naeba: 5 Top Tips for Visiting Open Houses
- 03/22/19 06:38 AM
The real estate agent at an open house works for the seller.
In many states, there is a sign, usually next to the sign in sheet, saying the agent at the open house works for the listing brokerage and the seller.
If you are new to the real estate game, be polite to the open house agent but don't divulge too much about your personal situation. You don't want to compromise your bargaining position if you intend to put an offer on a house.
Here are a few tips on what to do when visiting an open house.
Don't show your hand-Remember, the … (27 comments)
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naeba: A Podcast for Home Buyers
- 03/11/19 05:54 AM
A home buying podcast is in the works!
Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash
I spent about half an hour on the phone with a buyer client yesterday explaining the first steps to take as you prepare to buy a home.
We talked about the importance of meeting with a lender to be pre-approved for a loan. I explained the importance of choosing the right location. This is a critical first step and should factor your daily commute, schools and other criteria that impacts your daily life. We had a good laugh about HGTV and the shows that make home improvement projects look so easy! But … (0 comments)
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naeba: Are You Really Ready to Buy A Home?
- 02/22/19 02:22 PM
Spring is in the air in the Greater Washington DC area!
Do you know how I can tell?
Photo by William Stitt on Unsplash
We are competing with many contracts for almost every house and condo for sale within walking distance to a Metro station.
If you are a first time home buyer, follow these steps for success to find your home
Talk to a lender before you begin looking for a home. A reputable local lender will help you determine your price range. He/she will also explain the types of loan packages and explain the options to find the best plan that works for you and your … (2 comments)
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naeba: Why You Should Consider a Sewer Inspection
- 02/15/19 11:03 AM
The sewer inspection monitor screen
If you are buying a home that is over ten years old, you might want to consider a sewer inspection. While this is not typically done in most home inspections, if you plan to remodel and add a bathroom or additional kitchen or bar, a sewer inspection would be the smart thing to do.
We recently had the opportunity to see a sewer inspection in a townhouse built in the early 1950's. The sewer had been put into place about 69 years ago and to our knowledge, had never been inspected.
Signs that you may need a sewer inspection
… (4 comments)
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naeba: Drones for Roof Inspections
- 12/31/18 05:53 AM
A very important part of a home inspection is examining the condition of the roof. In this particular situation, there was no access to the roof of this Baltimore row house.
Fortunately, our home inspector uses a drone to take video and pictures of the roof and chimney.
If you are buying a home, it's important to work with real estate agents who will work for your best interests. In addition, you'll need to rely on the expertise of a licensed qualified home inspector, a trusted local lender and an experienced group of settlement professionals.
Buying a home is a team effort and … (3 comments)
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naeba: 5 Best New Year Resolutions for 2019
- 12/30/18 01:23 PM
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
Thanks to Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, I'm all caught up on the latest and hippest new year resolutions. So this blog will not include plans to lose weight, eat healthy foods, exercise or make new friends.
My 5 best New Year resolutions are practical and aim to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. So here goes!
Organize family photos with Digmypics.com -We literally have thousands of pictures of family and friends. Some are framed and hanging on the walls of our home but the majority of the photos we have are in boxes and stored under a staircase. I … (4 comments)
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naeba: Wordless Wednesday Love Your Neighbor
- 10/17/18 08:46 AM
Great Advice for Today
Photo by Nina Strehl on Unsplash
… (2 comments)
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naeba: Best Way to Evaluate a Property
- 10/09/18 03:13 PM
When you are making one of the biggest purchases of your life, you need to know how to properly evaluate the home.
When buying a home, it's important to know the steps in determining the value of a property. There are several "big ticket" items that should be evaluated to help you decide your offer. These include the condition of the roof, the age of the HVAC, water heater, well & septic systems, chimney and overall maintenance of a property.
The website, Building Intelligence Center is a handy website. Take a picture of the serial number on the HVAC and quickly look up the age … (0 comments)
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naeba: 5 Things to Know When Buying a Home from an Owner
- 09/19/18 08:14 AM
We recently worked with a buyer who purchased a house for sale by owner. The owner was actually a flipper who had hired a listing brokerage to put the property into the Multiple Listing Service. The owner was the point of contact and handled all the negotiations.
Top 5 things to know to protect your best interest when buying a FSBO
THE SELLER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE DOESN'T KNOW - Every jurisdiction has addendums and requirements which become part of the contract. Several of these addendums are provided by the seller. For example, in Montgomery County Maryland, it's mandatory for the seller … (2 comments)
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naeba: Big redevelopment plan at the RFK Stadium
- 09/17/18 09:58 AM
New recreational fields, walking & biking trails and a large pavilion at the old RFK Stadium parking lot.
Twenty-seven acres of asphalt parking lots will be transformed into a 217,000 square foot sports complex. The $489 million dollar redevelopment project will include soccer, lacrosse and baseball fields. A pedestrian bike path will be linked to the existing Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. There will be picnic areas and several playgrounds.
A 47,000 square foot market hall for food vendors 350,000 square foot indoor sports & entertainment facility Construction on the RFK sports complex started this month and is expected to finish the first phase … (0 comments)
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naeba: Water is Your Worst Enemy
- 08/30/18 08:38 AM
How To Check a House For Water Problems
Earlier this summer, I was with my client on a home inspection. The home was a Baltimore rowhouse on Federal Hill, built in 1900. After discovering that three of the four walls of the house were wet and there was mold in the crawlspace under the kitchen, my client voided the contract.
The sellers said they were not aware of the water problems and offered a home warranty to my buyer. However, no home warranty could fix this problem so we walked. I hope the sellers used the information in the home inspection report to … (3 comments)
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naeba: Hang Up Your Phone and Live Your Life
- 08/28/18 03:01 PM
Hearing a baby in distress is upsetting.
I was standing in line at the grocery store and I heard a baby's muffled cry. I did a quick scan of the area and didn't see the baby. Then she cried again and I saw her. She was scrunched onto one side of the baby seat of the grocery cart. Her head was hanging over the side of the cart and her feet had slipped onto the seat. She was in trouble! The baby's mother was standing right in front of her but her back was turned and she was typing furiously into … (20 comments)
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naeba: I Don't Like Real Estate Agents
- 07/25/18 09:43 AM
In the movie, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, the Baudelaire children's Aunt Josephine has an irrational fear of Realtors. But is it so irrational?
Fear of Realtors
I met a young lady today who started our conversation with, "Don't take this the wrong way but I don't like real estate agents!" And then she tells me why and I completely get it.
People get burned by bad real estate agents and it's very hard for them to come back from that experience. After all,
a home buyer is making the biggest financial purchase of their life. They need to know they can trust and count … (15 comments)
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naeba: Does the Shed Convey? Wordless Wednesday
- 05/02/18 01:49 PM
… (5 comments)
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naeba: Recording Potential Home Buyers
- 04/23/18 07:46 AM
We were videotaped in a house for sale!
I read an excellent article in Marketwatch last month about sellers recording potential home buyers as they tour their home. This weekend, it happened to me and my buyer clients.
A green blinking light caught my eye as I was checking out the kitchen cabinets. As you can see in the picture, this video recorder was plugged into an outlet. My clients thought it was funny but it did feel weird. I started humming that old Michael Jackson song, "Somebody's watching me...." as we went through the rest of the house.
And then we found another camera, this time … (8 comments)
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naeba: Make Your Own Videos and Voice Overs
- 02/21/18 07:28 PM
Photo by Kane Reinholdtsen on Unsplash
It's easy to make your own videos & voice overs
Advertising and marketing your business? Consider creating videos and voice-overs.
Use your cell phone, iPad or camera to create effective marketing videos!
What You Need To Make a Video
A cell phone and/or iPad with a decent quality microphone The iMovie app is a quick and easy app to use for video production. Garage Band or Audacity for recording at home. A microphone with a desktop stand - I bought a Heil microphone and actually received a thank you from Bob Heil the creator of the Heil microphone. Pretty cool! Consider writing out a short … (9 comments)
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naeba: New Smoke Detector Law in Maryland
- 01/01/18 12:27 PM
A Smoke Detector Law Goes Into Full Effect Beginning January 1st, 2018
Rubén Bagüés on Unsplash
Maryland Residents are required to replace the 9-volt battery operated smoke detectors that are 10 years old with new smoke detectors. Maryland's Smoke Alarm Law applies to both hardwired and battery operated smoke alarms. The date will be on the back of the smoke detector. If you don't see a date then the smoke detector is probably over ten years old.
The new law emphasizes the use of sealed smoke alarms with long-life batteries and silence buttons. Below is an outline of requirements.
In existing homes, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires … (2 comments)
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naeba: Making a Resolution to be a Better Person
- 12/31/17 11:04 AM
Being a better person holds the top spot for New Year's resolutions for 2018.
That's according to a new Marist poll.
This resolution, to "be a better person" seems easy but can be a challenge if you don't have a plan. According to Psychology Today, 40% of Americans will make a New Year's resolution. Many of us will slip in the first month but it's the planning and your attitude that determine success.
I've had the most success with New Year's resolutions when I keep them simple. In fact, setting realistic resolution goals is a sure way to guarantee success.
I write down my resolutions and … (8 comments)
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naeba: What Does a Realtor Do For Home Buyers?
- 12/20/17 10:43 AM
Marshall and I were leaving the settlement office with our client. She had just bought her first house and we were saying our goodbyes when she turned to us and said,
"So what are you guys going to do now?"
When we explained we are working with other home buyers she was surprised. We had spent so much time corresponding and house hunting with her that she didn't know we had other clients. Wow! It was my turn to be surprised.
But after thinking about it, I understood. We answered her emails, phone calls, and texts promptly. We worked around her schedule, as best … (4 comments)
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naeba: Looking for a MultiMillion Dollar Home in Washington DC?
- 12/09/17 01:01 PM
It's a snowy day in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. looks magical on a snowy day. I was driving along Foxhall Road today admiring the old mansions that are set back from the road. Each mansion has security gates and long driveways lined with huge old trees.
What's the going price for a mansion in Washington D.C.?
If you're looking for a home in Wesley Heights the price is $18,000,000.
What do you get for 18 million dollars?
beautiful stone house built in 1927 an indoor pool 15,000 square feet of living space 8 bedrooms 8 full bathrooms 1/2 acre of land a putting green two … (2 comments)
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The real estate agent at an open house works for the seller. 
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