stella barbour: Winter Tip for Sellers when Listing Your Home . . . Keep the Heat on
- 01/27/19 04:39 PM
Out of the five homes I showed today to one of my buyers, not one had heat over 50 degrees. When it is really cold inside the house, it is difficult for my buyers to feel like home and hard to concentrate on what is important about the home because they are ready to leave when they get there because it is too cold. The comfort we want the buyer to feel is a "home like" feel so they can picture themselves in this home as their own. When you can see your breath from the inside it doesn't help. … (6 comments)
stella barbour: Selling your home in the Fall -Time to Keep Your Gutters Clean & Other Curb Appeal Hints
- 10/16/16 09:37 AM
Today I showed about 12 homes. The one thing I noticed about 9 of the 12 are the gutters were already full of leaves and debris. The exterior of the home looks so much better without leaves filled, sticks hanging over, and debris over flowing the gutters. This time of year is when we have to make sure curb appeal is at its best since we are coming out of our "spring" market into a "winter" market.
Other items to pay attention to - keep sidewalks, patios, and balconies clean of leaves, sticks and other debris such as acorns, etc.
Don't forget … (4 comments)
stella barbour: Reasonable Amount of Time to Present Your Offer? . . .
- 10/12/16 01:59 AM
There seems to be a difference of opinion regarding the amount of time you have to present an offer to your seller. Here is the scenario . . . On morning of October 7, 2016 called listing agent and asked if any offers for a particular property. Seller said yes, offer deadline is Saturday October 8, 2016 @12 noon.
1. Offer sent in October 7, 2016 @11pm to listing agent. 2. Listing Agent confirmed receipt on October 8, 2016 @6am 3. On October 9, 2016 no word yet. 4. October 10, 2016 - my buyers run into sellers (who they just happen to know very well) and asked if they … (7 comments)
stella barbour: BUYER BEWARE - Using a Real Estate Agent = REPRESENTATION
- 04/29/14 04:06 AM
TO ALL YOU BUYERS OUT THERE THAT DON'T USE AN AGENT, YOU ARE MISSING OUT. EVERY NOW AND THEN I GET A LEAD REGARDING A LISTING I HAVE AND IT IS A POTENTIAL BUYER WANTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY OR WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A SHOWING AND COME SEE. WHEN I ASK THE MOST FAMOUS QUESTION, "ARE YOU WORKING WITH AN AGENT?" THERE IS ALWAYS A SLIGHT PAUSE AND "NO" COMES OUT VERY QUICKLY AFTER THE PAUSE. THEN THEY SAY "I DON'T WANT TO WORK WIH AN AGENT, I WANT TO GET A BETTER DEAL." FAMOUS LAST WORDS THAT GET … (12 comments)
stella barbour: FIRST REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE AS AN AGENT
- 04/27/14 10:31 PM
My first real estate experience as an agent was very profitable but very challenging. After the excitement of passing the State exam, signing up with a Broker (wow, was that a lot of work, deciding what company to work with), getting through the paperwork of being an agent, now began the real stuff. I was working at a law firm and one of the attorneys had a client that needed to sell his condo. This was a guardianship sale and asked if I would be interested in the listing. I was scared out of my mind. I did not know this … (15 comments)
Wow, I use so many apps on my phone and Ipad, I am not sure which one I use most 1. I use a "Reminders" Ap that sends me a copy to my email. Love this app. Use it daily. 2. I use a "Notes" app when going through home showings with my buyer so I don't forget anything at each property. 3. I use "brightest flashlight" on my mobile phone to see lockboxes when I am showing in the dark (in the Fall and Winter when it gets dark before anyone gets off of work and they … (7 comments)
stella barbour: Short Sale from Listed to Close in less than 60 Days with Seterus
- 02/14/13 09:29 PM
I am very impressed with Seterus, Inc. it seems like things are getting better with short sales. I just completed one of the easiest short sales ever with Seterus. They were wonderful to work with. Usually I am so negative with the banks and their snail movements on short sales but not anymore. Seterus is on the top of my list as one of the banks to work with. It takes knowledge and patience to complete a short sale from the agents, negotiators, buyers, and sellers to make it work and for a smooth transaction and with this one I got … (6 comments)
stella barbour: The Top Three Things I Want My Website To Do . . . .
- 02/01/13 10:24 PM
I WISH MY WEBSITE COULD DO . . . . From the contest below, for everyone that is interested in participating, please click below Active Rain is Having a Wish List for Your Website Contest: ActiveRain and WebsiteBox Contest: I Wish My Website Did This....... Here is my List of just a few things I want from my website.
This year, I am making drastic changes in my web presence. There are a list of things I will be looking for in a new website/web page/blog spot. So I am going to give you the top three that I … (4 comments)
stella barbour: Virginia First Time Home Buyers - Time to Stop Renting
- 01/08/13 12:56 AM
After my first meeting with a few new buyers this past week, I realized that many new buyers are not aware of the benefits available in Virginia for First time home-buyers who may need help buying a home. That is where my job comes in. I want to make sure everyone has the same information so they can make better decisions in their home-buying process. Some of the programs that are available:
HOMEownership Down Payment Assistance Program - this program is offered by VA Dept. of Housing and Community Development who provides down-payment assistance for first-time home buyers through … (4 comments)
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for an extension of the Mortgage Debt Relief Act. It's great to hear from you.
Making sure every American has access to safe, affordable housing is the first step toward building communities and ensuring hope and opportunity for all Americans. Without the right policies, the effects of foreclosure can be devastating not just to the homeowner, but to … (13 comments)
THE WATER-SKIING SANTA AND HIS KNEEBOARDING REINDEER ALONG WITH FLYING ELVES, THE JET-SKIING GRINCH, AND FROSTY THE SNOWMAN IN A DINGHY WILL BE AT THE NATIONAL HARBOR ON MONDAY DECEMBER 24, 2012 AT 1:00 P.M. SHARP, RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE, IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
THE BEST VIEWING IS FROM THE NATIONAL HARBOR NEXT TO THE WILSON BRIDGE IN MARYLAND. THIS IS THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS EXCITING, ONE OF A KIND WASHINGTON, D.C. TRADITION. YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE BANKS OF THE POTOMAC RIVER. … (8 comments)
stella barbour: ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE NOV 23-DEC 24 RITZ-CARLTON, TYSONS CORNER
- 12/10/12 11:40 PM
FROM NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 24, 2012, AT THE RITZ CARLTON, IN TYSONS CORNER WHICH IS LOCATED AT 17100 TYSONS BLVD., MCLEAN, VA YOU CAN SEE A LIFE-SIZED GINGERBREAD HOUSE WHICH UNVEILED ON NOVEMBER 23, 2012. IT IS LOCATED IN THE HOTEL LOBBY AND CULINARY WORK OF ART IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR GUESTS TO WALK AROUND INSIDE AND EXPLORE THE SUGARY CONSTRUCTION, WHILE SHOPPING FOR FRESH PASTRIES AND HOLIDAY TREATS PROVIDED BY THE TALENTED PASTRY TEAM. THIS EVENT IS OPENED DAILY AND ADMISSION IS FREE. YOU CAN VISIT THIS DAILY FROM 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M..
CONTACT GUEST RELATIONS FOR INFORMATION … (2 comments)
Great family fun when they step inside the holiday Ice Palace, locally presented by Cox Communications. The display features a 30 foot ice dome with falling snow, a light show and, new this year, the beloved prehistoric herd from the family film Ice Age. Bring your children for a visit with Santa and also get a family photo taken on the Ice Throne.
MEADOWLARK'S WINTER WALK OF LIGHTS AT THE MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS.
RECURRRING DAILY ADDRESS: 9750 mEADOWLARK GARDENS COURT, VIENNA, VA TIMES: 5:00 P.M. DOORS OPEN, 5:30 P.M. IS THE SHOW PHONE: 703-255-3631 ADMISSION: $13 ADULTS, $8.00 CHILDREN AGES 3-12
WINTER WALK OF LIGHTS IS AN OUTDOOR WALKING LIGHT SHOW WITH OVER 5000,000 LIGHTS SET IN MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS IN VIENNA, VA. THE ADDMISSION TICKETS ARE SPECIFIC TIMES. DRESS FOR THE OUTDOORS AND WALK THE .6 MILE PATH. STAY FOR THE … (0 comments)
Showed property that was listed for short sale. Put in cash offer for my buyers for listed price and attached my buyers earnest deposit and bank statement showing the amount of money to cove purchase. Listing agent contacted me via email and said “I just met with my sellers and they signed your offer” Listing agent asked for my client to fill out a financial statement, asking a lot of personal financial information, (even though she has a document showing enough funds for purchase. After refusal, she insisted this was “standard”. … (20 comments)
stella barbour: Just When I Blogged Some Banks Not On Board With Docusign . . . .
- 11/19/12 09:20 PM
Just when I blogged about some of the banks not on board with electronic signatures for their short sales, I get a message from Bank of America stating they are going to be accepting electronic signatures on some of the documents. It is almost as if they read my blog. Yea right! Who am I kidding. That is start especially when most of my short sales are Bank of America short sales and for some reason when I ask the buyer's agent who is putting in the offer to use regular signatures, there is always a pause as if I am … (10 comments)
stella barbour: Short Sales Would Be Easier If All Were On Board with DocuSign
- 11/15/12 09:33 PM
DocuSign was definitely a sign of change and technical growth for me. I was really happy and excited when I first learned and started using DocuSign. I could not believe that I did not have to run to someone’s house for a signature, another initial, a missed addendum signature or another noticed missed initial. This was great news for me. The real estate industry was on the same page as me. Get stuff done without leaving your computer was exactly what I was hoping for. This is a great concept until I decided to submit a short sale package and after … (2 comments)
stella barbour: Finally over the 100,000 point hump. YEA!!!
- 03/09/12 10:03 PM
I was wondering last week how fast I could get to the 100,000 point mark because I was just a 1000 points away, and there it was, I forgot about the contest points and I was over the 100,000 hump. I never thought I would reach the 100,000 mark because it seemed so far away. Well it is done.
I am one that doesn't make the points a priority, I have always been in it to increase my real estate knowledge. I joined Active Rain when I first became an agent just by surfing the internet looking for … (40 comments)
Out of the five homes I showed today to one of my buyers, not one had heat over 50 degrees. When it is really cold inside the house, it is difficult for my buyers to feel like home and hard to concentrate on what is important about the home because they are ready to leave when they get there because it is too cold. The comfort we want the buyer to feel is a "home like" feel so they can picture themselves in this home as their own. When you can see your breath from the inside it doesn't help. … (6 comments)
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