We are counting down, 28 days left until the wonderful Caribbean...... - 07/31/08 06:45 PM
Two cruises in the last couple of years, and we can vouch that Royal Caribbean was the best so far.  We enjoy their entertainment, itineraries, food (for the most part) and the staff.
We are heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico in 28 days where we will spend 2 nights before boarding on our 7 night Adventure of the Seas vacation.  Off we go to St. Thomas, St. Lucia, St. Marteen, Barbados and my favorite Antigua.  For the most part we have booked excursions, but some islands are just best enjoyed without booking anything.
This time around, we decided to book the … (7 comments)

A quick joke for you, unrelated to Real Estate..... - 07/30/08 09:22 PM
There were two couples both in their mid 80's in a vehicle traveling on US Route 95.  A trooper observed that they were traveling at a high rate of speed and stopped them.
The trooper walked up to the vehicle and made contact with the driver.  He asked "do you know why I stopped you?", and the driver said "no." The trooper said I clocked you going 95 MPH, and the speed limit on this road is 55!  The driver said "trooper I was not aware of that, I thought the speed limit was 95 MPH."
The trooper looked at the couple … (22 comments)

Great agents on Active Rain, like Ken Montville... - 07/30/08 08:03 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This evening I want to start by saying what a wonderful network of friends we have here.  There are agents on this site, who without a second thought help other agents in a time of need.
I would like to specifically acknowledge Ken Montville, an agent with RE/MAX.  I typed Ken the other day, asking if it would be okay to take time out of his busy day to talk to him on the phone.  Ken took time out of his hectic schedule, to speak with me about professional advice (not buying or selling per se).  His advice would … (11 comments)

Buyers ask, is it really a good time to buy? - 07/30/08 07:51 PM
What are you waiting for??????   It is the perfect time to buy! 
I am currently working with 4 buyers, some more serious then others.  In this kind of market, it is great to have buyers...even more so, buyers that are ready to take a jump at great opportunities.  I had an investor ask me yesterday, should I buy now or wait until the "spring" market next year?  My answer is buy now, what are you waiting for?!? 
The houses that are on the market now (mid summer) are sellers that are motivated, and are ready to move on in life.  It doesn't … (11 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20866- Burtonsville - 07/27/08 12:00 PM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20866 Burtonsville, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (3 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20912- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:57 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20912 Takoma Park, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20910- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:55 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20910 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20906- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:52 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20906 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (2 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20905- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:40 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20905 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20904- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:37 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home. 
ZIP Code: 20904 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008

Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20903- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:34 AM

Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.

ZIP Code: 20903 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20902- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:30 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20902 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008

Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Statistics June 2008 for Zip Code 20901- Silver Spring - 07/27/08 11:22 AM
Provided to you by Stanley Barsch.  Please call or e-mail Stanley with any questions about selling your treasured home, or purchasing your first home.
ZIP Code: 20901 Silver Spring, MD From: 06/01/2008 to 06/30/2008                Statistics generated on: 07/08/2008
Source: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. - MLS Resale DataCopyright 2008 - Information deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed.
… (0 comments)

Montgomery County, Maryland Market Trend for June 2008 - 07/27/08 11:15 AM
I give the most simplified, up to date data that will help you prepare to sell your treasured home, or make your first home purchase in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Below please the trend for June 2008:
Montgomery County, Single Family Homes
Montgomery County, Coop/Condos
Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me with any questions.  I am available to assist with your Montgomery County, Maryland Real Estate needs.
… (2 comments)

Professional, what's that? - 07/27/08 10:28 AM
I read a post here on Active Rain yesterday, and while I agreed with most of it, I didn't agree with one point.  To be honest, the post had already past when I went to respond...so I don't know who posted it.
In the post the member said something to the effect that a car does not represent an agents image, and it shouldn't matter what kind of car he/she drives.  Well I disagree with that statement.  I personally believe, what you drive and what you wear represents who you are, and shows how you are going to represent your client.

Lets … (12 comments)

Keeping safe, tips from a cop. Part 4 of 4 - 07/27/08 10:00 AM
Keeping safe, tips from a cop.  Part 4 of 4
Swimming Pool Safety
Why in the world would a cop be concerned about pool safety?  Believe it or not, we respond to these types of accidents with the fire department.  Luckily, I have not been to any of these scenes, but I have a pool of my own.  This summer there has been a surge in the Washington DC Area.  We have had more drownings this year, then in any other recent years says many local news stations.
Never leave your kids alone in or near the pool. Learn CPR, this could be … (3 comments)

Keeping safe, tips from a cop. Part 3 of 4 - 07/26/08 12:01 PM
Keeping safe, tips from a cop.  Part 3 of 4  
Your home  
Some information below is beneficial to keep yourself and your family safe while at home or away from home: 
Keep a list of serial numbers on high priced items; if no serial number is present you can etch your own "unique identifying number" on it.  This is helpful in identifying the item(s) if they are found later. Exterior doors that are metal or solid wood are best.  Every entry door should be well light, with a wide-angle peephole. Strong & reliable locks are essential to maintaining home security. Use … (3 comments)

Keeping safe, tips from a cop. Part 2 of 4 - 07/25/08 08:06 AM
Keeping safe, tips from a cop.  Part 2 of 4 
Neighborhoods  
Many times as an officer I respond to neighborhoods for many types of complaints.  I've been on scenes from something as serious as a homicide to a minor complaint of trespassing.  A lot of times while speaking with victims, witnesses and such....most of them don't even know their neighbors.  Keep your community safe, know your neighbors. 
Do you have a neighborhood watch program in your community?  This may be something to consider, keeping your already safe neighborhood, even safer. Get to know your neighbors, at minimum each side of you … (8 comments)

Thankful for what we have in today's market.... - 07/24/08 07:58 PM
After reading a blog from a fellow Active Rain Member Ken it made me realize how good we really have it.
Each day I pull up listings all over the Montgomery County Area, and there are more short sales, third party approvals, and foreclosures then I ever imagined in my life.  Almost any house that is on the market today at a low low price, is guaranteed to be such a property.
I'm thankful that I have never put any of my clients in the situation, where they have to foreclose or anything close to it.  It is important as a Realtor® … (12 comments)

Keeping safe, tips from a cop. Part 1 of 4 - 07/24/08 11:47 AM
Keeping Safe, tips from a cop.  Part 1 of 4 
Auto Theft and Theft from Auto 
A lot of these things might seem like common sense to the majority of you, but you would be surprised how much I run across the same things day in and out.  From my years of experience as a police officer, I give the following advice to keeping your car safe: 
Audible alarm system  LoJack or OnStar Steering column lock Wheel locks  Etch windows Lock your doors Do not leave valuables in plain view Do not leave a GPS unit in the vehicle, and wipe … (10 comments)

Photographs on the blogs, websites & business cards - 07/23/08 05:37 PM
I'm not talking ugly, beautiful, gorgeous, or perfect here.  I'm talking just the image, layout and backgrounds of the photographs.  Not specifically Active Rain members, just a industry topic in general.
What were those photographers telling us when we were getting our snapshots taken?  
I've looked through tons of websites, blogs and business cards, and I'm always amazed sometimes by the photos I see. 
I've seen backgrounds of black, white, red yellow, orange, grey, and even flowered.  I also see a lot of backgrounds with nature, the outdoors, and activities that person enjoys.  Those I think are just personal preference, and … (14 comments)

Brokers Open Houses, do they really pay off? - 07/23/08 06:55 AM
I was having a conversation the other day with another agent in this area, and one thing we discussed were original ideas to get more showings in a listing he has.  We talked about a few ideas, and Brokers Open Houses came into the subject.  Obviously, that is not a "new" idea.....but it's not something that a lot of listing agents do often. 
Well he said he was weary about having one, because it just seems that agents just come for the food...and don't care too much about the house.  Whenever I had them in the past, they haven't been successful for me either.  … (11 comments)

Just tell me where to sign. I trust you.... - 07/22/08 04:03 PM
Buyers Corner......
I want your trust, but I need your attention even more.
Buyers come to real estate agents in many ways.  Whether they be friends, family, former or current co-workers in other professions, and referrals to name a few.  Usually, the agent and buyers grow a bond between each other.  In the bond, buyers usually see the high level of integrity, honesty and expertise the agent has to offer.  After searching for that perfect home for days, weeks and in rare cases months...the buyers develop this thing called "trust". 
Each agent coaches their clients in different ways.  One thing remains … (6 comments)

Pets in a house For Sale........... - 07/21/08 06:47 PM
This one is for the sellers corner:
Let me first off start by saying that I am the BIGGEST dog lover in the world, and I have wonderful black lab of my own.  With that being said, do our four legged friends sometimes make or break the sale? 
I am going to focus this subject on my personal experiences, and from my Realtor standpoint. 
A couple of years ago, in the back end of the hottest market we knew to become the 1999-2006 era, I sold a house of my own.  Besides renovations, the biggest challenge I faced was where do … (14 comments)

Life of a Realtor® & professional image... - 07/20/08 10:20 AM
The importance of being a professional around the clock has never proved so true, in every aspect.  No matter where we go, what we do, who we talk to, our image is important to upkeep.  
Half the time, we don't know who we are talking to, until the conversation is almost over.  Regardless where you are at, you never know where your next client may come from.  A quick lunch break at a restaurant I frequent landed me the chance to sell myself to another patron that frequents the same place.  Who knew 30 minutes later, I would have the opportunity … (6 comments)

It's a buyers' market! Or is it? - 07/17/08 07:00 PM
In the market we are currently in, there are buyers and there are sellers.  I have been fortunate enough to work with several buyers at a time, some with success stories.
Many of the purchasers I've worked with, both investors and first time home buyers, feel that this is their time to shine.  Mostly due to the fact that there are more listings then people willing to buy at this time.  While that stands true, there is also the reality of it all.  
Everyone wants the best deal in town, isn't that always the case?  However, with all the short sales, … (5 comments)

When does a home, become the buyers home? Agents disagree. - 07/17/08 04:15 PM
A while ago, I sold a house that had just had the kitchen and bathroom remodeled.  The kitchen had the brick wall knocked out into the sunroom area, making it larger then it had ever been.  The house had a two-tier roof, and as a part of the remodel a new roof was put on the lower tier, which sits over the sunroom. 
The house was sold a couple of months after the remodel was done, and just a few weeks after being active on the market.  It was a time when we had a significant amount of rainfall in the … (5 comments)

Verbal Judo for our industry? - 07/16/08 11:00 AM
When I was in the police academy years ago, I remember we touched on this thing called "Verbal Judo".  As the years went on, I found myself getting angry in heated arguments.  I decided to take the full class of Verbal judo, and learn to take any frustration and turn it into positive.
Verbal Judo has been around for years, it was originally created by Doc Thompson a former police officer.  He created the course due to many complaints he had gotten over his years as a patrol officer. 
The Verbal Judo teaches you how to use words in a professional … (0 comments)

Newsletters...are they working for your direct marketing? - 07/16/08 07:54 AM
How are newsletters working for you in direct marketing?  
Every so often, I open my mailbox to find a newsletter from several different Realtors® who are not known to the area whatsoever.  None of them farm on a regular basis, but feel the need to send their blurbs every 3 months or so.  Most of them choose the color purple for some reason, and print their newsletter on one piece of 8 ½ X 11 sheet of paper. 
Now, I am a big fan of farming and sending out postcards.  I think that the average person would pay more attention to … (7 comments)

Is now the time to be 'FSBO' in Maryland? - 07/15/08 08:05 PM
As I drive around in Montgomery County, Maryland I still see a significant amount of For Sale by Owner signs.  In fact they are all over Greater Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Gaithersburg and other areas of my expertise. 
Though, the market is not at its greatest right now, it still isn't the worst.  From the late 1990's to 2005 the market was booming, we saw things that amazed anyone involved in the real estate industry.  Some folks say that we have hit rock bottom, and the market is going to pick back up, but is that true?  The true answer … (0 comments)

Agents ask: "How can I avoid getting out of a ticket?" Answer from a dual career cop.... - 07/15/08 05:01 PM
The funny thing about having two occupations is that you always find people in one profession that want to know more about the other.  One thing that many Realtors ask me in passing, in the office, or on listings are what they can do to get out of a ticket?  Unfortunately, I can never give that exact advice, because every police officer is different.  However, I thought of a list of things that I have come across personally over my years as an officer, that you should say/do if you're stopped and things that you should not say/do if you're stopped. 
… (6 comments)

Marketing Mints, how are they working for you? - 07/14/08 06:39 PM
Hello everyone.  A while ago I purchased a large order of "Marketing Mints" after seeing them at a open house.  I thought wow, what a great way to market myself.....my information on a box of mints!
I have been lacking handing them out though, and I was curious how other agents and other professions anywhere in the US have been using them?  Are you mailing them to clients, having a bulk of them at open house, taking them to listing presentations? 
How are they working for you?  I would love to hear what kind of feedback you've gotten.
The website for the … (6 comments)

Sex Registry Websites (local and national) - 07/14/08 03:17 PM
Below find website links to the sex registry in the DC Metro area & national:
DC Sex Registry
Maryland Sex Registry
Montgomery County Sex Registry Brochure
Montgomery County Sex Registery Information
National Center for Missing Kids
National Sex Registry
Virginia Sex Registry
If you have any questions, please don't hestiate to contact me via telephone or e-mail.
Stan Barsch
… (2 comments)

Helpful police websites in the DC Metro Area - 07/13/08 09:00 PM
Below please find a list of helpful police websites in the Washington D.C. Area:
Arlington County Police
DC Police (MPD)
Fairfax County Police
Frederick City Police
Frederick County Sheriffs
Gaithersburg City Police
Maryland State Police
Montgomery County Police
Montgomery County Sheriffs
Prince Georges County Police
Prince Georges County Sheriffs
Rockville City Police
Takoma Park Police
US Capitol Police
Please contact me via telephone or e-mail if you have any questions.
Stan Barsch
… (3 comments)

Helpful public school websites in the DC Metro Area - 07/13/08 08:48 PM
Below are links for public schools in the Washington D.C. Area:
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Arlington County Public Schools
DC Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
Frederick County Public Schools
Howard County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools
Prince Georges County Public Schools
 
If there is any other information I can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me via telephone or e-mail.
Stan Barsch
… (1 comments)

Selling 101 with Stanley - 07/13/08 08:25 PM
Selling your treasured home might be one of the most emotional and hardest things we have to do sometimes.  It could be for many reasons such as needing more space, moving out of the area, retiring or any other personal reason.  Stanley understands the toll that selling your home takes on you and the family.  The goal for Stanley is to make this transaction stress free for you, and to get top dollar that the market will allow.  Telephone or e-mail Stanley today and arrange a one on one consultation.
 Sometimes a seller wonders, "Where do I start?" 
Schedule a one … (0 comments)

Buying 101 with Stanley - 07/13/08 08:01 PM
Purchasing your dream home is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime.  As in any purchase, a professional in the trade can be of great assistance to finding the home of your dreams.  Stanley Barsch is the real estate agent who will focus on the things that are important to you, and make your dream become a reality.  Your only worry while working with Stanley will be to decide where to put the television in your dream home.  Telephone or e-mail Stanley today and arrange a one on one consultation.
Sometimes a buyer wonders, "Where do I start?" 
Schedule a one … (6 comments)

 
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Stanley Barsch, REALTOR®, GRI 240.882.8512

Silver Spring, MD

More about me…

Realty Executives Premier

Address: Silver Spring, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, Cleveland park, Glover Park, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, Washington DC, Maryland

Office Phone: (301) 476-7700

Cell Phone: (240) 882-8512

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