Jacki and Jerry's Blog

13221 Eastgate Village Drive, Louisville, KY 40223

2008-09-04T12:36:36Z

One of the very nicest homes in EASTGATE VILLAGE! This wonderful community is convenient to EVERYTHING! This unit is in spotless, mint move-right-on-in condition. 3 bedrooms, and 3 full baths. (Third bedroom presently used as a den or would make the perfect office). Lots of beautiful ceramic tile flooring, and designer laminate flooring graces the vaulted Great Room and lovely Dining Room. The Great Room offers a stunning fireplace with ceramic logs. The First Floor Master has a large walk-in closet and oversized pampering bath with ceramic tile flooring, dual sink vanity, large shower and private water closet. Enjoy an abundance of beautiful white cabinetry and lots of counter space in the bright and welcoming eat-in Kitchen. Walk right in with your groceries from the attached 2.5 car garage. (Great extra storage in the garage.) All appliances stay with this home, including a refrigerator with an icemaker and a smooth-top range. Spacious breakfast area. Adjacent to the kitchen is the laundry room with additional space being used as a walk-in pantry! (Washer and dryer also stays with the home). Relax your cares away in the hall bath's whirlpool tub. This spacious bath has bead-board wainscoting. Upstairs you will find a very spacious bedroom, large enough for sitting room space, a deep double-closet, and a private 3rd full bath. A large storage room could serve as extra guest space or a 2nd floor office, craft room whatever you'd like! Lots of great closet space you'll find room to tuck away all your belongings. The large patio/courtyard is surrounded by a brick wall for super privacy! Fabulous Middletown location, you can walk to shopping centers, restaurants and more! Quiet, peaceful setting with no noise pollution!! Sellers can vacate quickly. Hurry and make an appointment to see this beauty!

Another Keller Williams Louisville East Milestone !!

2008-09-03T13:20:58Z

I hate to brag. Well, that's not entirely true. Actually I love to brag about our wonderful market center at Keller Williams Realty Louisville East ! And we just found out some exciting news that gives us all something to brag about!

In just five short months, since opening our doors in March, we have risen to the TOP 7 in transaction sides in all of the Greater Louisville Association of Realtors!

This is truly a great honor, and gives our broker, Bradley Long, an automatic seat on the MSI board.

All of our hard work and dedication to be the best team of Realtors in town is paying off. Great work, Keller Williams Family!

The Shafer Team is Growing!

2008-08-23T10:56:06Z

We've taken The Shafer Team to the next level by hiring our first Buyer Representative!

Going through the typical "growing pains" when you reach this level in your career, we were feeling a little and decided we could really use some help.

After interviewing several great candidates, we're thrilled to introduce you to Eric Panknin, an agent with our market center at Keller Williams Realty Louisville East.

Eric has extensive sales background. He formerly worked for a successful team in Elizabethtown. Now living in Louisville, Eric can't wait to get started with our Team to work with our Buyer clients. Our clients will be drawn to his easy-going personality and genuine concern for their needs. And because he is a Keller Williams agent, we know he has been thoroughly trained in all aspects of real estate sales.

Welcome Eric ! We have every confidence in you.

5315 Smith Haven Lane, La Grange, Kentucky 40031

2008-08-05T10:25:33Z

5 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths, Almost 4,000 sq. ft! $297,500.00

Fabulous BUY on 5 horse-friendly acres in Winter Haven Estates in LaGrange!! Addition on one wing of the house is great office space and an additional 2 car lower level garage. Inside the home has lots of fresh paint and brand new carpeting. Huge Formal Dining Room with built-in buffet. Large eat-in Kitchen has a bay window overlooking the deck and back yard (deck needs work!) The Kitchen is wide open to a beautiful vaulted Great Room. Lovely Master Suite with a walk-in closet. Wonderful Walk-Out Lower Level has large bedrooms and a full bath. This home does still need some work and is priced accordingly. Call for more details! (502) 643-SOLD

Welcome Home to 12109 Maplewood Drive, Goshen, KY 40026!!!

2008-07-21T09:55:10Z

3 BR, 2 FULL BA, 2 CAR ATTACHED GARAGE, DECK, BASEMENT READY TO BE FINISHED! $194,500.00

Sitting pretty on one of the most beautiful lots in Goshen, this charming ALL BRICK ranch has been updated and tastefully remodeled. Lots of handsome hardwood flooring, newer MAINTENANCE-FREE windows. Newer gutters. HVAC new in 2003. You’ll love the flow of this home and all the light from many “floor-to-ceiling” windows. The welcoming Formal Living Room is a great place for greet your guests. This room opens to a fabulous large Dine-in Kitchen that boasts a wealth of oak cabinetry, plenty of counter space, updated appliances, a spacious dining area, a pantry – PLUS seating at a peninsula bar. And here’s one of the home’s best features: the Kitchen is Wide Open to a large Family Room! Center stage is an exquisite fireplace, flanked by built-ins. All THREE Bedrooms are spacious, and both the Master Bath and Hall Bath have Newer Ceramic Tile Flooring, plumbing fixtures and lighting. The Full Unfinished Basement has been FRAMED and would be very simple to finish to your own specifications! Plenty of storage space. Sliding doors off the Family Room open to a size EXTRA LARGE deck where you can take in private views of the fenced, professionally landscaped back yard, reminiscent of an English garden! There’s even a hidden area for play sets and a custom designed storage building (8 x 16) to house your lawn and gardening equipment, bicycles, etc. You can enjoy this fantastic back yard almost year round! It offers a fire pit too for outdoor entertaining. A TWO CAR ATTACHED GARAGE, superior curb appeal, SOUGHT-AFTER LOCATION near AWARD-WINNING OLDHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS and much more make this home a real winner! All dressed up and ready to SELL! (Hot tub DOES NOT remain)

12012 Halifax Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40245

2008-07-14T10:03:30Z

Welcome Home to 12012 Halifax Drive in Worthington Hills - GREAT location!!!

3 Bedrooms, 1 1/2 Baths, Finished Walkout Basement, 1 Car Attached Garage $129,900

Looking for TOTAL MOVE-RIGHT-ON-IN-AND-KICK-OFF-YOUR-SHOES condition? Transferring Sellers hate to leave their “dream home” and have just recently added lots of fresh paint and some new carpeting to this beautiful split level home in Worthington Hills. Great floor plan! You’ll especially love the “Pottery Barn” look in the designer kitchen with lovely tiled countertops and pendulum lighting. All the bedrooms are spacious. The lower level family room is a size XTRA Large and offers a lot of natural light. Also in the lower level you’ll find a pretty powder room and brand NEW carpeting in the “bonus room”, which makes fantastic office space. French doors open to a large patio. Enjoy lots of outdoor entertaining in the beautiful fenced back yard. A deep one-car garage and lots of storage space makes this house a place you’ll want to call HOME! This home is priced RIGHT and priced to SELL QUICKLY!

3507 Potomac Drive, La Grange, Kentucky 40031

2008-07-09T09:50:29Z

WELCOME HOME! Great Room w/BEAUTIFUL hardwood! Large kitchen w/ample cabinet space!

4 Bedroom, 3 Full Bath $196,900

IMMEDIATE POSSESSION!! Welcome to popular Echo Valley Farms, conveniently located just two miles from I-71’s Exit 18. Sitting pretty on one of the most beautiful ACRE lots around, you’ll absolutely LOVE sitting out on the multi-level deck and taking in views of the rolling countryside – AND a pristine lake next door. A great versatile floor plan, the welcoming foyer opens to a large room that can be used as either a Formal Living Room or Formal Dining Room. A newer Kitchen remodel boasts a wealth of custom cabinetry and lovely designer ceramic tile flooring. (All Kitchen appliances stay.) The Dining Area can accommodate large family gatherings. Center stage in the Vaulted Great Room is a stunning brick hearth fireplace. The Family Room boasts hardwood flooring. There are three spacious bedrooms on the first floor and two full baths. Downstairs there are two “Bonus Rooms” that can easily serve as additional bedroom space, and a 3rd full bath. There’s also another Family Room with built-in storage that can double as seating space. The Attached 2.5 Car Garage is extra deep. If you need more garage space, or a workshop – this home also has a detached “pole barn” Garage with separate electrical service. One of the garage doors is extra wide for your boat or oversized vehicle. Lots of fresh paint, a six-person hot tub built into the deck, a swimming pool, and updated tilt-in windows help paint a picture of this beautiful home!

509 Wood Springs Road, La Grange, Kentucky 40031

2008-07-09T09:41:12Z

Welcome Home! Vaulted Great Room w/fireplace Welcoming Eat-in-Kitchen

4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths $239,500!

Very BEST BUY in beautiful and popular Old Anita Springs! Here’s your opportunity to live in a neighborhood where homes are priced well into the $330’s. Sitting beautifully on a lavishly landscaped and wooded lot on a cul-de-sac, you’ll enjoy great privacy and shade in the back yard. Come inside! Wonderful WIDE OPEN FLOOR PLAN! The vaulted Great Room lets in plenty of natural light through huge windows. Beautiful gas fireplace. You’ll especially love the oversized Dine-In Kitchen! Decorated “Crate and Barrel” style with clean lines and lovely brick red walls, peninsula bar that doubles as a breakfast bar, plenty of pretty cabinetry, and doors off the kitchen open to a large deck. The spacious First Floor Master suite has a walk-in closet and a pampering master bath with an oversized whirlpool tub and separate shower. Upstairs you’ll find two size extra large bedrooms (all bedrooms have walk-in closets!) The lower level offers a second Family Room (could make a great theatre room!), and a fourth large bedroom. The 2.5 car garage is extra deep, has a workshop area, and is wired for power tools. ** This truly is a great buy in a fabulous area of Oldham County! (very park-like subdivision!) ** Near award-winning Oldham County schools, and I-71, shopping, restaurants and other conveniences are just minutes away! City sewers.

Investor's Delight! 10 Rental Properties sold individually or as a "package" deal!!!

2008-07-09T09:30:03Z

Don't Let These Slip Away!!! Great Passive Income Potential!!!

10 Rental Properties sold Individually or as a "package" deal!!!

2724 Garland Avenue 40211 - Opportunity is knocking! Can you hear it? Here’s your chance to grab up this 5-YEAR-YOUNG, 4-Unit apartment building. Each spacious unit has 2 BR, 1 BA and washer/dryer hookups. These units rent exceptionally well with long-term Residents. These 4 units are currently renting between $525-$650/month each!

960 South Shelby Street 40203 - Well cared for by long-term Residents, 5 BR, 2 BA - currently renting for $1011/month!! This home is 6 Years Young!

2908 S. 5th Street 40208 - Great 3 BR, 1 BA brick home with covered porch & great room sizes! Soon to be rented for $850/month.

2211 Lytle Street 40212 - Cute-as-a-button, 3 BR,1 BA home presently renting for $975/month!

2011 W. Jefferson 40211 - You're going to love this 6 Year Young Home with 3 BR, 1 1/2 BA, vaulted living room and huge fenced yard! Currently renting for $900/month!

4005 Sunset Avenue 40211 - Another great value! This home has 3 BR, 2 BA which is currently being re-habbed to include MANY updates. This home last rented for $785/month.

1833 Bank Street 40203 - Adorable 3 BR, 2 BA home. Currently rented for $950/month by long-term Residents, this home is only 8 years young!

1225 S. 32nd Street 40211 - Cute 4 BR, 2 BA Cape-cod style home with 2 car garage! This property is also currently being re-habbed to include great features! This home last rented for $854/month.

4121 Miami Avenue 40212 - 7 year young, 5 BR, 2 BA home currently rented for $1,176/month by long-term Residents!

15408 Dixie Highway 40272 - Another adorable cape-cod style home with 3 BR, 1 BA with the entire upstairs being the master bedroom! Currently rented for $975/month!

Don't Let these great opportunities pass you by!

We've Come a Long Way, Baby!

2008-06-29T06:35:51Z

It's hard to believe sometimes just how far technology has taken us. How many of you even know that once upon a time, in a world far, far away, we agents walked around with huge MLS books the size of phone books that were published every two weeks?

I can remember telling my clients that it could be as much as three weeks before the community at large would know their home was on the market - especially if they missed the deadline for getting their home listing to the printer. When the new issue came out, the listing photo was a grainy black and white picture taken by an employee of the MLS Book publisher. Looking at some of the shots that ended up in the books, we would laugh and say the guy must have rolled down the window of his car and took the picture without even coming to a complete stop!

Getting ready for a listing presentation meant going through separate "comp" books, making copies of each listing, then cutting and pasting each listing onto a piece of paper. Sounds incredible, I know, but that was just 1990!

Then came the internet, and we were no longer the keepers of the information! Scary? Absolutely! I thought the sky was falling, was certain that people would no longer need Realtors, and that life as I knew it was over!

But what was I thinking? Technology is a wonderful thing, and I have embraced it and absolutely love it. It has done nothing but enhance our opportunities to fully showcase our listings. We can now spotlight homes around the world and people can "virtually" see each listing from the comfort of their own homes.

And people will always need our guidance, our expertise, and our sales savvy. No matter where technology takes us, that is a constant.

For anyone who has only been in the biz a few years, internet marketing is something they take for granted. But for someone who used to have 10 or 15 huge MLS books sliding around in the back seat of her car, life is so much easier now! In fact, life is GOOD!

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Jacki and Jerry specialize in home sales in Oldham, Jefferson, and surrounding counties.

Welcome Home to 8101 Chapel Drive, Crestwood, KY 40014

2008-06-19T10:07:06Z

Welcome Home!!! Fishing Lake w/Private Dock Great Open Kitchen! Great Room with TONS of SUN!

WHERE ELSE in all of Oldham County can you find so much home for the $$$ ??? Much less in prestigious and convenient Chapel View Subdivision in Crestwood? You’ll fall in love the moment you drive up! Sitting beautifully on 1.39 lushly landscaped ACRES, this 6 Bedroom 4 Full Bath KNOCKOUT of a WALKOUT ranch has a flat, deep back yard with EXQUISITE VIEWS of Chapel View’s lovely fishing lake! In fact, you have your own private DOCK to fish from! Once inside the home a welcoming Foyer opens to a huge “jaw-dropping” GREAT ROOM with an impressive gas fireplace with a marble hearth. The Great Room also offers a wet bar. And wide open from the Great Room is a stunning Size Large Dine-In Kitchen with beautiful hardwood flooring. Plenty of hickory cabinetry, a center island with a cooktop stove and double oven. (all kitchen appliances remain) Wonderful vaulted Dining Area of the Kitchen with a Gathering Room for those special get togethers. There’s also plenty of natural light from a wealth of windows. You’ll especially love the spacious Formal Dining Room with a stunning chandelier. Need Guest Quarters? This home has its own separate entrance into a large vaulted Guest Room with a walk-in closet and a full bath. The Master Suite is quite spacious, boasting a private balcony area, two roomy walk-in closets, an oversized whirlpool tub and separate shower. And what a clever place for a First Floor Laundry – just off the Master Bedroom! – offering a laundry sink and storage closet. Two spacious additional bedrooms complete the first floor. The FINISHED WALKOUT LOWER LEVEL has been professionally finished with all the appointments you’ll find on the First Floor, complete with lovely crown moulding. Enjoy wonderful Family Room and Recreation Room space with built-in shelving to place your favorite collectibles, two more large bedrooms with large closets (one large bedroom has a wall of great built-ins – would make a fantastic office or craft room!). This fabulous home also offers DSL internet access, alarm/intercom system, sprinkler System, 2 furnaces, one BRAND NEW central air system, and an Invisible Fence. Very convenient to Crestwood amenities, freeways, and Louisville is just minutes away. Also close to award-winning and highly sought-after Oldham County Schools! YOU WON’T WANT TO LET THIS ONE GET AWAY!

Check out the AMAZING virtual tour:

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1566756

4702 Heron View Place, Buckner, Kentucky 40010

2008-06-19T09:52:20Z

Welcome Home!!! Lavish Kitchen w/Beautiful Hardwood Large Master Great Room w/Fireplace

**DON'T LET THIS ONE SLIP AWAY !!** Located in one of Oldham County's finest subdivision - sought-after STONEFIELD TRACE, this beautiful one-owner home sits majestically on a THREE-QUARTER ACRE cul-de-sac lot with a deep, flat lot THAT BACKS TO GREEN SPACE! This stunning 6 Bedroom, 4 1/2 Bath, 1.5 story WALKOUT is lushly landscaped and shows like a BRAND NEW home! The covered front porch opens to a TWO-STORY Foyer with hardwood flooring. The Formal Dining Room also boasts hardwood flooring, extensive mouldings and a treyed ceiling. The TWO-STORY cathedral vault Great Room is truly breathtaking! You'll love the exquisite entertainment center (by Chris' Custom Cabinets), as well as the stunning fireplace (wood-burning or gas), flanked by huge arched windows. Wide open from the Great Room is a Gourmet Kitchen even Martha Stewart would love! Enjoy a wealth of custom cabinetry, solid-surface countertops, a deep step-in pantry, a Jenn-aire double-oven (including a convection oven!). (All stainless steel kitchen appliances remain.) Beautiful hardwood flooring. A peninsula bar offers plenty of work space and doubles as a breakfast bar. The dine-in area of the kitchen is very spacious and will accommodate a large table. An atrium door opens to the deck. The powder room on the first floor also has hardwood flooring and a pretty pedestal sink. Need a FIRST FLOOR MASTER SUITE? This home has a lovely First Floor Master Suite with an impressive double-treyed hip vault ceiling. There are two spacious walk-in closets with built-ins. Center stage in the pampering Master Bath is an oversized whirlpool tub. There's also a large walk-in shower and there are two separate tall vanity sinks. You'll especially love the gorgeous designer ceramic tile flooring. There are three large bedrooms upstairs, including a huge bonus room with a deep closet. The WALKOUT LOWER LEVEL boasts BRAND NEW CARPETING (Spring 2008) and offers wide open spaces, tall ceilings, another beautiful fireplace and lots of natural light. There's even a Size Extra Large FIFTH BEDROOM and another full bath with ceramic tile flooring. There's also plenty of storage. A. 3-CAR GARAGE, fabulous deep and private lot, lots of fresh paint and much more!! Call on this one TODAY before it's GONE!

IT'S DIRTY WORK FOR A SAINT !! AND DOES IT WORK??

2008-05-24T19:42:22Z

Even though it was over 20 years ago, I remember it well. Some sales are just stand-outs, aren't they?

I was a brand-new agent, and placed my very first promotional ad in our local paper. It read:

Maximum Dollar - Minimum Hassle

My phone rang and the man on the other end of the phone told me he and his wife had been trying to sell their home for over a year. It had been listed twice before. "Come on over and sell this thing," he said. "I do need maximum dollar, and I'm tired of this hassle!"

When I got a top-dollar offer for them in just two short weeks I was ready for them to kiss me and call me their hero. After, all, I got it SOLD when the other agents couldn't. Am I great, or what??!! But instead of high-fiving me and telling me what an awesome, phenomenal, genius Realtor I was, they gave all the credit to planting St. Joseph the night before!

Remember I told you I was still a rookie, so when they told me they planted St. Joseph in front of their sidewalk to help ensure that the prospective buyers would fall in love with their home and want to buy it, I pictured some ground cover or decorative landscaping they had planted to add curb appeal!

I found out that they bought a statuette of St. Joseph, and explained that since he was a carpenter, many people think of him as the patron saint of real estate.

I did a little research on the origins of burying St. Joe, and there are many theories. Some say it may be connected to a practice by German builders who used to bury statues in the foundations of houses they built and said a prayer to St. Joseph.

And as varied as the stories about how this practice got started are the many ways and places poor old St. Joseph gets buried:

Upside down
Right-side up
Lying on its back and pointing toward the house
Facing the house
Facing the street
Near the FOR SALE sign
Exactly 12 inches deep
In the back yard

Personally, I believe in the power of prayer as much as anyone. And if someone wants to bury St. Joseph face-up, face down, or standing on his head, God bless 'em.

But it reminds me of the miracle weight-loss pills that are proven to work "along with diet and exercise."

St. Joseph can work too, along with proper clean-up, fix-up, and the right price.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Jacki and Jerry specialize in home sales in Louisville and Oldham County, Kentucky.

1810 Foxboro Rd. La Grange, KY 40031

2008-05-20T10:44:50Z

3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths 2,114 Finished Sqaure Feet $189,900

Sitting pretty on a PRIVATE, TREED approximately ONE ACRE lot in popular QUAIL RUN FARMS is this lovely home with a BOUNTY OF UPDATES! Freshly painted exterior, lots of new interior paint, too. Updates in 2005 include: KITCHEN: Bright and welcoming, with new flooring and countertops, stove and dishwasher, and lovely white painted cabinetry. The side-entry TWO AND A HALF CAR GARAGE has two new overhead doors (2005), and the LOWER LEVEL was also finished in 2005, offering a large FAMILY ROOM and TWO BONUS ROOMS (possible 4th and 5th BEDROOMS!). Newer updates include TWO NEW EXTERIOR DOORS, new LAMINATE FLOORING in the KITCHEN and oversized DINING AREA (Large enough to accommodate large dining room furniture!) Both baths boast newer CERAMIC TILE FLOORING. All the bedrooms are large, and you'll especially love the MASTER SUITE with private doors (NEW) out to the fabulous NEW DECK (2008). There's also a lovely GAZEBO where you can sit and enjoy the deep back yard. I-71 is just a few minutes away, as well as all your LaGrange shopping and amenities. Other UPDATES in 2005 include: New carpet throughout, new baseboards throughout, all new interior solid wood doors, all new closet doors and new landscaping in '07!! HURRY and GRAB UP THIS BARGAIN BEFORE IT'S GONE!!

To View the virtual tour click the link below:

http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?T=1520321

To view more photos please visit:

www.TheShaferTeam.com

What are you trying to hide??!!

2008-05-18T19:52:28Z

Have you ever walked into a home and the first thing that hits you, right in the nostrils, is a heavy combination of odors - something like a cross between your grandmother's perfume and a redwood forest? And your first thought: what are these Sellers trying to hide?

People buy with all of their senses, and your home can be dressed to the nines, staged beautifully and have all the "bells and whistles" people are looking for in a home, but if they jump to the conclusion that you may be trying to cover up pet or smoking odors, or even worse, a wet basement smell, they're going to think more than twice about considering your home.

Having pets in your home can be a huge deterrent to getting your home sold because people think there could be pet stains in your carpeting. And dogs in particular tend to cary an odor. If you have one or more dogs in your home, they need to be kept as clean as possible while your home is on the market. And here's a tip a read recently: in between bathing your dog, wipe down his coat with a dryer sheet to keep him smelling fresh. If you have cats you'll need to be particularly diligent about keeping the cat box clean and odor-free.

It's easier to sell a house with ten cats, five German Shepherds, a hamster, a parrot and an iguana than it is to try to sell a house with smoking odors. Smoking is very bad for both your physical health and your wallet, because anyone considering making an offer on a home with smoking odors will no doubt beat you up on the price. It's difficult to eliminate the smoke smell, but it can be done. Since nicotine permeates every pore of your drywall, you'll need to paint all walls and ceilings. If shampooing all the carpeting doesn't eliminate the odors you may need to replace it. You'll need to thoroughly wash down all surfaces, wash all bed linens, dry clean all window treatments: in other words, clean everything that doesn't move!

Basement water problems causing those damp musty smells? The first thing that must be done is to make whatever repairs are necessary to stop water intrusion into the basement. It's difficult at best to sell your home with foundation problems. After the repairs are completed the musty smell should go away, but if anything has gotten wet the smell can linger. Move all the water-damaged items out of the basement and do a thorough clean-up.

So don't cover it up. Don't light candles or spray heavy air freshener around the house. Just clean it up and make it smell fresh and inviting.

For other home selling tips, visit Jacki and Jerry's website: www.TheShaferTeam.com

Oldham County Sales: Putting it in Perspective (2008 vs 2007)

2008-05-17T09:08:00Z

Everywhere we go people want to talk about it: "What's going on in the housing market? Is it really as bad as the news reports say?"

The quick answer is NO, but we are definitely experiencing a buyer's market here in Oldham County, Kentucky (just north of Louisville).

According to the Louisville Multiple Listing System statistics, comparing single family home monthly sales in 2007 to monthly sales year-to-date in 2008, the average sales price fell from $288,664 to $270,749. The Listing-to-Sales ratio was 96.69% in 2007, and year-to-date this ratio has decreased to 95.73%. The average months of inventory has increased from 6.69 in 2007, and presently there are 12.46 months of inventory. This reflects how many months it would take to sell out of inventory at the current month's rate of sale. The average days on the market has gone from 87.3 days to 95.0 days.

So what strategy can we suggest if you want or need to move this Spring and Summer? The key is simple: Price it Right! Your home simply must be priced to move, and it must be in great shape. If your home outshines your competition and is priced just under your competition, it WILL sell.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer of The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East are Oldham County residents specializing in Oldham County real estate sales.

For more information about how to price your home to sell, please visit The Shafer Team's website: www.TheShaferTeam.com

This is a Loss That Will Be Felt For a Long Time...

2008-04-30T17:23:10Z

You can lose a client. You can lose a sale. You can even put pen to paper and calculate that loss.

But how do you measure the loss of your best friend?

Jerry is trying to wrap his mind around the loss of his friend, Wally, who died unexpectedly last night. He had been having pain in his abdomen, and at his wife's prompting, went to the doctor for some tests. This was Monday morning. Suddenly he complained that he couldn't breathe, and they put him on oxygen. He stood up to go to the bathroom, and collapsed. His heart stopped.

The doctor jumped on top of him and hit him in the chest to "jump start" his heart. After Wally came back around the doctor said, "Wally, I'm sorry I had to hit you so hard but I was afraid that if I waited for the paddles, we wouldn't be talking right now." In pure Wally style, his answer was, "That's okay, Doc. Either way, it's a win-win situation."

He was taken to the hospital where his situation continued to get worse, and last night around 6:00 p.m. Wally went to be with Jesus.

His beautiful wife, Susan, has lost the love of her life. They have been in love since they were kids in high school. Susan just buried her mother a month ago, and her father a year ago. An only child, she has become an orphan and a widow in one year. Three of the most important people in her life - gone.

He also leaves behind a brother and two wonderful grown children who adored him.

And then there's Jerry, and all the great friends who are left to mourn the loss of a great man of God. Jerry loved Wally as deeply as if he were his brother. After all, he was his brother in Christ. Jerry and Wally and two other friends met each and every Wednesday nite for the past nine years to teach a bible study at a nearby men's prison. But first they got together at Cracker Barrell (always Cracker Barrell) for dinner and fellowship and prayer.

So Jerry is gone right now. It's Wednesday nite and he and the guys are meeting at Cracker Barrell. They're having dinner and remembering their friend. And then they'll go to the prison and break the news to the men who have grown to love and deeply respect Wally.

It's the way Wally would have wanted it.

Goodbye, dear friend.

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! KELLER WILLIAMS LOUISVILLE EAST !

2008-04-23T22:15:28Z

We almost had to pinch each other to realize it was true! After many months of working with our laptops sitting on card tables and yelling into our phones over the sounds of sawing and drilling, our market center was finally transformed from tired old space in dire need of a facelift to a classy and welcoming place we can now call home!

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY LOUISVILLE EAST is centrally located at 1230 South Hurstbourne Parkway on the east side of Louisville. From this location we have attracted the best of the best who have joined our forces who specialize all over the Louisville area (Jefferson County) as well as nearby Oldham and surrounding counties.

Realtors, home inspectors, bankers, and other well-wishers stopped by to help us celebrate at our open house.

Here are a few photos:

PAINTING THE TOWN RED: ONE SIGN AT A TIME !

OUR BROKER, BRAD LONG, GIVES A TOUR OF OUR

"INTERNET CAFE". YOU CAN SIT AND BLOG WHILE

KICKING BACK IN A RECLINER! DONTCHA LOVE THE

PENDULUM LIGHTING?

JERRY STRIKES A SILLY POSE WITH OUR WONDERFUL TEAM LEADER,

ANGIE MALONEY.

KAREN KRAFT PUCKERS UP FOR A KISS FROM PERRY THOMAS.

CLASSES ARE ONGOING DAILY IN OUR TRAINING CENTER.

EXPANDABLE SPACE FOR FUTURE PRIVATE OFFICES. LOTS OF LIGHT!

YOU'LL BE GREETED WITH A SMILE FROM ANN KIRSTEN, OUR

DIRECTOR OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

We hope you'll come by and visit us soon!

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Put their 20+ years of residential home sales to work for you!

Thunder Wonders and Thunder Blunders !

2008-04-21T20:46:14Z

We were sure hoping for better weather, but hey, 50 degrees isn't all that cold. Wrong! When you're sitting close to the Ohio River and the wind is blowing, it's colder than a well-digger's derriere! (That was my mother's favorite way to describe how cold it was outside, except she didn't say "derriere".)

But we're die-hard Thunder Over Louisville fans, so we packed lots of sandwiches, soft drinks, healthy and non-so-healthy snacks, and (thank the Thunder Gods!) several blankets, hats, and gloves, and headed for downtown Louisville to enjoy The Kentucky Derby Festival's opening ceremony.

Some people think Thunder Over Louisville is all about a first-class air show followed by spectacular fireworks. It is that. In fact, our city can boast that Thunder is the largest annual fireworks show in North America. But it's much more. It's a picnic. It's a fully day of playing games and just enjoying the company of good friends. It's walking around looking for what we call "Thunder Blunders" - the weird and the wacky. An example of this year's Thunder Blunder was a group of teenie-boppers who didn't get the memo about the cold weather and wore last year's outfits: spaghetti strap shirts shrink-wrapped around their bodies, shorts and spiked heels (I wish I could show you the pictures!) hobbling around on cobblestone streets. But, hey - when you're sixteen it's all about the clothes, the hair, and the shoes! I almost felt sorry for them. Almost...

Toward evening the wind really whipped up and it started to rain. We broke out the hats and gloves, piled on the blankets and shivered till our teeth rattled under a large piece of plastic. As I'm turning blue my friend, Linda, said, "Look at it this way: any weenie can come here on a good day!"

She was right. We hung in there for the Thunder Wonders. It stopped raining just in time for a pyrotechnic display that was so thrilling we forgot all about how cold it was. Eight 400-foot barges assembled on both sides of the 2nd Street Bridge to form the stage for a 30-minute power-packed performance that included Thunder's signature "waterfall" of fireworks that cascade down from the bridge.

Was it worth it? Oh, yeah...

Hangin' Out, Playin' Games

Goofin' Off: We're "Smoking" Pretzels: Don't Ask Me Why...

Some male bonding time.

Did I mention it was CCCCCCOLD out there??!!

It's raining - and it's freezing - but we're still smiling !

The end of our 12-hour adventure - we have hat hair !

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Visit their website: www.TheShaferTeam.com. Jacki and Jerry specialize in residential sales in eastern Jefferson County (Louisville) as well as Oldham, Henry, Shelby and Trimble Counties in Kentucky.

The Best Way to Get off that Hampster Wheel: Get Outta Town !

2008-04-20T19:55:28Z

Come on. 'Fess up. When you're in real estate, or sales in general for that matter, it's hard to turn it off at the end of the day - especially when you have to make a concerted effort to LET your day END. Am I right?

I was just casually talking with a client-turned-very good friend who moved from Oldham County (just north of Louisville, Kentucky, which is our home), to El Paso. We were talking about her time share in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and before long we were planning a trip! Can you say, "GIRLFRIEND ADVENTURE"??!! We invited a mutual friend, and the three of us jumped in my car and headed for the Great Smokey Mountains.

Sometimes you just have to recharge your batteries, especially when you work a much-more-than-full-time job like real estate sales. That's the beauty of the Team Approach to selling real estate. Every now and then I just gotta get away, and Jerry understands that. He takes care of our business and keeps everything running smoothly when I'm away, and I do the same for him. Sometimes he likes to take his fishing boat and go away for a few days with our son or some buddies and "drown a worm" (as he puts it). The arrangement works well.

Just wanted to share a few pictures of our trip:

Wonderful walk in the woods !

This was the only bear we saw all week!

The best times were spent right here - listening to the water rush over the rocks.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East

Vacation Homes: To Buy or Not to Buy

2008-03-29T23:27:21Z

Jerry and I have been to several beautiful vacation spots over the years, and I have often found myself saying, "I love this place! I could live here for the rest of my life!" We've even picked up the local paper and grabbed a HOMES magazine and dreamed about owning our own private piece of paradise. After all, what a wonderful way to get the whole family together. It could even be more than just a home-away-from-home: we could eventually retire there as well.

Baby boomers with discretionary dollars to spend have fueled an increase in the number of vacation-home sales in recent years. In a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors, the majority of buyers (79%) said that they bought the home to use for vacation or as a family retreat. 34% said a reason for buying was to diversify their investments. 28% said they planned on using the home as a primary residence in the future. 25% reported that the tax benefits were their main reason to buy. 21% bought because they had extra money to spend, and 18% of buyers planned to rent our their homes.

But financial planners and real estate professionals suggest using caution before jumping into the commitment of owning a vacation home, an investment often loaded with hidden costs.

Before making a decision to buy a vacation home, consider the following:

1. Is it really practical? It's so easy to fall in love with a place while you're in "vacation mode", envisioning endless summers of total bliss with your family. You're thinking: hey, we're spending a big chunk of change on vacations every year anyway - why not own instead of rent?
When you buy a vacation home, you're vested in that home indefinitely. You're now tied to going back to the same place year after year, giving up some of the flexibility you would normall have staying in a rental home or hotel in another location.
2. Is it affordable? It's extremely important to estimate how much you could use the vacation home and how much it will end up costing you each year. If the home costs $200,000, for instance, it's difficult to justify spending that kind of money on a home you may onlyuse three or four times a year.
Costs that need to be factored into the equation are real estate taxes, insurance and utilities. If you own a single-family dwelling you will need to regularly pay a crew to keep your lawn mowed and your landscaping trimmed.
3. Is it rentable? Many second-home owners don't buy a home with the intention of renting it out. But it's wise to know if a property is rentable at the time of purchase. A rentable property might be a great selling feature if you want to sell it at some point.
When visiting some friends who own a vacation home near Dale Hollow Lake (on the Tennessee side), they introduced us to their Realtors. They told us that there is definitely a "honeymoon period" attached to a vacation home purchase, and after a few years many people find their lifestyles have changed and they're often just too busy to come back as often as they used to. Owners find themselves renting it out in order to recoup some of the cost of ownership.
Before you buy, ask about renting restrictions. Some condo communities, for example, have leasing restrictions to comply with. For single family home, it is often easier to rent property when there are other rentals around it. Secluded homes could have less success attracting renters.
Of course you need to ask yourself if you are now ready to become a landlord, which has its own set of headaches. And if you don't want to deal with tenants yourself, you will have the added expense of paying a management firm to handle it for you.
4. Choose a location. Before starting the actual home search, decide what the home will be used for. Will it be a getaway during the winter months, summer months, or both? Are you looking for a place that has lots of recreational activities nearby, or are you seeking a place of solitude? If you're a golfer, you'll likely be want to find a golf community. If fishing is your passion, you'll want to do some research on where all the great fishing lakes are located.
5. Do your homework. After deciding on the general location, you can start your search online. A Realtor in the area can also be of particular help in finding a vacation property because of his or her local knowledge. If possible, use an agent who specializes in selling second homes; buyers and sellers can search for those with a "Resort and Second Home Property Specialist" designation through Realtor.com's "Find a Realtor" link. Or just ask around: the best Realtors are found by that good old "word of mouth" referral network.
6. Consider future plans. If you're thinking about buying a vacation home that will one day become your retirement home, buying in advance to try out the new location could be a smart idea. Just make sure your Realtor has provided you with a detailed comparative market analysis so you'll know you aren't overpaying for the property and that in a "normal" market you should be able to sell the home in a reasonable amount of time if you want to or need to later.
7. Take your time. Gather your information and go home and talk it over carefully. Give yourself plenty of time to talk it over and make an educated and informed decision.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. The specialize in home sales in Louisville and surrounding Oldham, Henry, Trimble and Shelby Counties in Kentucky.

Louisville Realtors Love Active Rain

2008-03-20T16:55:58Z

I am having such a great time on Active Rain ! What a great resource for interacting with, and learning from, other Realtors, as well as mortgage professionals, home inspectors and home staging experts.

The blogs I write have given us great search engine optimization, and we can post our blogs not only to the public, but to other specialized groups within Active Rain.

Writing posts is my relaxation, and my creative outlet. But I also love to read what other people are writing about. I have learned everything from how to write a "sticky" post that will bring consumers back to our website again and again. Some posts are great teaching articles: I've learned about podcasting, how to create the very best listing presentation, how to get your listings all over the internet, investing, and much more. Other posts inspire and coach, and others simply give you an opportunity to "vent" when you're having a bad hair day!

I have met some phenomenal agents from all over the country. I am working this month with a Keller Williams agent from Texas who read one of my blogs and liked me enough to pick up the phone and say, "I'm moving to Louisville and I want to work with you! I feel like I know you from reading your blogs."

So is a good use of my time? You bet!

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. They specialize in their own "back yard" in Oldham County, just north of Louisville. Jacki and Jerry are relocation specialists with over 20 years of real estate experience. Let that experience go to work for you!

Oldham County Elementary School Redistricting At a Glance

2008-03-19T19:25:53Z

If you're planning a move to beautiful Oldham County soon, and you've got little ones in elementary school, The Oldham County Board of Education has provided a comprehensive list of streets with district school assignments for each. Click on the map below for a copy of this list.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty are relocation specialists, selling primarily in their own "back yard" of Oldham County, as well as eastern Jefferson, Trimble, Shelby and Henry Counties in Kentucky

2004 Clearview Dr., LaGrange KY 40031

2008-03-18T09:30:37Z

4 Bedrooms 3.5 Baths 2 Years Young Walkout Finished Basement 4,342 Finished Sqaure Feet

We get so many phone calls from Buyers looking for that PERFECT OASIS of PRIVACY! Well, THE SHAFER TEAM has what you're looking for right here on 5 glorious ACRES in LaGrange's beautiful Clearview Acres! You feel like you're out in the country with spectacular views of the wooded countryside, yet you're just minutes from I-71 and all of LaGrange's convenience shopping, restaurants, schools and more! You'll fall in love the moment you drive up and see just how PRIVATE this acreage is, and the curb appeal this home offers can't be beat! Walk up to a large covered porch and notice the lovely art glass door, side lites and a beautiful transom window. The welcoming foyer with gorgeous hardwood flooring is wide open to the FORMAL DINING ROOM, the GREAT ROOM and the spacious EAT-IN KITCHEN ! No WALLS - just a phenomenal wide-open floor plan! Straight ahead in the GREAT ROOM are gorgeous FLOOR-TO-CEILING windows, and tall French doors that take you outside to a large partially covered deck with a vaulted ceiling and paddle fan. The GREAT ROOM boasts a soaring cathedral vault also offers a lovely gas fireplace and entertainment center. The CUSTOM KITCHEN would delight even Martha Stewart herself! This large gourmet kitchen boasts an abundance of maple cabinetry with a cherry finish, a huge breakfast bar, a planning desk, smooth top range, and hardwood flooring. The SIZE EXTRA LARGE FIRST FLOOR MASTER is one of the largest you'll see in this price range, with a hip vault treyed ceiling and 2 WALK-IN CLOSETS. The lavish and pampering MASTER BATH has a large ceramic tile shower as well as beautiful ceramic tile flooring. Center stage is a large whirlpool tub flanked by dual vanities. There's a HUGE BONUS ROOM over the GARAGE that makes the perfect playroom, study, office, craft room, or could be used as a private BEDROOM. The FINISHED WALKOUT LOWER LEVEL has tall ceilings and the same finishing touches and is also WIDE OPEN SPACES, offering family room and rec room space, and is plumbed for a wet bar, and it would be easy to add another kitchen for MOTHER-IN-LAW quarters. Also in the WALKOUT is another HUGE BEDROOM and another FULL BATH. And in addition to the oversized 2.5 CAR FIRST FLOOR GARAGE, you'll find another 1.5 Car Garage in the WALKOUT, great for storing your boat or large equipment. Sit out on the covered deck in the evening and you might catch a glimpse of the deer that come out to feed!**This home is in the Locust Grove Elementary district.**

For more information and more photos please click the link below:

http://www.theshaferteam.com/

To view the visual tour please click the link below:

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=1419385

Open Houses Done Right ! 10 Tips for a Great Open House

2008-03-16T21:03:47Z

The Open House. Most Realtors will tell you they have a love/hate relationship with them. When they are well attended, and certainly when they actually result in a sale, how exciting! On the flip side, when no one shows up and you sit there like the Maytag Repairman hoping someone will come and visit you and your Sellers are disappointed after getting their home cleaned from stem to stern - what a bummer!

Sometimes you can do all the right things and no one will show up. Other times a last-minute unprepared open house can keep you hopping with a steady stream of interested buyers.

What can you do to increase your odds of a successful open house? Planning.

1. Get your clients excited about ensuring a successful open house, too. Ask them to make sure the home is spotless and also ask them to leave some refreshments. Suggest a pitcher of lemonade in the summer or some coffee if it's a cold winter day, and a plate of cookies. Clients buy with all of their senses, and there's nothing like the smell of chocolate chip cookes to make them feel like they've walked into a home, not just a house.

2. Send out OPEN HOUSE postcards to the neighbors. We send out 100 full-color postcards to the neighbors, complete with a photo of the home and a brief description. We have used both Quantum Digital (formerly Quantum print) and Mail Print, Inc. They do all the work for you.

3. Mid-week before your open house, place open house directional signs at each intersection, and place a rider on the FOR SALE sign that advertises the day and the hours the home will be open.

4. Look Sharp. I love my bluejeans and tennis shoes, but when I'm wearing my Realtor hat, I'm representing that Seller, that home, and my colleagues in real estate. I'm in my business suit ready to do business!

5. Open House Day: Leaving well ahead of your appointed time, add helium balloons to your open house directionals to point the way, and one or two more on the FOR SALE sign.

6. Getting Ready: Find a prominent place to display the listing binder you have prepared that will feature not only the flyer you have created for the property, but will also contain information about the area schools, county information, shopping guides, etc. If it's available the binder should also contain an appraisal, comparables, major repairs and/or improvements, warranties, blueprints, and a survey. You can also engage your mortgage lender to put together some financing options for this home. You'll also want to have a sign-in sheet in the home, and ask each visitor to sign in so that your clients will have a record of who visited their home. And of course a most important item you should have with you is the purchase contract. (Remember: we're thinking positively here!)

I mentioned earlier that people buy with all their senses. Open up all the drapes to let in plenty of natural light. A bright, cheerful home lifts the spirits. Turn on all the lights. Have a soft bed of easy-listening music playing. Make sure the home smells good, but don't spray air freshener if at all possible because people tend to think you're trying to mask odors.

7. Virtual Tour: If you have done a virtual tour of the home (we use a company called Visual Tour), bring your laptop with you to show off the kind of work you do. Buyers are also "pre-Sellers"; most of them have a home to sell, so why not show off the high-caliber work you can do for them as well? In that same vein, bring your listing presentation with you. Open houses are great places to meet new potential clients.

8. Okay, They're Coming: Greet everyone with a smile and a firm handshake. Make them feel welcome. Don't be a "hover-craft"; give them some space and let them look at the house. If you've alerted the Sellers at the time of the listing to put away all valuables, you won't feel a need to follow them from room to room worrying about the buyers walking off with something under their coats. Offer them a cookie and something to drink.

I usually ask them if they'd like to have a tour, and in most cases they say yes. Engage them in conversation, asking them what it is they're looking for in a home, and after they have seen everything, go ahead and ask them: "What do you think of this home? Is it a home you would consider buying?" If they say yes, you can let them know how easy it would be to write up the offer right there at the kitchen table! If the home you're holding open isn't the right fit, ask them if you can help them find their perfect home. If they're not already working with an agent, why shouldn't you be their Realtor? Oftentimes buyers visit open houses in search for a Realtor they can feel comfortable with.

9. After the Open House: Leave a "Thank You" note for the Sellers, and let them know how it went. Tidy up and turn off the music and all the lights. Take down all the balloons and open house directionals.

10. Follow Up: Send out "Thank You" notes to everyone who signed in. Encourage them to call for another appointment to see the house if they expressed interest but weren't quite ready to take the plunge, or ask again for their business. (I try to remember to bring the note cards with me and write them in between visitors so that they are ready to mail Monday morning.)

Some agents see open houses as an incredible waste of their time, and statistically speaking, especially when Buyers can "virtually" see homes online, the odds are against you that they will sell the house, but if planned properly, they can be a wonderful resource for expanding your business.

Jacki and Jerry Shafer are "mega agents" with The Shafer Team and Keller Williams Realty Louisville East. Jacki and Jerry specialize in eastern Jefferson County in Louisville as well as nearby Oldham, Henry, Trimble and Shelby counties in Kentucky. They are "empty nesters" living in Crestwood in Oldham County. Jacki has been selling real estate for over 20 years and Jerry joined The Shafer Team 12 years ago.