Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma - Going to the Closing Table: Saying Goodbye - 08/26/09 06:35 PM
Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma - Going to the Closing Table: Saying Goodbye
We’ve been through a lot together by now. We arm-wrestled over price, and we painted your favorite purple room a neutral color after two Buyers said they didn’t like it. You let the home stager cart away your favorite recliner, and you made your beds every morning.
We agreed to pay some of the Buyer’s closing costs and in turn, they cut us some slack when we found wood rot that they decided they could fix later. We made necessary repairs and the Buyer’s financing is solid. … (8 comments)

Need to Know Information for Buyers!! - 08/23/09 01:47 PM
This NC Realtor provides some great resource links for the new TIL regulations!  Lori
Via Linda Trevor, ABR, CRS, ePRO, CHLMS, PMN (Linda Trevor and Company):
Buyers,
It is important for you to know about the changes in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) regulations.  It may alter your closing date!!  Read the key highlights below or click here for full details.
Effective July 30, 2009 is a new regulation that will require all mortgage lenders to provide a Truth in Lending Statement (TIL) to their borrowers at least seven business days before the closing.  Closing documents can not be signed any earlier than the … (1 comments)

Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma - Repairs - we're still not through negotiating - 08/23/09 01:38 PM
Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma Repairs - we're still not through negotiating - You’ve chosen your Listing Realtor, agreed on a list price and have prepared your home for sale. You’ve received feedback and have finally negotiated your first offer and are under contract.
Now that we're under contract and everybody is happy, the clock begins to tick for the Buyer to finalize his financing arrangements and inspect your home. Typical home inspections include termite, structural, EMP (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) and roof. If you’ve taken care of your home with stern attention towards pro-active maintenance, you’re probably not in for … (3 comments)

TU campus home for sale - 227 S College Avenue, Tulsa Oklahoma - 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, garage! $112,943 - 08/22/09 07:30 PM
TU campus home for sale - 227 S College Avenue, Tulsa Oklahoma - 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, garage! $112,943
Unique configuration on this 3-bedroom home is designed for owner to reside in segregated master area while renting out two remaining bedrooms. Or as a single family home, it offers a great split-bedroom plan!
Three bedrooms, two full baths, and walk-in closet off the master bedroom – master bedroom also has separate entry through attached garage with electric door opener or through back.
Master bedroom area and kitchen are updated with newer laminate wood flooring and newer appliances – refrigerator, stove, … (2 comments)

Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma - Negotiating the Contract: offers and counter-offers - 08/22/09 07:59 AM
Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma - Negotiating the Contract: offers and counter-offers - You’ve chosen your Listing Realtor, agreed on a list price and have prepared your home for sale. You’ve received feedback and have finally received your first offer – maybe more.
There are several elements to consider in an offer, so please don’t focus solely on the purchase price offered.
How many Seller “concessions” did the Buyer ask for? Are they asking for closing costs? Are they asking for a residential service agreement or any special type of survey? Your Realtor will prepare a Net-to-Seller with each offer, … (3 comments)

4-bedroom, 4+ acres, 4-car garage, 4 SALE, Tulsa, Oklahoma $300,000 - 1727 S 151 E Avenue - 08/21/09 07:38 PM
This beautiful brick home is in the middle of almost five (4.77 m/l) wooded and landscaped acres. Within this home are all the perfect touches your heart could desire. From the spacious master bedroom with his and her walk-in closets and glamour master bath to the chef’s kitchen with all new appliances, this home is move-in ready, and then some.
Nestled in a private subdivision, this gem is between I-244 and Highway 51, so it's just minutes to shopping or the Tulsa International Airport. It offers the best of the country, but so close to the city!
The almost ten-foot ceilings … (19 comments)

Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Digesting, Accepting & Benefitting from feedback - 08/19/09 09:06 AM
Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Digesting, Accepting & Benefitting from feedback – You’ve chosen your Listing Realtor, agreed on a list price and have prepared your home for sale.
Now, prepare yourself for feedback.
Realtors tend to be brutally honest with one another about their perception of your home and their Buyer’s feedback. Sometimes this feedback may be difficult to hear, but it is imperative that you listen with an open mind and react where appropriate.
Hopefully when we prepared your home for sale, we removed as many foreseeable Buyer objections at that time. Your home should be de-cluttered, painted … (4 comments)

A Primer On Getting Your Long Island Home Sold - Part 2 - Preparing For The Sale - Putting Its Best Foot Forward - 08/18/09 08:37 AM
This Long Island Realtor brings up some great points about home staging that I'd like to share with you! Lori Cain
Via Geri Sonkin (RE/MAX Hearthstone):
So to recap, you've made the decision to sell your home on Long Island and you've chosen an agent to represent you.  The paperwork has been signed and she or he is eager to begin the process of getting your home sold.  Now what's next?  Before the first marketing piece is designed and before the first agent from the MLS tours your home, you have to walk through it room by room with your REALTOR®. 
I often suggest … (0 comments)

Getting your home ready for market – “Move-in Ready” is Key - 08/17/09 08:11 AM
Getting your home ready for market – “Move-in Ready” is Key - Unless absolutely impossible, it is my preference to prepare my listings to be “move-in ready” BEFORE they go on the market.
Because our inventory of homes is high and Buyers have much from which to choose, YOUR home needs to have the WOW factor.
When the Buyer walks through your door, they need to say, “I can LIVE here. In fact, I could move in TODAY!”
If they walk into a home with stained carpet, dirty walls and obnoxious paint colors, they’re going to turn around and walk out. … (10 comments)

From Contract to Close - 08/16/09 07:06 PM
This is an excellent article written by a Realtor outside of Oklahoma. Although some of our terminology is different, the concept is the same. This is really a great outline of what all goes on from Contract to Close! Lori
Via Rich Cederberg- Albuquerque Real Estate Expert (RE/MAX Elite):
Finding the right home and having your offer accepted is a big step towards buying your next home, but it's not the only one. In fact, there are many more important steps that must happen to get From Contract to Close. Here is a brief description of each step:
1) Escrow is Opened
The seller's agent sends … (1 comments)

Earnest Money – How Much and When Is it Cashed? - 08/16/09 10:51 AM
Earnest Money – How Much and When Is it Cashed? -  If you’re a first-time home buyer and have a lot of questions, please do not feel embarrassed! If we bought homes OFTEN, we wouldn’t have 1st-time buyers!
Probably the question I am most often asked is “How much earnest money is needed, and when is my check cashed?”
I recommend that Buyers write an earnest money check in the amount equal to 1% of the sales price. So, on a $100,000 house, that would be $1,000 earnest money.
The purpose of earnest money is to show the Seller that you … (4 comments)

Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma – Can you and your Realtor agree on Price? - 08/15/09 09:10 AM
Selling Your Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma – Can you and your Realtor agree on Price? - Once you’ve selected the Realtor you believe can best market your property, you need to agree on the price at which to list your property.
We have many “values” floating around. We have your taxed assessed value which is public record, and you may have a bank-appraised value. Then there’s the neighbor down the street who sold his home for $xxx, and you know your home is nicer than his. Then your son jumped on the internet and determined your home value on Zillow.
We … (3 comments)

Words of Advice on branding from Zappos CEO at Inman - 08/14/09 08:44 AM
This is from my friend Joe, a Realtor in OKC. He is positive and always full of good karma. Regardless of your business, these are just good rules to LIVE by. Enjoy!  Lori
Via Joe Pryor.com Realtor Oklahoma Investment Properties (RE/MAX Associates):
Deliver Happiness. Okay I spoiled the rest of the blog. Did you ever see two words more powerful than this when you are wanting brand your experience. Zappos has gone through a few mission statements but they have evloved to those two words. That could be the shortest but most effective blog post I could think of especially when we deal … (1 comments)

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Tulsa - Select a Listing Realtor right for the job - 08/13/09 02:35 PM
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in Tulsa - Select a Listing Realtor right for the job – Questions you should ask
Not all Realtors are the same.
It doesn’t seem to matter if my Buyers are looking at $80,000 houses or $300,000 houses – we will run across listings with no photos, no virtual tours and little information on MLS. And, Buyers will totally rule out looking at homes that they can’t preview from their home computer. So, before you sign up with a Realtor to SELL your home, be sure to ask where and how your home will be … (2 comments)

Tulsa's TW's-AFAB Catering – Anything for a Buck - 08/11/09 06:30 PM
Tulsa's TW's-AFAB Catering – Anything for a Buck - I’m helping my friend Kalyn plan her September 5th wedding, and we are interviewing local caterers for a brunch to have in her home the day after the wedding. The bride is expecting many out-of-state guests, so we will have a lovely brunch the day after the wedding for at least 150 people in her home before escorting everyone to the airport.
In April, my husband and I attended a baptism at our church, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church, and afterwards attended a luncheon in our friend Barbra’s home. This was … (2 comments)

Don't Let Cold Feet Cost You $8,000 on Your Prairieville Home - 08/10/09 04:19 PM
This Louisianna Realtor brings up some great points about whether or not to purchase now and speaks to the deadline for the $8,000 stimulus package. I am however, suggesting that 1st-time home buyers be under contract by mid to late September. I think so many buyers will wait until the last minute that our Lenders, appraisers, title companies, inspectors, etc. will be swamped!
Via Sandy Ogburn Sandlin - Fine Baton Rouge area homes (RE/MAX Excellent Properties):
Summer, 2009 is passing, and as fall approaches, one of best the deals first time homebuyers have had it a long time is winding down.  As currently … (0 comments)

WaterStone Cleaners - high quality dry cleaning and laundry valet services in Tulsa - 08/10/09 09:37 AM
WaterStone Cleaners - high quality dry cleaning and laundry valet services in Tulsa -  I found out about WaterStone Cleaners  through my dentist, Gary Kuenning – his daughter and son-in-law started this business and he had flyers displayed at his office.
Of course, my preference is to give business to locally-owned companies, so I decided to investigate.
Okay, so they pick up and deliver – that is a definite PLUS for me! I investigate further and discover that they use an environmentally-friendly cleaning process – they do not use perchloroethylene.
Their cleaning solutions are odorless and do not harm our … (1 comments)

Twitter and Text-Messaging - Abbreviations you should know! - 08/07/09 10:13 AM
Twitter and Text-Messaging: Abbreviations you should know! -  I thought I was becoming a pretty fast 2-thumb texter and was familiar with many of the abbreviations used on Twitter and text-messaging.
I know IMO (“In my opinion”), ROFL (“Rolling on the floor laughing”) and BFF (“Best friends forever”), LOL (“Laugh out loud”) and OMG (“Oh my God”) among others. Yesterday my Mom sent an e-mail with something WAY too personal and I responded, TMI! Mom e-mailed back to inquire about the meaning of TMI (Too Much Information)!
My husband is working on a project setting up a new hire's PR … (7 comments)

Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday will be held from Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 9, 2009 - 08/07/09 08:34 AM
Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday will be held from Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 9, 2009.
Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday will apply to clothing and shoes priced at less than $100.
Beginning at 12:01 am on Friday, August 7, 2009, and ending at twelve midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2009, Oklahoma will hold its third annual sales tax holiday giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain clothing and shoes free of sales tax. This includes state, city, county and local municipality sales taxes.
“The sales tax holiday provides Oklahomans with the ability to save money on clothing and other items which … (1 comments)

Tulsa’s Garden Deva reminds us, “Home is where the Heart is” - 08/07/09 08:05 AM
Tulsa’s Garden Deva reminds us, “Home is where the Heart is” -  I don’t know if every town has a “Garden Deva,” but we have one in Tulsa. And we’re darn proud of her.
Tulsa's Garden Deva is local artist, Lisa Regan.
Lisa began cutting metal twenty years ago and after becoming somewhat successful touring art shows, she finally quit her “real job” and plunged into her art business full-time. She now owns a large studio east of downtown, which doubles as a venue for other local artists to show their wares from time to time.
We have Devas all around … (2 comments)

Locally-Owned Business: Steve's Sundries, Tulsa Oklahoma - 08/05/09 08:12 PM
Locally-Owned Business: Steve's Sundries, Tulsa Oklahoma - The Charms of the Neighborhood Shop
Steve's Books and Magazines - also known as Steve's Sundries is still within our midtown boundaries – in the shopping center at 26th & Harvard where the Broken Arrow Expressway crosses Harvard. And it’s next door to Southern Agriculture – also locally owned.
The many Tulsans committed to supporting local businesses have fond memories of Steve’s Sundries. My friend Marina Metevelis remembers “I am very familiar with Steve's Sundry store because when I lived by TU (Tulsa University), I would walk over with my neighbors and spend afternoons … (6 comments)

Home Staging to Sell your Home in Tulsa Oklahoma - 08/04/09 09:26 AM
Home Staging to Sell your Home in Tulsa Oklahoma -  Following is an article home-stager Susan Atwell shared with me. As a listing Realtor who likes to get in/out, and get the job done, I can't emphasize enough the importance of home-staging. After signing listing paperwork the other day, my Seller told me he hoped for a quick sale because his wife would force him to make his bed every day their home was on the market. Although he was half-way joking with me, the truth is that it IS inconvenient to have your home for sale, and this home-stager explains … (9 comments)

Are Mulitple Offers and Selling In The First Week Possible in this market?? - 08/03/09 11:42 PM
Please read Amy's top ten reasons to stage -- it could mean the difference of selling your home immediatley versus having it on the market and suffering through price reductions! Lori
Via Amy Boxer Furniture Rental & Staging (Welcome Home Furniture Rental & Staging):
Are Multiple Offers and Selling In The First Week Possible in this market??
 
They are!  The 3 most important strategies to sell any property are: the right price, the right agent, and the right stager. 
 
 
We now know that nearly 90% of buyers preview homes on the Internet before ever visiting them.  Time is one of … (2 comments)

4-bedroom, 4+ acres, 4-car garage, 4 SALE, Tulsa, Oklahoma $300,000 - 08/03/09 06:53 PM
This beautiful brick home is in the middle of almost five wooded and landscaped acres. Within this home are all the perfect touches your heart could desire. From the spacious master bedroom with his and her walk-in closets and glamour master bath to the chef’s kitchen with all new appliances, this home is move-in ready, and then some.
The almost ten-foot ceilings in the stunning entry and formal living and dining are accented by beautiful crown molding. Two separate living areas include the den and great room, both with parquet wood flooring and each with a fireplace. Ceramic tile flooring … (0 comments)

Remodel Designers, Distinctive Designs -- Architectural Wonders on SOuth BOston! - 08/03/09 09:06 AM
Remodel Designers, Distinctive Designs -- Architectural Wonders right here on SOuth BOston! Let me introduce you to the dream team that designed Demetrius’ and my kitchen remodel! Note, Distinctive Designs is on SO-BO (SOuth BOston, and our home is on SO-CHEY (SOuth CHEYenne), so we're neighbors!
Remodel Designers -- Distinctive Designs was formed in 1997 by owner, Melisa (Mel) McCelvey. The company was inspired from a love of residential architecture and design. Distinctive Designs, a member of National Association of Home Builders  and the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa, Is a full-service, residential design firm specializing in the design of … (0 comments)

Memories of my childhood home - 08/02/09 12:40 PM
Memories of my childhood home  My parents divorced when I was age thirteen, and my Mom drug her four children from Tennessee to Muskogee Oklahoma, where she would have her parents’ help.
Mom REALLY did not want to move in with her parents, so we rented a pretty dilapidated home for at least a year. We painted and spruced it up the best we could, but evidently, it was still not affordable for Mom, because we eventually moved in with her parents.
My grandparents’ home was GRAND and ELEGANT. Built by my grandmother’s father in 1910, it was a 2-story mansion … (5 comments)

Home Sale Pricing Strategy – What’s your strategy? - 08/02/09 10:03 AM
Home Sale Pricing Strategy – What’s your strategy? My formula for selling a home never changes, regardless of price range: (1) get home in move-in condition and remove any anticipated Buyer’s objections before putting it on the market; (2) price it correctly, and (3) market it aggressively. Whether it’s an $80,000 or $400,000 home – that’s my selling strategy.
I’m listing a house for sale today at $300,000. That’s exactly what I think it’s worth based on comparables and condition of the home. If I had determined the value to be $298,000 or $302,000, I would still price it at $300,000, … (14 comments)

If it breaks, call Gary. Need a repair? Call Gary. Fallen and can’t get up? Call Gary. - 08/01/09 04:06 PM
If it breaks, call Gary. Need a repair? Call Gary. Fallen and can’t get up? Call Gary.
I would not be a great Realtor without Gary Ellis. He is my home repair savior.
We first met when my Tulsa Seller was a little short of funds for the many repairs her home needed before we could close. Both the Seller and I were a little overwhelmed by some of the items that popped up during inspections, but Gary told us to calm down as we toured the property and viewed the items on our list together. He fixed EVERYTHING within … (2 comments)

 

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