Everything was perfect. I had a first time buyer that was pre-approved and motivated to find their dream home. We spent countless hours together. He relied on my expertise and market knowledge, and I happily showed him house after house. We met for consultations.
Then we wrote two offers together. One finally got accepted, but the whole house inspection turned up sour, so we began the process over again. I thought everything was going great. Until the phone call...
John: "Hi, Kristina? This is John Doe. Did I sign anything with you saying I had to buy a house through you?"
Me : <stunned silence> "Umm, well not specifically. Why?"
John: "Well, I knew you had family obligations today so I was driving around on my own. I drove past one of the houses you e-mailed me, and I really really liked it. So, I called the agent on the sign. She came out right away and showed it to me. And you know, what? She told me I could actually get a better deal if I bought directly from her. We went straight to her office and wrote an offer and guess what? It got accepted by the sellers! Isn't that awesome? I just wanted to tell you thanks for all your hard work. I'll send you a Christmas present."
<click>
I felt like the wife that just found out her husband cheated on her. Did the buyer know any better? Probably not. He wasn't trying to keep me from getting a paycheck. He simply didn't know - because I didn't tell him any different. He thought I would be sincerely excited that he got the house he wanted. Did the agent know better? Probably, or he wouldn't have asked me if he had signed anything.
This was back in 2005, when I first got my license. Since then, I've found that I have to be the one to educate my buyers. Although I've still had a few buyers get cold feet, their financing falls apart, or they just flat out change their minds - I rarely have a buyer call the agent on the sign.
So how do you keep your buyer from straying? It's simple - just educate them about the process. If you don't focus on building a relationship with your buyer and explaining to them that they have responsibilties in the process too, who will? The answer is either no one or another agent. Remember, most buyers (especially first time buyers) don't know the inner workings of real estate. These are the five key points I tell all of my buyers.
1. Don't call the agent on the sign. I will do everything in my power to be available during the times that you need appointments, but I'll need some notice. If I can't show you homes at that time, my partner can.
2. I'm your advocate. I'm looking out for your best interests, and I want to get you the best deal. I'm on your side in this process and we are a team.
3. I don't get paid a salary, or per house I show. I only get paid when you buy a house.
4. I'm making a commitment to you to share my time, expertise and market knowledge. I need you to make a commitment to me that I am your agent. (After a few showings or when it's time to write the first offer, this is when I bring out the buyer's agency agreement.)
5. If we work together, we can have a successful outcome.
The key point is this - Never forget that although we do this every day, not everyone does. It may seem simple to us, but to others it's not. Help your buyers understand how the process works - it's not just for your benefit, but for theirs.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com
Should I Go Through Open Houses on My Own ?- After All I Know My Realtor is Busy and I Don't Want to Waste Their Time!
What is the Protocol involved in Looking at Open Houses?
1.) You're planning on looking at Open Houses this Weekend? If you're working with a Realtor - and planning on viewing the Open Houses on your own - Give them a Call and Let them Know. Don't assume they won't have time to go with you. If they can't this will give them the opportunity to call the Listing Realtors and let them know and make sure that they're o.k. (co-operating). You see some Realtors will not pay a Selling Commission to the Buyer's Agent if they first viewed the house during an Open while travelling Solo!
2.)The REALTOR® at the open house is acting as a host on behalf of the Seller. They may or may not be the Listing Realtor - they may just be Hosting it - in which case they are looking for new clients. So If you are working with a Realtor - please let them know in the beginning. That way if there are other people at the Open House they can focus their attention on them.
Also if you tell them right away they can let you know if they have any objections with you viewing your home without your Realtor. It's also a good idea to carry YOUR Realtor's business cards with you. Most Open House Realtors will Co-operate but it's good protocol to follow.
3.) If you're not working with a Realtor and are asked to asked sign a guest register before viewing the home, please do so. It is not uncommon for the Seller to want to have a record of who was viewing their home when they were not present.
4.) If you're working without a Realtor - and the Open House Realtor gives you the option of a guided tour or going through the home at your own leisure, feel free to go off on your own. But the Realtor might be able to point out features of the home you might otherwise miss looking on your own.
5.) Wear slip on shoes and remove them at the door. Don't bring food into the house. Don't bring your pets with you into the Open House.
6.) It's not really a good idea to share your negative opinions of the home while going through the open house. It's funny how walls have ears at the most inopportune times!
7.) The furniture belongs to the owner and is not part of the Purchase package so please don't open up their private dresser drawers etc.
8.) Probably not a good idea to use the bathroom at an Open House :-)
9.) If you have kids - keep them with you at all times. Don't let them play on furniture or run through the house unaccompanied.
10.) Grab a highlight sheet and business card from the Open House Realtor - and make notes ~ after seeing a few homes you'll forget which home had what!
*See something you like? Call your Realtor immediately! :-)
You've found your New Home, the Contract is Signed Sealed and Delivered - Now What?
This is easy for me right now - because it's exactly what I'm doing. I've just sold MY house so...
First and Foremost Let's Review Closing costs - I'm sure this was brought up before -but perhaps you weren't ready to hear it yet.
- Property Transfer Tax
- GST if New Construction
- Legal Fees - $400-1200 (range) - this is when you want to get quotes from Notaries and Lawyers
- Pro-rated Strata Fees ( *If purchasing strata)
- Pro-rated House Taxes
- Moving Costs - Interview moving companies and get quotes
*Get your funds in order - even if it means lining up a line of credit to cover the extra incidentals - you don't want to come up short on Closing Day!
O.k. so Now That's Handled Let's .......
1. Get organized! - I like to take photos of all the rooms and all the walls of my New Home. That way I can sit down and figure out where I'll place my furniture and pictures etc. It also helps me decide what to keep and what to find a new home for.
2. Selling my home - helps me decide what to keep and what to get rid of. This might be a good time to get rid of those boxes you never unpacked after the last move! Get rid of what you don't want or use will not only cut down on clutter in your new home, but also moving costs. If You have Time - Plan a Garage Sale and/or if you're savy that way do a Virtual Garage Sale.
3. Craig's List and Kijiji can be 2 of your best friends! You can list anything you want to sell for free.....barter for somethng you need - or purchase items you'll be needing - at a fraction of the cost you'd pay for new.
4. Once you've decided what you'll be getting rid of Call Canadian Diabetes, Big Brothers or Bibles For Missions (they'll even pick up furniture) and arrange for a pick up. If your move is more then 2 months away - I schedule two!
5.) Relocating or Moving because of your job? Keep your receipts - your expenses might be tax deductible or covered by your employer!
4. Shop around for movers, who will properly transport and handle your belongings. Some companies will send someone to give you a free estimate. Also many companies will provide you with free used mover's boxes if you ask! Don't forget to find out what their insurance policy is as well - just in case something gets broken or lost.
5. Don't forget the utilities - Just before you move into your new home, contact telephone, electric, gas, cable, garbage, water and any magazines or subscriptions you might have to either tell them that you are discontinuing service at your current residence, and have it transferred to your new home. It might be a good idea to have a one day overlap of services - so you don't end up at your new place moving in with flashlights!
6. Move valuables yourself - things like jewelry, legal documents, family photos, etc., are often irreplaceable and should be handled with care.
7. Pack an "open first" box - nothing like digging through 10 boxes to find those essential things you need as soon as you move in; ie. toiletries, cleaning supplies, a first aid kit, towels, linens, tools, etc. Packing these items in a box labeled "open first" will make things easier once you have moved.
8. Make home improvements before moving in - if you can swing it, making your home improvements, whether its painting, new flooring or more serious renovations, prior to moving in.
9. Leave pets and kids with friends On moving day, you may want to consider leaving you pets and younger children with a friend, sitter or family member. it'll be a stress saver!.
10. Order Pizza or Chinese food and treat those helping you move - then kick back - have a bubble bath and enjoy! You did it!
~~~~
I'd be happy to add to the list - so let me know what I've missed! :-)
And also - for my American friends:
*With the estimated closing costs the new 2010 HUD GFE for the U.S. will help out buyers too.
(thanks Gary W)
* Remember to transfer your House Insurance Policy -
I wasn't going to do a post about my birthday today - it hasn't been the best of birthdays......but heck its hard to beat those birthdays of old when you we were 5 years old!
I didn't get the long awaited phone call from my daughter in England :-( but she did send flowers. My daughter from Toronto called and sent me some amazing colour changing mugs with family pics revealed in them as the mugs get hot) . It was my first birthday every without my girls...:-( However, I did have a nice dinner with my folks and son Chris - and I do know I'm blessed to have them still with me.
And i did get phone calls from cousins in Germany - and that was sweet.
Then tonight I got this email from my cousin Deb in Winnipeg - and I have to say it put a big smile on my face so I decided to share it - and maybe it'll make you smile too! :-)
Heppy birssdeh!
My deerest koozine,
I veesh you so heppy birssdeh!
Now you are vreal voman. You know about deh life. You know deh life is more den jest deh jum-busterd, or deh bol of straow berreese. You are vize. Evree vun hess to respekt you now!
So be heppy, heppy, heppy! You are number vun!
End vee all vreelly luv you! from coozine, Duda
So maybe our 'Special Day's' aren't always what we expect them to be. They're just something else. And something else is o.k. too :-)
p.s. can you guess which accent this is a play on? lol - think My Big Fat Greek Wedding - but not!
So You Think You Want to Buy A Home? Here Are Some Helpful tips
Although not a comprehensive list here are some tips.
1. Get preapproved for a mortgage. I know we like to leave this for later in the game. But do yourself a favor and do it first! Rather than guessing or estimating how much you can afford to spend, ask a lender or mortgage broker to pre-qualify you - and while you're at it - get him to give it to you in writing.(please note the pre-qualification guarantee will be good for 30-90 days and if you have not bought in that time frame you will need to get an extension or update on the guaranteed rate.
How is he going to come up with that dollar figure? Well it'll be a combination of your household income, how good your credit is, interest rates, the type of loan you select and how much cash you have ready for the down payment and closing costs. You might be surprised that the amount may be much more or much less than you think.
2. Home Surf -Aren't we lucky that these days we have access to so much information online? This is a great place to start. We find our buyers to be extremely savvy as to sale prices, trends and homes on the market. The more educated you are about what's happening the more empowered you'll feel!
3. Find 'Your Realtor'! - this is probably a good time to think about choosing a Realtor. See How Do I Find a Good Realtor?
4. To have or not to have - that is the question!
We always talk about lists -and for a reason! I always advise my clients to make up a list of Must Haves and Non-Negotiable. If there are two of you deciding, check and compare lists! You might be surprised that your top 3's are different! You can be a bit more objective if you decide this in advance - otherwise you just might find yourself making your decision based on emotion alone. It's too easy to fall in love with a home that doesn't meet your needs! Two years later you'll be shopping again - Good For Me - but not so good for You!
Here are a few things to consider.
Location Location Location. We've all heard that but what exactly does it mean and why is it so important?
- Your Commute - how long is your drive to work;
- How good and close are the schools;
- If you're a Senior is public transport important, how about hospitals?;
- How about shopping? - do you have to drive 30 min. drive to the nearest mall?
- What or who are your neighbours;
- What is the zoning in the surrounding area?
- Think Resale - you haven't bought yet - yet you're supposed to think resale? Yes - because you'll probably be doing that one day so it doesn't hurt to think ahead!
- Size - Square Footage - what is the range/size of home you're looking for?' There are skinny houses
and there are fat houses! :0
- How many Bedrooms - Bathrooms? Do you need an office, guest room, gym?
- Style of Home - Basement Entry - 2 level - Rancher - do you want the bedrooms all upstairs, do you prefer a one level with no stairs.....and do you need a basement? Maybe you'd rather have a townhome or condo?
- Age - do you prefer new, or do you like it to be 'broken in'.......do you like a fixer-upper - or do you want it to be in 'move-in' condition?
- Lot size - with our busy lifestyles these days not everyone wants a big yard anymore.
5. Use a checklist.You have no idea how easy it is to get confused - no matter how good your memory is!Make up a checklist a head of time - or ask your Realtor if they have one - you can find great ones online as well! I often advise my clients to take photos - (with the permission of the owner of course). Now you don't want to do that with each home -but do it with the contenders!
6. How Many Homes should we look at at one time? Probably no more then 5-6 at a time - even that might be pushing it in terms of remembering what you've seen and where! :-)
7. What to wear? Lace Ups? Not such a good idea. Give the heels a miss too. Be comfortable and maybe layer your clothing!
8. Can I bring my kids? What about my Dog? - Probably not a good idea - It's important to be able to concentrate on what you're viewing - plus - kids can find it confusing, disruptive and scary thinking about moving - and looking at house after house - not knowing where home may be.
9. Breathe...No point in getting so stressed that all the fun out of buying a home is gone! Try to keep some perspective on the whole thing.
10. Have Fun! If you're blessed to be in a position to own a home - enjoy the process - with a thankful heart! :-)
Perfect timing! I've had my clients asking me whether it's worth selling a home in the Winter/Christmas! And I always say yes! Is there a time your home looks more beautiful? What could be more motivated than a Buyer who's looking for homes during the holidays ? :-)
This time of year I always start to get the same question. Should I sell my house now or just wait until the spring when everyone else sells their houses? This seems like an obvious answer until you see a few key points.
1. It is too cold, no one wants to look at houses in the snow? In Knoxville, Tennessee, where I am from, we really do not get a lot of snow. As a matter of fact, we are lucky if we see any snow at all. Therefore this common hesitation doesn't apply to this area.
2. No one is looking for houses in the winter time. This is plainly not true. There may be less people looking to buy. However, the ones who are looking are more serious. There may be less property visits during the cold months but the ones who are willing to drag their realtor out in the winter must be pretty serious. Wouldn't you rather have less traffic if they are more serious buyers?
Another point is that with less inventory during this time of year means less competition. During the spring there are going to be a lot more homes to compete against. I would rather be a big fish in a smaller pond, than a small fish in a big pond full of other fish.
3. I can't decorate my house for Christmas. I disagree. I say, don't just put out your Christmas decorations, go all out. Make your home the best decorated house on the block. A house can look truly beautiful, warm, and inviting during the holidays. One very strong buyer desire is to be in the new home by Christmas. Last year I had four sales in December specifically for this reason. One of them actually closed on Christmas Eve to make good on my promise to get them in by Christmas.
Another idea would be to put some lights around the realtor's "for sale" sign too. Please make sure that your realtor replaces the holiday pictures in their marketing after the holidays. It looks nice while it is in season, but after that it just looks dated. More on that on point #5.
4. I like to invite friends over for holiday parties. I can't do that if my house is for sale. Are you kidding? This is the perfect opportunity to show off your home to a large group of people. Don't just invite a few people over, host the Christmas party. Your friends might not be in the market to buy a home, but you don't know who they know who might be in the market. It is estimated that most people know at least 150 people very well at any given time.
5. If we don't sell the house over the winter, it will appear stale in the spring. This might be true but there are tricks you can do to lessen the impact. The most effective change you can make is to adjust the price. If the house was listed all winter and it didn't sell, the chances are the price is too high. Have a price adjustment, even if it is just a small one. Also, update the pictures. Most likely the original pictures were taken with leafless trees and plants without flowers. Your house will look drastically different with some fresh blossoms and updated landscaping. Be sure to take the picture of the house from a different angle as well. Someone who saw your house a thousand times on the internet will be forced to pause and look at the house again in a fresh light.
6. That tax credit expired, it won't help me sell my house. Actually, congress decided to extend the tax credit through April. Not only did they extend it, but they opened it up to more people. If you wait until the spring you will miss this large group of buyers.
7. I'm still not convinced. I really need to sell but think we should wait until the spring. My final point is best illustrated with a story. In my past life I worked at a computer retail store. One day our general manager made a surprise visit to our store. He looked around our sales floor and then looked in our stock room. He proceeded to bring out boxes and boxes of inventory that we had in our stockroom that was not on the sales floor. "You can't sell, what your customers can't see!" If someone is not actively trying to sell your home, no one will know it is for sale, and no one will buy it.
These are just a few points to ponder as we head unto the winter months.
You Think Your House is Worth WHAT? Pricing Your Home to Sell
O.k., so you've looked on the Internet, you've checked the Real Estate Weekly - and you've talked to your Neighbors. You're pretty sure you know what you WANT your home to be worth. Next step? You call the Realtors in.
Everyone says you should interview 3 Realtors - so that's what you do! And sceptically you await their Verdicts! Does the highest Bid (because that's what it often is) win your Vote? Well it shouldn't and let me tell you why.
BUT Your neighbor's house just sold for XXXXX!
First of all, Realtors have access to the same information Online. By doing a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) they should be able to come very close to the Range of Your Home's Value. They will see which homes are currently Listed, those that will be in direct competition with Your Home; they will see which comparable homes have Sold recently; and they will ALSO see which homes have 'Expired'....(Listed But Not Sold). That's the Starting Point!
If you use a Local Realtor - which is what I Recommend- they'll also be able to take into consideration different factors about your neighborhood - like development, schools, safety, proximity to transport etc.
BUT Your House has been upgraded!
Now where no 2 homes are exactly alike - chances are we've seen most of the homes for sale in your area and have an inside view that you may not have seen. Even online photos won't give you a complete view of how these homes compare.
In many ways - it's the Buyer that ultimately determines the value of your home. A house is worth what somebody will pay for it. It's important to try and anticipate what MOST buyers will pay for it. If the price is too high - you may just end up remaining THAT Buyer! If your home should by some chance sell for more then the estimated value, remember the home still needs to be Appraised for the Buyer's Bank, and if it's overpriced it just may not!
BUT That's What INEEEEEEEED to Get for My Home!
There is the odd time that a home is unusual and there are not direct comparables, sometimes this requires a trial and error strategy where we have to gage potential buyer responses in order to fine tune the price.
Another factor is the current 'Real Estate market'. Is it a Buyer's market or a Seller's market - or is it balanced? What kind of standing inventory is in the market in your price range. These will all factor in to your pricing.
The value of a home can also be estimated in part by using the price per square foot calculation. But you do have to use a sliding scale of adjustment. The 'core' of the home is worth more then the peripheral square footage. ie. the price per sq. foot for a 1000 sq. foot rancher will be higher then that of a 3000 sq. ft. basement home.
Should you start higher - after all - you can always come down??? No! If you do that you should be charging your competitor a fee for helping them sell THEIR home!
Remember the most critical time for selling your home is in the first 30 days. Longer then that you can bet your bottom dollar, (and unfortunately that's probably what it will end up being) that the Buyer will be paying attention to your 'days on market' when making both their buying decision and price point!
How do you know if your house is priced right? Feedback! Your Realtor will be calling to get feedback on showings from both the Buyer and their Realtor. If you've had over 6 showings and have been on the market for 3 or so weeks that should give you some idea of what the market thinks. Unusual or high end homes could be the exception here though.
Sometimes the most important factor is YOUR motivation. How motivated are you to sell? I know a lot of Seller's like to tell us that 'they don't HAVE to sell'.......and in most cases that's true - you don't! But if you do want to sell your home call a Realtor that knows your market and will be honest with you - because that's what a professional does - they Help you Price Your Home to Sell!
What's Your Commission? On Hiring a Realtor Based on their Fee...
I always say (oh well maybe somebody did say it before me) - if the Realtor cannot negotiate their own Commission then how are they going to negotiate the best price possible for your home? Negotiation skills. I would think, given a choice - you would want an aggressive negotiator, not someone that either doesn't believe in their own ability or the value of your home!
The question that begs to be asked is....Why do some Real Estate Agents offer Discounted Fees? Is it because they're the Good Guy? They just want to see more money in your pocket then theirs?
Well there could be a number of reasons:
- they feel that's the only way they can compete
- they have poor negotiation skills
- they have trouble justifying their own worth
- they're hoping to make up for it in volume
- the agent is desperate - any commission is better then no commission
- qualifications/experience of the Realtor
- you're willing to do the marketing instead
- they feel sorry for you
- they believe in pro bono
- having a sign on your lawn is more important then the commission
So let's do a little review.
Did you know that the commission the seller pays is split between the Selling Agent (the person with the buyer) and the Listing Agent (the person with the seller). So if the commission is 6% then typically 3% will go to the Selling Agent and 3% will go to Listing Agent. Sometimes we Realtors assume that you know that! However I'm pretty sure that some of you think we get the whole kit and caboodle!
Do you know that there are Real Estate Companies out there that Do Not put your home on The Mutiple Listing System (MLS)? They have this 'exclusivity' thing happening. They think that their paycheque might be a lot bigger if they do not have to co-operate and share their commission if they get to to List AND Sell your home. Be sure to ask them what portion of the commission you are paying will be going to the Selling Broker. How much longer do you think it will take to sell your home if it's only YOUR AGENT that's trying to sell it? I think I read somewhere that it's like 16:100 odds.
When looking at an MLS Listing - the Selling Agent can see the commission they will be paid. It may not show up on the Public Version - but that information is disclosed in the Realtor's version. Note: It's the Selling Agent that reviews the properties for sale in the MLS and most often choose those they deem appropriate for their buyer. Guess what? Herein lies the conundrum.
Now put yourself in the Selling Agent's shoes. You can sell House A or could sell House B. But house A will pay you $1,000, $4,000, $7,000 or MORE! You have mortgage payment, bills, & children to support. Which house would you like to sell?
Did you know that unlike Doctors, Lawyers and Government Employees - Realtors are not paid per hour. But we do take all the risk by putting our time & money into advertising YOUR property in order to get it sold. Chances are we also have an OFFICE cost, MLS Fees, Board Fees and more! Do you know that we only get paid if the Seller sells and the Buyer buys? If they don't our costs are not recovered.
So no - commission is not regulated - there is no set rate if you're selling your home - but it IS a good idea that the commission you're paying the Selling Realtor is in-line with the rest of the comparable houses on the market. Market slow? Well in that case you might even consider offering a greater sales commission or a sales bonus. You say WHAT??? But look at it this way. For every week/month your home doesn't sell - how much will THAT cost you? You get to choose!
Still think you'd like to go with a Discount Broker?
*Please note - this is not meant to suggest that the Commission fee charged is the only criteria - there are many, many different aspects to hiring the right Realtor. Please check out these posts:
It's a common question - and perhaps not one always asked of THE Realtor - but definitely one discussed amongst the public! I just did a post - Is It Wrong to Work With More Then One Realtor? and one question begets another. It reminded me of a conversation I had recently.
I was working my mall shift at the Kiosk the other day ~ and chatting with a customer and she asked..."But How do I find the Good Realtor?".......And I thought to myself - the choice Must be confusing for people! If you don't have someone you know recommend one - and if you don't want to solely rely on the ads in the Real Estate Weekly what do you do?
Well I can tell you what you Don't Want to do! And that's choose on the basis of the Lowest Commission and Who Suggests the Highest Price for your home! But that's the subject of another post. This one is about what you Should Do!
Some people go for Experience - believing that is the KEY! And it could be - but brand new agents can be amazing as well. There's something about enthusiasm and thinking anything is possible - that can be pretty powerful!
I'm a big believer in Enthusiasm: When an agent shows excitement about your home it'll come through in every conversation whether it be on the phone - at an open house - or through their advertising! They'll be able to convince both Realtors and Customers to view the house but still make recommendations to show your home in it's best light!
Marketing has always been important ~ but these days a Web presence is critical! I believe one of the first things you should do is GOOGLE them. Google their name, their company and things like 'Your Town/Community Realtor' and see what comes up. Ask the Realtor if they BLOG, evaluate their Website (because of course they HAVE to have one)....Ask them to show you how they market other homes - that'll give you a pretty good clue! If you're not computer savy then ask a friend that is!
Find out where the Realtors advertise ~ Real Estate Newspapers have become passe in some communities so don't be surprised if they don't advertise in newspapers - but let them show you how they will market your property. In the same way Open Houses can be a good tool in some areas and yet not in others. So ask questions and ask why. Ultimately you want to get to the point where you trust the Realtor in their choice of marketing !
Communication: You want an agent that can tell you The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! A phone call after each showing is not too much to expect, nor is a monthly report outlining showings, ads placed, feedback, etc. You should be able to expect a return phone call within a few hours - but some Realtors don't work Weekends or evenings - so make sure you know what you can expect.
All that being said.......I find Intuition and 'Gut Feelings' can also be a powerful factor. You'll know if you feel uneasy about the potential association or if there's a mutual respect and camaraderie. My best advice? Research, Ask Questions And then go with your Gut Feeling!
I look forward to this opportunity to share with both my fellow Realtors and my local community...some local anecdotes, tidbits of info - community profiles, real estate savy......interspersed with humor and inspiration!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Thanks Deb for being my Windex! :-)
This time of year I always start to get the same question. Should I sell my house now or just wait until the spring when everyone else sells their houses? This seems like an obvious answer until you see a few key points. 
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