As the New Year has approached us, it is time to clear out our old. Old thoughts, old habbits, and old ruts we have fallen into.  Setting attainable goals for the new year is a great way to get motivated, get excited, and get moving!

Real Estate is always on the move and whether you are a buyer, seller, or agent, it's time to create what you want in 2012! 

• The first goal for the new year:  "Realistic Expections".  Write down what you need and the best realistic way of attaining those needs.  
• Next:  "Get a Plan".  Set forth a good plan breakdown of how these goals will be met.  Start by designing a spreadsheet of monthly, weekly, and daily tasks.  Be sure to log your accomplishments as you go along.
• Finally:  " Take Action":  Immediately start your new goal plan.  You can critique it along the way if needed, but make sure to follow your plan for at least three months to give it a good chance for success.  Then set down and review your achievements.  If they are on track, then continue on.  If you need to adjust your plan then this is the time to do so. 

          Make  2012 the best year ever!

• Kay Bennett, your TN Referral Agent
• First Realty
• Cookeville, TN
• 931-510-8601 (agent cell)

Every year Cookeville, TN puts on some exciting events and of course fall is my favorite time to get out and enjoy them.  With the leaves changing colors, this makes our town a beautiful backdrop of seasonal beauty.  Located at the Historic Courthouse square in downtown Cookeville, TN, this wonderful fall event is not one to be missed.  For the $20.00 fee, you will receive a ceramic bowl and all the food you can eat. 

Cooking on the Square is scheduled from 11am to 1pm and will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

• Kay Bennett, Your Licensed Tennessee Referral Agent
• 931-510-8601
• First Realty Co
• 116 S. Lowe Ave
• Cookeville,TN

I was needing to spruce up a photo yesterday and totally forgot all about this free site I used long ago.  It took me forever to recall the name of it.  Sometimes our blogs can need a little pic me up with the use of button makers, logo makers, and photo frames, etc.  Image Chef is one I used a couple of years ago and when I finally did recall it, I found it still out there and free to use. 

Some other cool sites that have been there for a while that some may have forgotten are, GRsites
Cooltext

• Kay Bennett, Your Licensed Tennessee Referral Agent
• First Realty Company
• 116 S. Lowe Ave
• Cookeville, TN 28501

Making the right choice in Real Estate takes the right agent.  Kay has been selling Real Estate for over 5 years and is ready to help! 

Re-locating from out of town can be a stressful experience. When you ask most real estate agents the dreaded question about renting, some agents will refuse to work with you. As a native of Texas, I have the hard experience of moving here from out of state. My first year here was not exactly what I envisioned as the best place to live simply due to the fact that no agent wanted to help a renter. With that experience, I will always make sure I give the time and detail to every customer who needs to rent before buying a home. If you need a list of rentals, or inquiring questions about the Cookeville, Tennessee area, give me a call and let’s talk. I would love to help you find your way around in a new and unfamiliar place only to fall in love with our area and call it home.

• Contact Kay Bennett today! 931.510.8601 ~agent cell • Your Licensed Tennessee Realtor • First Realty Company • 116 S. Lowe Ave. • Cookeville, TN. 38506

First Realty Company has served the Cookeville TN area for 30 years and provides you with top notch re-location services. Just a few reasons why we think you should join our community... Cookeville Tennessee has a wealth of opportunity and lush natrual landscapes that provide a plethora of beautiful picturesque views right in your own backyard. What’s especially great about Cookeville Tennessee is that it is only 1 hour from Nashville Tennessee and 1.5 hours from Knoxville and Chattanooga Tennessee. Cookeville, TN is a town of approximately 30 thousand, and country living is even more perfect with convenience at your fingertips. All this comes with low property taxes and no state income tax.

For more information on re-locating or buying a home in Cookeville Tennessee, call Kay Bennett today! 931-510-8601 or email at kaybennett@charter.net

First Realty Company

116 S. Lowe Ave.  ~  Cookeville, TN 38501

931-528-1573 ofc

931-510-8601  Kay Bennett, Agent

Want to sell your home fast and for the most money? 

These few home selling tips will present your home with outstanding appeal and confidence to the buyer.  Have inspection and appraisal information along with disclosures presented on a counter or table for buyer review when touring your home.

1. Get a home inspection.  Having a home inspection with a list of repaired items already in place will present the buyer with the confidence that your home is move-in ready.

2. Get area reports such as schools, community features, etc.

3. Get your home pre-appraised.  Having an appraisal done on your home makes it clear the homes current market value and assures the buyer confidence in their purchase.

4. Cosmetic touches - just minor touch ups and enhancements such as fresh paint, carpet, and fixtures can make a home stand out in the crowd.

5. Exterior Cosmetic enhancements - Curb appeal is very important! make sure the lawn is mowed, put a fresh flower pot with vibrant colored flowers by the door and place a new door mat in the entry way. Replace old porch lights with new ones for a fresh new look.

Selling your home is a serious commitment.  With a little preparation, you can benefit from a fast and smooth home sale.

·        Kay Bennett is your licensed TN Realtor®

·        First Realty Company

·        Cookeville, TN

·        931-510-8601~ agent cell

The state of Tennessee is landscaped with a plethora of beautiful hills, bluffs, caves, natural forests, roaring rivers, and waterfalls.  Hiking trips are a fun way for the family to enjoy the great outdoors and take in picturesque views.  When deciding upon the perfect hiking trip for a family, it is necessary to research the trail for its length, inclines, and restrictions.

One of the best family hiking spots in Tennessee is Burgess Falls State Park located just outside of Cookeville, TN.  Burgess Falls is a great moderate hike for a family.  It is approx. 1.5 miles total and provides beautiful scenic overlooks and only a mildly steep trail to conquer before encountering the Big Falls which provides a breathtaking view of approximately 250 feet of rushing water into the canyon below. 

 Starting at the trail head, make sure to wear some good hiking shoes as this is a natural trail that runs along the Falling Water River.  The trail steadily inclines and declines, but is only steep in a few places.  These semi-steep inclines have steps that make the ascension for the novice hiker easier to achieve.  Resting benches along the way are perfect for needed breaks and taking in scenic views.  

Several falls are encountered along the hike as well.  Guided along the river by the trail’s natural terrain, the roaring rapids are heart pounding and visibly breathtaking.

 Pets are allowed on the trail and in the park, but must be on a leash.  Kids are also welcome, but must be supervised by adult. At the end of the Big Falls hike, there is a one mile Ridge Top trail is very scenic with breathtaking views down the canyon.

The park rangers are very friendly and informative at Burgess Falls State Park.  During the summer months, the park rangers display some of the natural wildlife inside the park and give lectures on their description and habitats.

Burgess Falls is for day use only.  Hosting an array of picnic areas, playgrounds, and fishing spots, this state park is full of family fun and adventure.

DIRECTIONS: Burgess Falls is located southwest of Cookeville, Tennessee about 12 to 13 miles.  From I-40 take exit 286 South and veer left onto Hwy 135.  Follow until you come to the bridge which is over the lake, then turn right and follow the road to the park. 

This State Park is for day use and closes at sundown.  It provides large parking lot, picnic tables, pavilion, restrooms and play area for kids.  You can fish, hike and picnic this area and enjoy the beauty of Natural Tennessee.

• Kay Bennett, Your Licensed TN Realtor
• First Realty Company
• Cookeville, TN
• 931-510-8601

10 Common Mistakes Made By A Real Estate Agent…

When consulting with a client or potential client, the usual first impressions carry a lot of significance. Gaining the respect of a client, fellow agents, and the community is important in being a Real Estate Agent.  During conversations, there are many aspects that can lead the client astray, and following a few simple tips can help the agent maintain a professional demeanor.

1.  Dress for success. – As real estate agents can get themselves into some pretty nasty places showing property, some tend to dress down in this career to a mere pair of jeans and t-shirt. That may be fine when trekking though pastures and farmland with your client in searching for property lines, but the initial interview with a potential client should always sport a well dressed and groomed agent. 

2.  Over using the the terms “I,We,or My.” – Using improper verbage can and will get an agent into trouble if an agent isn't careful with how things are said.  It’s important to always have the buyer or seller in control of decision making, using terms such as, “I will price it at,” or “We should do it this way..” may not sound offensive to some, but putting the agent in control of the real estate transaction instead of the customer or client, can relay the agent in having a possessive nature to the customer or client.  Clients should understand that real estate agents are only working professionals that represent the needs of the client, and do not make decisions for them.

3. Giving a price opinion with no documented proof. – Although this may seem like the agent is confident in the market, providing no written comparables to the customer opens the door for blame later on, should the price in question be volatile or erroneous.  If ever in a situation with no handy printouts available, simply give an estimate and explain it is only a hypothesis.  An actual comparison will be done to verify the opinion given.

4. Giving Legal advice. – Too often agents will delve outside their area of expertise and exclaim legal advice to a customer or client.  For a Real estate agent, giving legal advice without being a lawyer can lead to a law suit involving the agent.

5. Withholding latent defects information. -  If a real estate agent knowingly withholds information concerning latent defects concerning property, this can and will result in serious trouble for the agent.  Not only legal reprimands can result, but respect can be lost as well.

6. Not explaining agency to the customer/client. – Agency is one of the most important aspects of agent to client relationship.  A client must be made aware of how an agent represents them in buying or selling their home.  Dual agency refers to an agent who can represent both the seller and the buyer at the same time.  This can be unpredictable and costly to either party.  The adage, “One cannot serve two masters,” is especially truthful with dual agency.  Other types of agency agreements between the client and agent are transaction facilitator and designated agent.  A clear understanding of how an agent represents the client borrows little to no trouble with future agent to client relationships.

7. Rushing over a contract without thoroughly explaining it to the client. – As agents have read these contracts time and time again, explaining in detail to a client can be easily rushed though, especially if the client is willing to sign without taking the time to understand his/her obligations .  So many times an agent will hear, “I’ll take your word for it, where do I sign?”  Accepting this action by the client is not professional and can come back to bite them in the end.

8. Telling way too much information. – Some agents do get nervous in speaking with certain clients.  Intimidation can be some reasons an agent would speak without thinking.  Also, agents can be too trusting with their client, thus intrusting them with too much information.  Agents should never divulge or repeat confidential information such as the amount of other offers placed on a property the client is bidding on.  Repeating personal opinions of a buyer or seller about the client or neighbors can also be damaging. 

9. Emotional agents not remaining neutral in situations. – Keeping emotions in check can sometimes be difficult, especially if the agent has had a hard day.  It is never a good idea for an agent to be emotional with a client, or talk about personal issues with a client.  This can prove damaging even if the client becomes a personal friend as so often some do.  Until the agent has resolved fiduciary responsibilities with the client, professional conduct is always first in the relationship.

10.  Lack of self-confidence. – Telling too much information or not properly researching data first before stating information to a client is certainly non-professional.  However, if agents do not present themselves with confidence, a potential client will usually receive a negative impression.  Even if questions are asked that the agent does not know.  A simple and confident, “I will need to research that,” or “ I am not comfortably sure about it, let me contact my broker as to give you a confident explanation,” will suffice in borrowing enough time to gather useful information to a client and produce positive confident results for the agent.

Kay Bennett is your Licensed Tennessee Realtor®

Kay Bennett, Realtor®

First Realty Company

Cookeville, TN 38506

931-510-8601 Agent Cell

Does it seem like you will never be in the position to buy that dream home?  Too many bills and not enough money can turn one’s smile to a frown.  Maybe all is needed is a second look at that budget.

  Setting goals make for a productive way of life.  If you    think your credit just doesn’t  cut it for home buying, ask yourself some important questions…

1.     What is your debt to income ratio?

2.    Do you budget your money on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis?

A good budget can get you into a positive cycle of life in no time.  When thinking of buying a home, find a loan officer that will work with you.  A good loan officer will give you some tips as to what debts need to be resolved to improve your credit score.  Then get to work.  I personally recommend the Dave Ramsey plan for debt snowballing, but the idea is to get a budget and get to work on it. 

Set a goal for where you need to be in one year, then break down into months, then weeks or pay periods to prepare to reach that goal.  It may take a year to be financially ready to purchase a home, but its well worth it if you have a good savings and low debt to income ratio. 

A couple of tips to consider:

• A good comfortable lifestyle should be feasible if your house payment is 25% of your monthly income or less. 

• Save money for an emergency fund.  This fund should have enough money to sustain you for six months in case of sudden unemployment.

• Watch that latte factor!  Although Starbucks is a nice luxury to have, it is just that, a luxury.  As with any budget, meet the necessary goals first, then work in the entertainment money into the budget.

Saving money takes work.  Cleaning up your credit is a job in itself.  Working toward each goal one step at a time will gain your position in affording that dream home sooner than you think.

• Kay Bennett is your Licensed TN Realtor (R)
• First Realty Company, Cookeville, TN
  
• 931-510-8601
•