepare your home for sale:

* Do put your valuable jewelry, collectables, guns, etc. in a locked safe at home or take your items to the bank an put them in a safe deposit box. Dont' leave out your personal checkbook, social security card, driver license, etc. just laying around the house.

* Do place your private paperwork, bills, deeds and anything you consider private important paperwork, put them in a safe out of the obvious places. 

* Prospective Buyers usually ask what your utility costs are for the last 12 months. Go just before you list your home for sale, get your water, electric, gas bills, copy an place in a information folder on the kitchen table.

* Don't leave out your personal Mortgage Information laying around, do make it handy in case you are asked about the payoff, whether or not you have a 1st and/or 2nd mortgage. Do have your payoff information so you can discuss this information with your Realtor, this also allows your agent to secure the best possible sales price for your home without you being caught short at the closing table.

* Do take care to put away those unmentionables! When you list your home for sale you should always expect someone to call and want to see your home immediately! You take the chance of loosing that perfect buyer when you don't allow someone to show your home on short notice. Sellers if you don't let agents or prospective buyers view your home usually the same you are called to set an appointment, 9 times out of 10 you have just missed that one family/person who is ready to buy today!

* Do make your bed before your leave for the day, pick up clothes from the floors, chairs, tables, and don't just dump things in the bottom of the closet.

* YOU NEVER get a second chance to make a First Impression! It could make or break the sale of your home.

A qualified, competent real estate agent will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying and selling a home. An Agent provides value to the homeowner in many ways:

*   Pays for all marketing and advertising costs on listing for the seller.

*   Adds Experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales process including marketing, financing,          negotiations and more. 

*   Handles all showings.

*   Brings a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agents doesn't have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does.

*   Can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations.

*   Provides you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back.

*   Gives an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your options. Unlike, buyer and sellers, an agent has no emotional attachment to property.

*   Has the knowledge to help you ask the right questions.

*   Being a third party, potential buyers are more likely to tell your agent the truth about your home, even if it is unflattering. This objective viewpoint will help you make necessary changes to get your home sold.

* Your time is valuable. A real estate agent allows you to spend your time how you want.

Welcome First Time Home Buyers! Call around to find an Agent who will work with You! Tell them your a First Time Home Buyer, be proud of your accomplishments. Ask lots of questions when you meet with an agent, if they can't answer your questions with ease you may want to interview more agents. Not all Agent work best with First Time Home Buyers. You should feel very comfortable with your agent, there should be no questions you can ask. If you don't know something ask, the dumb question is the question that isn't asked! Never pretend you know something that you really don't know. If you are asked if you understand what is being told to you don't say "Sure I understand" when you really don't. We as Agents spend years learning, teaching, training and we get continuing education annually. WE don't know everything, and should we not have the answers we should be able to help you find those answers. Our jobs are real estate related we should know where to get answers! The First Time Home Buyers $ 8,000 Tax Credit will expire if you haven't closed on a home by December 1, 2009. Don't miss out on this terrific opportunity, we can all help to jump start the economy again! Go Buy a HOME!

Don't think you can't get a loan at your local Bank. I have just closed two homes in the last 2 weeks with BB&T Bank where my buyers were absolutely shocked at how quickly and efficiently they were handled. Their loans were swift, detailed, and efficiently handled out of the Athens Office and closed both in Cleveland. Another very interesting thing was each of these Buyers loans will stay with BB&T Bank. They do NOT sell their home loans. Any Bank that is strong enough to keep their home loans, service them and you can actually sit down in front of a live person to discuss details about your loan. The Old Fashion way of Bank, personal face to face contact! A Bank that still handles their clients by Name, not just a number! What a novel idea! And there are still loans with 100% financing available with the right criteria. Way to go! I will tell anyone who will listen what a tremendous job BB&T Bank has done! Thank you!