Jamie Flournoy's (jflournoy) Blog

OFFERS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE???

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 14:43:51 -0800

We're all aware of the sellers market that we're currently experiencing and we've watched its meteoric rise for the past 2 years. Inventory, at least in the DC Metro area, is at an all time low. Why, you might ask. By now homeowners should be relaxing a bit more about allowing potential buyers to tour their homes, but I'm sure there are still plenty of them that are skeptical. Sellers can clearly see that their chances of getting the most for their home comes in a market like this, but the inventory just hasn't rebounded yet.That leaves us with a screaming-hot sellers market and you'd need a crystal ball to determine how much longer this will last. In the meantime, here's a piece of advice to all buyers who are trying to buy now (and, trust me, my heart goes out to you). Be very, very careful about placing an offer that's not contingent (conditional) on financing, home inspections, appraisal, etc. I recently heard about a buyer who lost a VERY healthy deposit because they backed out of a non-contingent contract and the seller was not amused, to say the least. In other words, don't let this market tempt you to do crazy things. I always remind my buyers about the risk that they're taking and make absolutely certain that's what they want to do. Call me at 240-234-1000 or email me at jamie@gotagent.com. I'm more than happy to answer your questions about buying in this very challenging seller market.

Down Payment AND Closing Costs!

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 11:14:05 -0700

I work with many first time homebuyers and it's very common for those buyers to believe that they only need to have cash for a down payment. For some reason, lenders aren't clear with the buyer/borrower that when they buy a home, they need money for both the down payment AND closing costs. There are all types of loan programs available to borrowers, but the one that most first time homebuyers are attracted to is an FHA loan (if they're not eligible for a VA loan which is no down payment). FHA loans only require 3.5% of the purchase price as the down payment. Sounds great, right? But, here's the catch. In addition to that 3.5% down payment, those buyers will also need an additional 3.5%-4% to cover their closing costs. Closing costs typically include title/escrow fees, lender fees, escrows (that'll be a later blog post), transfer taxes, etc. So, a good rule of thumb with an FHA loan is to estimate at least 7.5% of the purchase price will be needed to get in to the home. Oh, and one other thing. It's not a bad idea to have at least 2-3 months of mortgage payments sitting in your bank account- just in case. Your lender may require that. So, the take away is to start saving your money!! Keep working on improving your credit score(s) and you'll be in great shape to buy a home when this crazy seller market cools down! Don't hesitate to call me at 240-234-1000 or email me at jamie@gotagent.com with any questions. I love working with first time homebuyers!

LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:45:50 -0700

I would have never believed I could do this much damage to my front lawn, but I managed it. Before this brilliant stunt of mine, my front lawn was pristine. Here's what happened: See the two very large rubber mats on my garage floor? I decided to clean my garage one day and my husband wanted to move the mats out while we cleaned. They're super-heavy and bulky and I didn't want to move them, but hey, I always keep an open mind. Anyhow, we couldn't put them in the driveway because the cars were parked there. So...we dragged them to the adjacent front lawn and laid them tandem-style on the grass while we cleaned our garage. They couldn't have been there more than 3 hours, probably less and look at the damage to the grass! I've been watering like a crazy person since then, but I think I might have to enlist a landscaper to help me with this one. Never again...... 0 People Reached0 EngagementsBoost Post Like Comment Share

DON'T THINK YOU NEED A SEPTIC INSPECTION?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 11:37:14 -0700

This blurry photo will show you part of the interior of a septic tank from a recent inspection. The inspectors couldn't figure out if the tank was cement or cinder block. On closer inspection they realized that it was made of stone! And, to make matters worse, the walls were collapsing in on the tank! Approx. cost to replace the tank? Somewhere between $8K and $15K- not good news.The company that my client used to inspect is Homeland Environmental at https://www.homelandhealthyhomes.com/. Their inspectors provided lots of information and were greatly appreciated!

CHIMNEY INSPECTIONS ARE A GOOD IDEA!

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 11:15:40 -0700

Here's what the tiles in a chimney flue look like when they need to be scraped off and the flue needs to be relined. You're probably thinking this is an old home and that might not be so unusual. Well, it's my home that was built in 2017. In other words, no matter what age the home is, it's a good idea to get a full chimney inspection. That means that the chimney inspector will insert a camera all the way up to the top of the flue. The inspector is looking for missing mortar between the tiles and other issues that can be a fire hazard. The subcontractor who installed my chimney flue 4 years ago did a really poor job and it was good that I had it inspected and caught the problem before a possible fire. It's now lined with a corrugated steel liner that's guaranteed for life. Oh, and one other thing. The company that did the replacement is MCP Chimney & Masonry in Damascus, MD at facebook.com/mcpchimney or https://mcpchimneyservices.com/ . They not only did a great job, they also left the room spotless and their pricing is very reasonable. I always recommend a chimney inspection to my buyers. Call me at 240-234-1000 or email me at jamie@gotagent.com with any of your real estate needs in MD, DC or VA.

BUILDERS AND RADON SYSTEMS

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Tue, 18 May 2021 13:04:07 -0700

What you see in the photo above is corrected radon remediation that was done today on my home that was built only 4 years ago. The builder installed the radon remediation pipe smack dab next to the cinder block wall and consequently the pipe is sitting on a footer to the foundation and not out in the gravel area away from the footer. Robert Tsas from Roberts Radon robertsradon.com came today to correct it. That required cutting off the original pipe at the floor and then drilling a hole slightly larger than 4" in diameter in the cement floor away from the wall. He showed me how he had to drill and dig until he got to the gravel layer and then re-route the pipe over to the new hole. Mine was a passive radon system (just the piping) and Roberts Radon Robert's Radon, L.L.C turned it in to an active system (piping and a fan on the other end to draw the radon gas out of the home). Passive radon systems are very typical in newly built homes because the builders don't want to pay the extra money to make them an active system. Robert told me that many builders will also install the piping right on the footer just like my builder handled it and whether the system is active or passive, that means there won't be any radon moving from under the home and out in to the open air. Not good. Give them a call at 301-750-2695 or RobertsRadon.com

Preventing Railing Replacements

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Thu, 06 May 2021 08:48:10 -0700

I've sold real estate since 2003 and I've seen many rusted railings that needed not just a repair, but a complete replacement. This is such an easy maintenance issue for a property, but you have to catch it before it's too late. This particular railing is on the rear landing of my home. I cleaned the rust off completely with a wire brush and then painted it with an exterior gloss paint (Rustoleum). Looks new again and I'm glad I caught it in time to prevent replacing the entire railing.Most inspectors and appraisers (especially for FHA and VA loans) will ask that a loose railing be repaired or replaced to prevent injuries, so now's the time to address it if yours looks like the one above. In case this blog post is too late for you, here's a contractor in MD that is highly recommended for railing repair/replacement: https://www.ironrailingrepair.com/. So, go check those railing posts as soon as you can. You don't need any more headaches as a property owner!

SELL NOW OR LATER?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:06:33 -0700

Whether you believe the U.S. will see inflation in the next couple of years or not, one thing is for certain- this super-hot sellers market is unprecedented. Many, including myself believe that this crazy market we're experiencing is a direct result of COVID-19's impact on the housing industry. Many sellers who would have chosen to list and sell their home over the past year have pulled back and decided not to sell. That decision has resulted in this grandiose shortage of inventory which is why buyers have to compete for the few properties that do come on the market. Simple supply and demand. I buy gas for my car at Costco and I'm shocked at the price of gas and what's happened to it over the past four weeks or so. Food prices are on the rise and I'm sure you can name plenty of other commodities that now cost more than they did six months ago. I'm definitely not a financial analyst or even close to one, but I do think that there might be a correlation between the money that is now being printed by the government and the rise in prices that we're seeing. If inflation is a real possibility in this country in the coming months, there's a good chance that this current hot sellers market is going to come to a screeching halt. And as we all know, real estate is all about timing. Additionally, almost a third of Americans have been vaccinated and most likely by the end of this summer, that number will rise significantly and then homeowners will begin to relax a little and decide it's now time to put their home on the market which will add to the supply. When my clients ask me if now is a good time to sell, I talk to them about the possibility of higher interest rates on the horizon due to inflation AND about homeowners getting vaccinated and how that can affect the supply. For those two reasons, I recommend that they sell sooner rather than later. Because you just don't know when this bubble will pop. Remember 2007?

Water Intrusion in Your Home?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 07:05:41 -0700

This is definitely not an advertisement for Zircon water detectors. If you can find another brand that you like, by all means, but the important take away here is that water detectors in your home are invaluable. Make sure to find one with Wi-Fi capability. I'm actually thinking about adding a few in my rental property as a precaution.I experienced a water leak in a basement apartment recently and by the time we caught it, the new high-end laminate floor that we installed was literally floating on top of the water! You might ask how that could happen. The kitchen faucet was faulty and was leaking straight down the back of the sink cabinet. The water had penetrated the underside of the flooring from that point and then just followed the path of least resistance under the flooring. Walking across the floor caused water to seep up between the floor boards and we knew we had a mess.Needless to say, all of the flooring had to be pulled and trashed. We replaced the faucet and then waited a period of time for the cement floor to dry out completely before laying a new one. Fun, huh? I went searching for water detectors and found the Zircon model you see in the photo. I especially like this one and not just because it's an inexpensive model. It'll text me the location of the alarm (you can assign a location to each one) the moment it detects water. It also emits a loud audible alarm. The instructions will state that it has to email you and doesn't give you the option to add your phone number for a text, but I found a workaround for that. Instead of entering my email address, I entered 2402341000@txt.att.net. Most cell phone carriers will provide you with an email similar to mine so that you can receive an email as a text message. I now have one of these anywhere there's water in my home. I want to know the moment there's a leak. Even if I'm not home, I can call a neighbor and ask them to go in and turn off the main water valve until I return. Stay dry and sane!😫

2020 and 2021 ARE LOOKING EERILY LIKE THE 2005 ERA FOR HOME SALES

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 09:16:47 -0800

I just read this Urban Turf article based on a Zillow prediction for home sales in 2021. Looking a little closer at the graph, these past few years look eerily similar to the years leading up to the real estate market crash in 2006/2007. What do you think? One thing is for certain, if you have any thoughts on selling your home, this would be a VERY good time to get it done.. I'm a licensed and seasoned real estate broker in MD, DC and VA and I'm happy to answer any/all questions you may have about selling.https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/could-2021-be-the-strongest-year-for-the-housing-market-since-2005/17679?fbclid=IwAR3Qq86Qw8y_ee818Zb06Q1dyrs_e_I5i5QOSdIjrj6GUSfWX8v9s_00VRQ

CAUTION: Run Away from Aggressive Buyer Agents but Hold on to Good One- Especially in This Market

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:27:49 -0800

My advice to buyers is to run, not walk away from high-pressure buyer agents. If the agent is spending time with you, educating you about the buying process, closing costs, etc., then you've found a good one. There's a lot of money involved in real estate purchases and once you're armed with the info that you need to make an educated decision, you should call the shots.Just keep in mind, however, that this super-sizzling seller's market is a bit different when it comes to writing an offer. I've written multiple offers in the past couple of months and some were at least $50K over the list price and my buyers STILL didn't win the bid!!! Before writing, I showed the buyers that the home was priced well based on comparable sales, but in multiple offer situations, it's going to take more than offering list price. Admittedly, it's a bit of a guessing game, but it's important for your buyer agent to find out what kind of activity the home is receiving. In addition to offering more for the home, a buyer might also have to relinquish one or more of their contingencies (conditions) in order to improve their odds of winning the bid. Be careful here.If you have a solid real estate agent helping you to buy a home, then you need to follow his/her lead in order to finally be able to buy. It's tough out there for buyers, but not impossible.I'm a seasoned real estate broker in MD, DC and VA. Please see my website at www.gotagent.com.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE WINDOW GUARDS?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 13:23:07 -0800

I felt compelled to share a Facebook post that was originally posted by Rocky Banks with Pillar to Post at https://rockybanks.pillartopost.com/, a very solid home inspection company in Montgomery County, MD. I've always recommended that my clients install window guards to protect their children (and pets). And not just windows on mid-level or high rise condo/apt buildings, but ANY property that has windows above the first level. And...in some cases, it might even make sense to install window guards on first-level windows to prevent a toddler from exiting the home without your knowledge. I don't think this is a good idea. I think it's a great idea. Thanks Rocky for sharing this valuable information for all homeowners and tenants!!! Call me at 240-234-1000 or email me at jamie@gotagent.com with any of your real estate needs in MD, DC or VA.

WHAT IS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 15:14:13 -0800

I showed a home today in Montgomery County, MD and the moment I stepped on to the front stoop, I knew there was going to be a lot of deferred maintenance on the home. I pointed to all of the wood rot around the door and my clients nodded letting me know that they saw it. Not only was the home in very poor condition, but it showed terribly. Yes, it's a hot sellers market now, but buyers really need to be aware of what they might be heading in to when they buy a home that's been neglected. And, the best way to avoid as many problems as possible, is to have the home inspected by a solid home inspection company. My recommendation is Prime Property Inspectors - Building Inspector of America at http://www.gethomeinspector.com/ . They cover most of the DC Metro area and they've never let me or my buyer clients down. Last piece of advice: walk away from the home rather than relinquishing your home inspection contingency. I know that many buyers are removing some of their standard contingencies just to be competitive in this market. And I'm sure there are exceptions where it might be ok to remove a home inspection, but for the most part, at a minimum, buyers need to know what they're buying. Instead of removing the home inspection contingency, you could have your agent check with the seller side to see if they're open to a home inspection before you write an offer. I'm a seasoned real estate broker in MD, DC and VA and can help with any of your real estate needs. Call me at 240-234-1000 with any questions.

WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN BUYING A HOME?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 08:49:50 -0800

Contrary to what some buyers think, it's not calling your agent to see a home. It's calling a lender to find out how much you qualify for and then ask the lender to pre-approve you. Pre-approved means that not only have you spoken to a lender, but you've also completed a loan application, sent paycheck stubs, tax returns, bank statements, etc. to the lender. You may not need to send all of this documentation, depending on the bank/lender, but for the most part, the lender will want to see some verification of your finances. He/she will also run all of your information through software called Desktop Underwriting and within a day or two, you'll have a pre-approval letter. Now, you're ready to get out there with your agent and begin looking at homes. Incidentally, more and more sellers are requiring that the buyer's agent send the seller's agent a copy of the pre-approval letter before a tour is even scheduled. So, don't wait on this very important first step. For years now, I've recommended that my buyers in the DC Metro area contact Bill Rozek with Embrace Home Loans at 301-325-6399 or https://www.embracehomeloans.com/location/maryland/rockville/bill-rozek. He's very responsive and gets the job done each and every time.

More Snow for the Metro DC Area

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 06:01:14 -0800

Looks a bit surreal, doesn't it? You could almost hear a pin drop it was so quiet. Well, that was until the approaching snow plows entered my neighborhood! Stay warm!

Don't Overlook the Fireplace/Chimney Inspecting a Home

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 15:43:21 -0800

Anyone who has followed my blog and posts on social media already know that this is a big one for me. When my buyers develop an interest in a home that has a fireplace, during our discussions about an offer, I suggest that they have the chimney and flue inspected if it's a wood-burning fireplace. If it's a gas fireplace that vents directly out of the home, they won't need a flue inspection and their property inspector can inspect it without the need to hire a specialist. But, if it's a wood-burning fireplace, that's a whole different ball game. Think about this. You have a blazing fire located in your home. To me, that means taking every precaution possible to ensure that you can stay safe while it's blazing. But here's the sad fact. Most wood-burning chimney flues aren't safe because there are major openings between the tiles lining the flue. The photo above was from a chimney inspection that was performed recently for a client. The chimney inspector will show you the video while the camera is ascending the flue and he/she will make recommendations. If there are issues, which I've personally experienced, the inspector will most likely recommend relining the flue. What that means is that all of those tiles lining the flue will be "chipped" off and a steel liner is then dropped in. I'm over-simplifying this process, but the really good news is that the liner they install is guaranteed to last forever. Not a bad guarantee for some safety in your home. If you live in the DC metro area, a company that I recommend is MCP Chimney in Damascus. You can find them at https://mcpchimneyservices.com/. There's nothing like a roaring fire on a cold winter day/night. Enjoy and be safe!

Radon- 2nd Leading Cause of Lung Cancer in the U.S.A.

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 13:45:25 -0800

I always recommend that my MD buyers perform their own radon test on a home before purchasing it. Montgomery County, MD actually requires a radon test be performed before settlement and if the buyer isn't willing to do it the seller is required to test and provide a report to the buyer. If sellers are not willing to remediate the radon due to the seller's market we're experiencing, at a minimum the buyers know about it and can take steps to remediate it before they spend any time in the basement. One company that I recommend to my clients is Roberts Radon in Gaithersburg, MD. They can be found at www.robertsradon.com and they're very professional and competent. I know my clients are in good hands when I point them to this company. Radon is a killer and as part of the real estate community in Maryland, DC and Virginia, we need to make sure that our clients understand how deadly it can be.

Grease, Oils and Fats in Your Kitchen Drain

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:50:12 -0800

Ok, I'm sure (or at least, I hope) that you already know that putting grease, oil and fats of any kind in to your kitchen drain when you're on a septic system is a big No-No. But what many homeowners don't understand that it's just as big a No-No when you're on a public sewer system. Think about it. The sewer pipe between your home and the street is YOUR responsibility. Enough grease goes down your kitchen drain in to that pipe and eventually you're going to have a major clog. And guess who's going to pay to have that sewer line cleared? Not to mention the fact that your front yard is going to look like a construction site for some time.Keep 'em away from the drain and you'll be a happier homeowner in the long run. Keep a container under your kitchen sink to deposit them and then place them in your trash can. However, you might need to label that container like I have to for my family!!! Works like a charm.

Price Improvement- in THIS market????

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:43:53 -0800

I added a blog post yesterday about putting your best foot forward when you're in a multiple offer situation. This post is an adjunct to that one. I opened my email this morning and the first one that popped up had a subject line of "Price Improvement..." and then listed the property address. I thought to myself- How overpriced must a property be in a sizzling hot sellers market like this one to need a price improvement? The point that I want to make is that no matter what the market is like, your Realtor should show you all similar properties (i.e., colonials, split levels, ranchers, etc.) in the same neighborhood, what they sold for, photos, descriptions, etc. BEFORE writing an offer. After discussing the sales and choosing a couple of properties that are similar, your Realtor should then help you to formulate an offer for the home- based on the level of activity and what has sold. Depending on the number of offers that have already been registered, you'll want to either hold back a bit or get really aggressive with your offer. But don't go in to that process blindly. You need to be informed. And...contrary to what you may believe, an appraiser may/may not have an issue with the selling price if it's much higher than where it should be. Appraisers are taking in to consideration the sellers market and upward-trending prices, so counting on a lower appraisal to lower the price could be disappointing. Also, the seller is not forced to sell at the lower appraised price and at that point, you're back at the negotiating table with the seller.

Writing an Offer in a Sellers Market

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:39:13 -0800

Anyone who has ever worked with me as a buyer knows that I'm all about saving money for my buyer clients. Having a tough negotiator on your side when you're buying a property works in most markets, but this current market is a bit of a departure from a normal market.I advise my buyers to "put their best foot forward" when placing an offer on a property that already has multiple offers. Naturally, you'll want to review the sales stats in the neighborhood with your agent before writing the offer. If the sales support a higher offer or your buyer really wants the home, start the offer at the list price and then add an escalation clause to "sweeten the pot" for the seller. Yes, sellers like quick settlements (most of the time) and other favorable terms, but one thing seems to hold true over and over again- a seller is always looking at the bottom line. Using an escalation clause lets the seller know that you're willing to go higher than your original offer price, but even that doesn't work all of the time. I spoke to an agent the other day who received 35 offers on her listing. Her seller directed her to set aside all of the offers that had an escalation clause and look at the offers that didn't. They chose a winning bid from those remainder offers because they felt that those buyers "put their best foot forward" in the first place!You should discuss your options for writing an offer in this market with your agent and decide which one is best for you.

Tips on Preventing Mold in Your Shower

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:34:20 -0800

Here's a couple of quick tips on how to prevent mold from appearing in your shower. These photos are from my home and I thought I'd share them with you to show why I'm able to keep the shower mold-free. I came up with the idea of storing the soaps, shampoos, conditioners, etc. outside of the shower. Before jumping in, just take in what you're going to use and then wipe them down and return them to the small free-standing shelf unit in front of the shower. We also wipe down the shower (especially the caulking) with an old towel after using it. We've been in this home for about 4 years now and have never had any signs of mold in that shower. Goes to show that a little effort goes a long way.

Does Your Agent Know the Contract Docs?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:30:58 -0800

This is a big one. If your agent isn't completely familiar with all of our board-issued real estate contract forms and addenda, you could be in big trouble as a buyer or seller. Here's a few of examples: 1. Alternate financing- a buyer changing a lender or loan terms can be a big problem with respect to the buyer's financing contingency. 2. Permitted delays in the contract for title issues. Not good if the buyer or seller needs a specific date and can't go beyond that date. 3. Inclusions/Exclusions- This one can get really tricky with what personal items are expected to be (or not to be) in the home at settlement. You should fully vet your real estate agent to make sure that he/she understands these documents. If you sense any hesitation on your agent's part when asked about specific clauses, you might want to think twice about using him/her. These documents are legally binding you to perform and it's a good idea to understand the complete scope of those obligations in the docs.

Your Friends, Colleagues & Relatives May Not Be the Best Advisors

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:10:37 -0800

What's the old saying about "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"? That couldn't be more true than listening to your friends, colleagues and family members when it comes to dealing with real estate matters. I've been in the business since 2003 and how many times do you think I've heard, "...but my friend told me"? Or, "...my Mom told me.." (who happens to reside overseas)"? The problem lies in the fact that those "advisors" (and I use that term loosely) aren't working in the real estate industry 7 days a week like the true professionals. They're not armed with all of the facts and expertise of the hard-working real estate agents and brokers that focus on this industry. Case in point: Sellers seem to think that everyone but their agent knows the value range of their home. Not true. The agent will pull comparable sold and competitive properties from the MLS in this market and show them to the seller. Once adjustments are made for condition and the current market, you'll have a pretty good idea of the value range of your home. The take away is- make sure your agent is a full time professional and that's the person you should rely on for solid advice when it comes to buying or selling.

Take Care of Your Heat Pump

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 15:48:59 -0800

I have to remind my husband (he loves those reminders ) to remove the snow from around our heat pump each time we get a substantial snowfall. Snow built up around a heat pump isn't good and here's the reason why: https://www.carneyphc.com/blog/heating/effects-of-excessive-snow-on-heat-pumps/

Think You Don't Need an Agent When Buying a New Home?

Jamie Flournoy, The Realtor on Your Side (got agent?) — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 15:41:17 -0800

Think again. Builders are difficult to work with and they're able to get away with it. Why? Because so many buyers would prefer a new home to a resale home. In other words, they have a captive audience.I'm currently representing buyers who want a new home and I know they're relieved that they have representation and they're not on their own. I asked for a copy of the builder's contract that I could review with them BEFORE they sign it. Builder contracts are notorious for leaning toward the builder and not the buyer (they're called adhesion contracts for a reason), but at a minimum, the buyer needs to know that.Here's a few other reasons why you should take your agent when you meet with the builder the first time:1. Most builders will not share the transfer taxes with buyers which means that the buyer is going to pay both their transfer taxes and the builder's. That can be a substantial amount of money.2. Builders penalize buyers when the buyer can't settle on time and the penalty is very steep. What happens if the builder is late to settlement? Most often nothing and sometimes they're protected for 2 years from when they were supposed to settle!3. Your agent can help you understand the lot that you've chosen or that's available to you. Builders are not good about pointing out that you'll have a very narrow rear yard because of the huge hill that they can't cut in to in order to create more of a yard for you. And they don't tell you about those ugly cable and electrical boxes that may end up on your front lawn.These are just a FEW of the reasons why you should have your own agent representing you when buying new home.