Southern New Hampshire and Greater Boston Real Estate Podcast with Link Moser

Are You Ready to Move into a Smaller Boston Home?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Sat, 28 May 2016 23:50:00 +0000

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Is it time for you to downsize? Maybe you’ve been living in your current home for a long time. You raised your family there with incredible memories, but the kids have all moved out. Now, you’re curious if you need this big home at all.

There is an emotional side to letting go of the place where you raised your family. Realtors are often asked, “When is a good time to sell?” The answer always stays the same. The best time to sell is when you’re ready.

If you don’t need a large home anymore, you’re certainly not alone. It’s time for an easier life. You don’t have to keep cutting the grass and shoveling the snow. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a more urban environment where you can walk to restaurants and coffee shops? It’s time to consider what will make life more enjoyable for you as you move into a smaller home.

"What will make life more enjoyable for you?"

Keep in mind there a lot of millennials out there who are getting married, having kids, and looking for a bigger home. In other words, there will always be demand for your home. It’s not going to sit on the market as long as you might think it will!

If downsizing is right for you, please feel free to reach out to us. We would love to help you in any way we can. We look forward to hearing from you!

The Importance of Staging Your Home

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Tue, 17 May 2016 17:29:00 +0000

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Home staging is incredibly important when selling, but it has to be done right. When done incorrectly, it makes the home appear like a commodity and not a home. The purpose of staging is to elicit an emotional response from the buyer.

Sometimes a staging will leave you feeling a little flat. A lot of people say that you need to remove personal items from a home, but I disagree with that. Things should look and feel like a home, not a living space. We want the home to look nice, but also feel "lived in."

The outside of the home is just as important, and we pay attention to the exterior to make it feel personal and inviting. We want the buyer to relate to the home and have some sort of emotional response towards the property.

If you’re interested, we can come out to your property and have a look around to prepare you for a proper home staging. Please don’t hesitate to contact us about this!

Should You Choose the Best Terms or the Highest Offer When Selling?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 20:24:00 +0000

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If you’re selling your home and you have multiple offers on your property - congratulations! However, don’t get too excited just yet. You still have some work to do in choosing the most beneficial offer for you and your family.

Simple logic might tell you to choose an offer with the highest dollar amount, but you cannot forget to look at the terms involved. Someone might be willing to pay you more for your home, but offer less in negotiations. Remember that cash buyers always expect to pay a little less because they don’t have to run through the gamut of financing.

Consider the contingencies on the offer. Remember that a contingency always creates an opportunity for the buyer to walk away, so be careful moving forward with a buyer who has too many contingencies. The fewer contingencies, the better off you are as a seller.

Generally speaking, your first offer is your best offer. It’s important to shop around, but don’t wait too long because those buyers will eventually just look elsewhere. Respect the fact that buyers have committed to your home and made an offer on it.

When combing through offers on your home, it might be a good idea to work with a real estate professional to determine which offer will benefit you the most. Just don’t forget that terms can sometimes outweigh a larger offer on your home. Money isn’t always the determining factor in a sale, sometimes it’s simply convenience.

If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We know it’s going to be a busy spring selling season, so contact us soon.

We’re Taking Our Team to the Next Level

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:43:00 +0000

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Today we have an exciting announcement from the Davidson and Giglio team at KW here in the Boston Metro. We are currently at Keller Williams Family Reunion in New Orleans, where we network and learn more about how to best serve all of our clients. We thought now would be a great time to make a big announcement.

We are proud to announce that we have joined forces with Fine Homes Group International in an effort to raise the bar on our business and our service to our clients.

We have a strong hub, filled with all of our support staff who take care of things behind the scenes. This allows us to be more readily available to all our clients. We made this decision in order to bring a higher level of service to our clients. Fine Home Groups International is known for their great marketing, internet savviness, and support staff.

We appreciate the loyalty you have shown us over the years, and we hope that it continues. We are working hard each day in order to provide you with the best service possible. If you have any questions for us, we are always available to answer them. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

David Hansen Joins the Fine Homes Group International

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 18:09:00 +0000

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I’m very excited to announce that I am now part of the Fine Homes Group. I sent you an email letting you know that I was switching, but today I wanted to clarify why I made that decision.

This new opportunity will allow me to serve you at a higher level. I will have a whole team of marketing specialists, buyer representatives, and transaction coordinators, among many other helpful moving parts. This is a great way for me to help you do what you need to sell your home for top dollar.

One piece of advice if you’re thinking of selling this spring: don’t wait until it’s too late. Everyone lists in April and May, but I suggest getting started in February or March. You want to be the first home out there for everyone to see. If you wait too long, your home will be adrift in a sea of other listings.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

What Can You Do to Avoid a Nightmare Selling Process in Boston?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 18:37:00 +0000

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If you’re thinking about selling this spring, the first thing you need to do is take a step back and think about your home. Take a walkthrough of your home and try to identify little things like leaky faucets, flickering light bulbs, or any other minor thing that may trouble a buyer. Many of the things you’ve grown accustomed to may be very off-putting for buyers. The goal is to make it so that the inspector can’t find anything wrong with the home.

When putting a price on your home, you need to be aware of what’s happening in the market. There are two segments to look at: what has sold and what’s on the market. If your home is overpriced, you're going to help the competition sell their homes. You want to see what other homes have sold for, while keeping in mind how your competition has priced their homes.

It’s crucial to have the help of a professional when selling because another set of eyes will help you get an objective look at what is going on. More importantly, a professional will be able to give you tips on what you should do and the kind of things you shouldn’t spend money on. You need to focus on things like curb appeal and decluttering more so than fancy upgrades. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so impressing buyers right away should be your highest priority.

Whether you’re in the early stages of getting your home ready to sell or you’ve already begun the process, we would love to give you a hand. Give us a call or shoot us an email at any time -- we would love to hear from you!

Avoid These Seller Mistakes in New Hampshire

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 21:01:00 +0000

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We often notice mistakes home sellers make in New Hampshire. All these mistakes relate to timing issues. Today, we'll identify some mistakes to help you avoid them in the future.

1. You underestimate how long it takes for a home to sell.

It's best to list as soon as possible, especially now in February. Even when there's snow out, people are looking for vacation homes. Remember, it takes anywhere from 60 to 90 days for a home to close, especially with the new regulations in today's lending market. If you're thinking of waiting for May to list your vacation home, it will close at the end of June at the earliest. With our short summer seasons, that's not really enough time for a buyer to enjoy their vacation home.

2. You underestimate how long it takes to prepare the property for the market.

In the middle of February, when there's two feet of snow on the ground, it can be difficult to inspect your property. It's hard to touch up paint and fix woodwork, so now is the time to do all that before the snow hits. Consider doing a pre-purchase inspection, where a home inspector takes a look at the property before snow and ice makes it too difficult to do so. Take exterior photos of the home now. Even though the leaves are off the trees, you can still get great photos before the snow hits.

3. You're not sure when to engage with a real estate agent.

Many people think, "Okay, it's May. I'm going to call a real estate agent." Call us sooner. Reach out and let us know that you're thinking of selling your home. We can help maximize your exposure and get you top dollar. Let's start that conversation now. We can list properties and not put them on the market right away; as we mentioned, sometimes it takes 30 to 60 days to get the home ready.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to serve you!

What's Happening with New Hampshire Real Estate in 2016?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 17:13:00 +0000

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I'm happy to tell you that Bedford had a great year in real estate. We sold 70 more homes last year compared to the previous year. In 2015, we sold 376 homes; in 2014, we sold 306. That's a little over a 20% increase in sales. This is great news for homeowners in the area.

Nearly half of homes sold were in the $300,000 to $500,000 range. However, things have been going well in all price ranges.

The condominium market is also performing well, and we have less than half the amount of inventory that we had last year. We actually only have 5 condos available, and I think this is because so many people are wanting to downsize. The main reason behind this trend is there are a lot of baby boomers that are moving out of their homes. Expect low inventory for condos throughout the year.

Another thing we can expect is an early spring selling market because the weather has been so warm. Spring will be here in early February, and this is partially caused by rising interest rates. If you've been looking to buy a home, then 2016 may be a great time to do so.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns!

Fine Homes Group International Expands to Boston

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 18:27:00 +0000

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We’ve grown a big real estate team here in New Hampshire. Now, we’re expanding into the Boston market!

You can now work with a team that covers New Hampshire and Massachusetts. This allows you to access exceptional customer service from our experienced agents in both states. We can help sell your primary home in addition to purchasing a secondary home.

In 2016, we want to create a jaw-dropping client experience. We want to set high expectations and exceed them in every transaction. Regardless of the market climate, our goal is to make your experience amazing.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in either New Hampshire or Massachusetts, we’d love to connect with you. We’d love to learn more about you and your goals. Give us a call or email today!

Automate Your Home, and Simplify Your Life

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 18:12:00 +0000

Link Moser: In this interview you're going to hear from the owner of a home automation company. Nick Mark is the president of DC Home Systems, and he has offices in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. To start off, why don't you start off by telling me how you got started in your business.

Nick Mark: President of DC Home Solutions

Nick Mark: Thanks for having me, Link. My business has been around for 35 years and we started as a repair company, but we've evolved into a technology company. We specialize in home integration, home networking, and cloud-based controls. The industry calls us 'systems integrators', and that is because we tie together all of the systems in your home. We make an easy user interface so that you can control all the systems in your home with just one app. Many manufacturers provide apps for your systems, such as a thermostat app or a security system app. We take all of those apps and combine them into one single app. This has made us experts in multiple different systems, and it's allowed us to come out with an amazing product.

Link: So this is like the new version of reducing the remote control clutter?

Nick: Precisely.

Link: I imagine how much technology has changed your industry. I remember going to Radioshack to buy a thing you plugged in the wall to control your lights, but now with cloud technology I'm sure it's still revolutionizing the home automation industry.

Nick: Yeah it is. You see all of these unique products like the Nest, but they all require their own systems and their own app. They often don't play well together in the network. And that's where we come in. We'll hook up all of your systems into on spot.

Link: Yeah, so you fully integrate all of this automation into one app?

Nick: Yes, but we also make all of the system work together in a more fluid manner. We make your security system talk to your thermostat, and this makes them operate on a higher level. We architect the same system for you. For example, when you arm your security system to leave, it will send a signal for your thermostats to turn down, and your lights will shut off. It knows what you're trying to do in the home. Our system can sense when you're approaching the home and it will turn on your favorite music and it can even light the fireplace.

Link: That's awesome to hear what can be done with that kind of technology. It's interesting to hear this, especially as a real estate agent, because we always talk about how smart homes are getting. We joke that your home will one day know that it's time to sell before you know you want to sell. So, what's coming around the curve? What can we expect in the future?

Nick: There's an explosion going on in the tech field. There's been a lot of interest in the Internet of Things (I.O.T.), which is where devices communicate with each other without human intervention. As more of these devices come out onto the market it will become increasingly difficult for a user to make a seamless system out of these different products. We have a lab and we look at all of these new technologies to figure out what is practical and what is gimmicky. There's a difference between being on the leading edge and the bleeding edge.

Link: Can you tell me a little more about who your typical customers are and why they use your product?

Nick: Our typical customer sees the value in technology but doesn't have the time to sit down and make it all work together. They're busy people running businesses or households, or what have you. When they come home they don't want to think about technology, they just want it all to work properly. Our clients also value craftsmanship and are okay with paying extra for a superior service.

Link: Interesting. So where do you see your business heading in the next few years with technological advances in your industry?

Nick: Well we are expanding our operations throughout New England and we're looking at opportunities in other parts of the country. Ultimately, we're looking for a lifelong relationship with clients and we can follow them wherever they go. We want them to turn to us to figure out this 'technology soup'.

Link: I imagine that makes for a really customized, tailored experience for your clients.

Nick: Yes, we really like to partner up with our customers and learn how we can take care of them in the best way possible.

Link: Awesome, so where can people go to learn more about your business?

Visit our Website

Nick: They can certainly go to our website, www.DCHomeSystems.com. We just launched a new site, but it's got a lot of pictures and descriptions of our products. You could also call my cell phone directly at (603) 321 4627. One thing that we've done a lot of is we have an 'experience center' in Manhattan, and they can see how all of these systems would play out in their home.

Link: That sounds awesome! It was great talking to you today because I'm fascinated with this. Technology is certainly evolving rapidly, and it seems like one day your home may be able to cook dinner for you! Wouldn't that be great? But anyway, thanks a lot for coming on, Nick. We appreciate your time.

Tips to Get the Best Price on a Home This Holiday Season

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:11:00 +0000

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The holidays can be chaotic with other commitments. We notice a lot of properties are removed from the market during this time of year. Sometimes, sellers don’t add their home to the market until after the new year begins, even as late as May.

There’s a lot of shadow inventory, or rather, homes still for sale that aren’t active in the MLS. If you’re a buyer, how do you get that information? You need to work with a Realtor, because you can’t see those homes on your own.

The winter is a great time for both buyers and sellers. When inventory is low, there’s less competition. There are fewer homes on the market now compared to the springtime.

If you’re serious about selling, we recommend listing right away. There are buyers out there. They will always be out there! They might be looking for a home just like yours. Even if you’re thinking about selling next year, it’s crucial to start talking to a real estate agent now. This is a great time to get exterior photos, repair, and prepare your home overall.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call or email today! Have a happy holiday season.

Recent Trends in the New Hampshire Real Estate Market

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 00:40:00 +0000

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We are here today with a market update for New Hampshire as we head into the 4th quarter of 2015. Before we get into our report, we wanted to make sure you have access to our 3rd Quarter Market Update document. You can take a look at that here, or download the full PDF here and it will give you all the details and statistics that are relevant to our market and important to your decision of buying or selling.

The third quarter was great for our market. Transactions were up 22%, median sale prices were up 6.3%. That’s great news for the 6,700 sellers that sold their home in the 3rd quarter this year.

On the Waterfront side of things, we are seeing similar trends. Waterfront home prices rose nearly 10%, while the average days on market dropped by 14.8%. The number of transactions also went up 9%.

For the general market, the average days on market has dropped from 96 to 74 days. This is a great sign for home sellers.

Not everything can go up, sometimes things go down. We are starting to get ready for the potential of a shift in the market. We’ve been saying this for a while, but interest rates are going to rise. When they do rise, there will be some pressure felt by consumers as wages and jobs have not kept pace.

We are advising clients that are at all thinking about selling in the next year or two, to start thinking about getting their home ready for sale. Do some research into what it will take to sell your home, including how sellable it is. With winter coming, there are some outdoor preparation items you’ll want to take care of before it gets too cold and snowy out. Even if you aren’t sure about selling yet, it’s never too early to give us a call to have those discussions about getting your home prepared.

We would love to help anyone who is interested in buying or selling. We want to make sure you’re prepared, and to make sure you’re up-to-date on what’s going on in the market, don’t forget to download our full 3rd Quarter Market Update.

Give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions, and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

The Art of Home Staging: An Interview with Suzie Rankins

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:39:00 +0000

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I recently interviewed Suzie Rankins, the owner of Cents of Style Design. She has an amazing story, as she went from being a math teacher to the owner of her own boutique staging company. If you never thought staging a home was important, then think again. Hear what Suzie has to say in this interview!

Link: Hi, this is Link Moser with the Fine Homes Group here at Keller Williams, your local New Hampshire real estate agent, where I interview business owners and professionals to bring our community together and to keep you in the know. Today, you're going to hear from a New Hampshire home stager. I want to introduce you to Suzie Rankins, the owner of Cents of Style Design based in Bedford, New Hampshire. She helps people stage their homes so that they sell for top dollar. Of course, if you need help buying or selling a home, feel free to contact my team at NHFineHomes.com. With that, welcome Suzie! Why don't we start off with a little background on how you got into the business?

Suzie: I was originally a math teacher, but as a hobby I would buy homes that needed to be either helped along or redesigned. I would move into them, redesign them, and then in a couple of years I would sell them. So I kind of started a little flipping business, but I lived in the homes. I did that for many years and I had a lot of fun with it. Anytime a friend came over they would say, "You missed your calling! You should have been an interior designer." I got married and had children, and I was home for awhile with my kids. Now, my youngest is back in school, so I decided that I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this for a living. I got introduced to Diane Davidson with New Hampshire Fine Homes at Keller Williams and joined her team as the stager for that team. I also do staging for other homeowners that hire me privately, but I'm on the team, I'm enjoying it, and it's fabulous!

Link: I can speak to that firsthand that I had not been introduced to staging in the real estate business, and just didn't have a lot of knowledge of it. Very quickly, I could see the transformation with some of these homes in the before and after, how much a difference it makes. It must be a lot of fun to do that. Some of the time I can imagine that homeowners might be a little skeptical. We're asking them to make some investment of time and money, and it can displace things a little, so tell me how you handle that. It must be kind of a delicate thing, isn't it?

Suzie: Yes, it is. It is a lot of fun to see that transformation and to look on that side of things, but you're right. It can be delicate with homeowners. You kind of have to take each project as it comes because each homeowner is different in how they live and how comfortable they are with certain things being put away versus kept out, even down to small things like leaving a microwave out on a counter, that kind of thing. So you just work with the homeowner, and you get a sense after working with them whether they're open to living without that for a few months, or oh no, I can live without that for the pictures, but it has to be out the rest of the time. Which is fine, if there are certain items that they have to have to function on a regular basis, I can work with that and make it look the best it can, even if it's something I wouldn't normally leave in a home for a showing.

Link: Now, how far in advance should someone think about staging a home? If I'm selling in a few months, should I wait until I have a real estate agent and I'm about to go on the market, or should I be reaching out sooner?

Suzie: It depends on the amount that's out in the homes during showings. It depends on the amount of work that needs to be done. For some homes, the paint is in good condition and the colors are neutral enough that they can jump right into staging. That means they only need a couple of weeks before they're ready to go on a market. Maybe you just need to bring in a stager to move some furniture around. The home stager can also bring in some pieces to make certain space look beautiful. But then there are some homes that just need a lot of paint work. They just need a freshening up, sometimes they need new colors to bring it more up to date. In that case, you would need a few weeks prior to that to bring the painter in. As a home stager, depending on the company, I coordinate that for them if they need me to. Some people have their own stager and they want to work with them. There are also people who need months in advance to prepare because they have actual construction projects that need to be finished. Whether it be a guest bedroom needs to be repaired, or they want to finish a section of the basement to make the home more marketable, or they need new windows. There could be actual bigger projects, and my company also does project management, so I can lead them through that whole process and then into the staging.

Link: It sounds like people really need a consult, whether with a stager or real estate agent, sooner rather than later just to know what they're in for. I'm sure budget drives that, I'm sure that's a question people ask right away, is how much will this cost. How do you handle that? I'm sure every house is different. Is it more about their comfort zone, or how does that work?

Suzie: We can work with homeowners in terms of the budget. A general industry rule is that it's a dollar per square foot. So for a 2,000 square foot home, you're going to pay a couple thousand dollars to have a stager come in and do the work. But that varies as well. If you have a home that is empty and needs a lot of furniture to be brought in, that number can go up. If you have a homeowner who really wants to work with you and they're willing to move the furniture so the stager doesn't have to bring in movers to help with that, and maybe they're willing to help you, then you can negotiate and get that price more manageable for the homeowner. If they need more than the staging, if they need painting or any repairs, those fees are separate and above the staging cost. I know as a team member for New Hampshire Fine Homes with Keller Williams you would pay significantly less than the dollar per square foot industry standard because you're working with me and New Hampshire Fine Homes as a team, you get a significant reduction in cost.

Link: That may exist with other agents who have good relationships with stagers as well. Sometimes it might make sense for a homeowner to speak with their real estate agent first to see if there's value that can be passed along to them. You don't have to stage the whole house either. If you're a little tight on the budget, they may just focus on the first floor or on a handful of rooms.

Suzie: That's right. They might focus on just the first floor or maybe the master bedroom.

Link: That's a great way to keep those costs in check. My perspective is it really is a transformation, so why wouldn't everyone stage their home? We've got plenty of HGTV out there now and we see the magic of it happen, but I still see a lot of homeowners who want to sell as is. So I think there's some education that I think has to happen, right?

Suzie: Yes. There is. There are two things, I think, that goes into that. One is they don't recognize that if there is a range of values that they hope to sell their house between, you're going to get at the higher end of that range if your home is staged well. The second component is a lot of homeowners have been in their home for a long time, they get used to it. They think it flows fine. They don't realize how much better it could have looked. I have people who say, "Wow, I moved in here six years ago. I should have had you come in then! You took all my belongings and made the place look fabulous. I could have been living like this for six years!" Then I have clients who have already moved into their new home who come back to see the old property staged, and they say, "Wow, if I had known my house could look like this, I wouldn't have moved!" I know Realtors don't want to hear that.

Link: Right. We should have everyone stage their home and just stay put, right?

Suzie: Right!

Link: It brings a lot of value. I can imagine some homes a $2,000 investment could certainly bring a 10 or 5 times return. It could be tens of thousands of dollars in additional value. From what I've seen, it's a very strong return. Even if they just break even, they get their money back, which is better than investing in the stock market, isn't it?

Suzie: Yes, absolutely.

Link: Where do you see your business going? Where would you like to take it in the next two or three years? What are some of those goals that you've got for growth?

Suzie: Well, I love the staging. I also do interior design. My favorite thing to do, believe it or not, is project management. I'd like to see some growth in that area in terms of coming in and doing bigger projects for homeowners. Knocking down walls, putting in additions, things like that. I'm very busy with the staging and I'm happy about that. I was just saying to my husband how I love my job because it's the same enough that I'm good at it, but it's different every single time. It's a different project, it makes it more fun, it keeps it fresh and alive for me. I'm not bored. I do love the staging component quite a bit. Of course, real estate is attractive to me as well. I still have younger children involved in all sorts of activities.

Link: If someone was interested in working with you, how could they get a hold of you if they wanted to talk to you directly?

Suzie: I do have a website, it's cents-of-style-design.com. It's a very rudimentary site right now. I've got a lot of pictures of projects to add to that, but I've been very busy with those projects! But they can find my phone number on the Web.

Link: Okay, great! Well, I've enjoyed our conversation. I appreciate your time today, and thanks for taking a minute to talk to us about the value of home staging.

Suzie: You're welcome, thank you!

Iron Sharpens Iron: An Interview with New Hampshire Blacksmith, Dave Little

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 22:07:00 +0000

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Today we have the great pleasure of being joined by Dave Little. Dave is a blacksmith, an artist, and owner of Winnipesaukee Forge in Meredith. Learning his trade at a young age, Dave developed a strong passion for his work which led to starting his own metalworking business.

Link: Hi, this is Link Moser, your local New Hampshire real estate agent. I interview business owners and professionals to bring our community together and keep you in the know. In this interview, you're going to hear from a Lakes Region blacksmith. I want to introduce you to Dave Little. Dave is the owner of Winnipesaukee Forge in Meredith. He has a lifelong passion for metalworking and the outdoors and has created some amazing pieces over the years. Of course, if you need help buying or selling a home, contact my team at nhfineshomes.com. With that, Dave, why don't we start with getting a little background about how you got into what you're doing?

Dave Little, Winnipesaukee Forge

Dave: I got the passion early. I was twelve years old and attended camp on Swan Lake, and they had a forge and it was one of the activities. I got to try it, and from the first day I hammered hot iron, I was hooked. I went on from Deerwood and being exposed to it as a teenager to trying it on my own in high school doing a project. Soon after high school, I got a job at a local environmental center demonstrating for the public. I would demonstrate some of the old-timey things that blacksmiths made and answer questions from the tourists coming through the center, usually families. That led to in-and-out of college, I thought I would become an engineer and be a metallurgist because of my interest in metals. I came to find out that I was bound to be an artist. The chemistry and the calculus weren't agreeing with me! So I developed a product line, started doing shows, and you turn around in your fifties, and I guess this is what I do! I'm passionate about the work. I love the process. I love working with people to create custom things: furniture, hardware, railings, gates -- that kind of thing.

Link: That's pretty neat, that you've been doing this really your whole life. You started early and created a career around your passion.

Dave: Yeah. I like to say that I've never had a real job. I've done logging with horses and a little bit of construction, and I've found a way to support myself doing my artwork for my entire working career.

Link: That's great. Who is your typical customer? What are your customers like that you typically work with?

Dave: I work with a lot of people, Link. I do a lot of custom fireplace screens and screen door installations. Here in New Hampshire, a large part of my business is the second home market, where people have lake or mountain homes and I do anything from fireplace screens, railings, custom furniture, light fixtures, drapery hardware--any manner of things that would go into a fine home.

Link: Is much of that custom and made per order, or is there a standardized product line that people come and make selections from?

Dave: Well, I have an extensive collection on my website. People can order directly in standard sizes, or customize to make tables and other furniture in any size. Many of the projects that I do are custom from start to finish, so there's kind of a wide range. I work with contractors and interior designers, as well as homeowners.

Link: Great. When I came to learn about what you guys do, my first assumption was, "Wow. Custom hand-forged home products aren't going to be inexpensive." But I was surprised to learn that you have product lines like that candlestick trios that are quite affordable. They are at a price point where anyone can enjoy them.

Wrought Iron Candle Holder

Dave: I've worked really hard to keep my prices competitive with other handmade home accessories. I also have a few signature gift items. As you said, my trio of candlesticks is a hundred dollars for a set of three. These days, where can you get a handmade gift for a hundred bucks? They're made in New Hampshire. They arrange in different ways. They're available in three different designs. They're the perfect wedding gift. I also have other candle illuminations in higher price brackets that are more decorative and specific in their design aesthetic. Lamps are a great example. There are many lamps available, but not a lot of good ones out there. If you go and look for a really nice, decorative, handmade table lamp, you're not going to find a lot with the same level of craftsmanship and detail that mine has in that price point of $350 to $400. They also make a great, substantial housewarming gift.

Link: I was in a house not long ago up in Gilford that had some of your work in there, and I recognized that and it was a great conversation piece on Cotton Hill.

Dave: What was her name? I remember that project! I think I did some furniture and fireplace tools for her, maybe?

Link: Shelly! Yeah, it was neat to see that. It looked perfect there and it added a nice touch to the property.

Dave: I've been around the Lakes region for awhile, so between all the custom work I've done for restaurants and hotels and private residences, I am well-represented in this area.

Link: I've run into the fireplace screen right next door over there, and it is signature work. You really do notice it. It's pretty neat to see that out in the field.

Oakleaf and Acorn Firescreen

Dave: I am really well represented here in Meredith where I've run my business for all these years. We have several pieces in the sculpture walk downtown, and in the inn at Church Landing and the Mills Falls marketplace. So there really is a lot of variety of what I've done with commissions and special projects. One event that I participate in annually, a great showcase for my work and work of my colleagues, is the Annual Craftsman Fair in Sunapee. Always held in the first week in August at the Mount Sunapee resort. It's nine days, it's a long show, but we'll have close to 50,000 people come through. It's a fabulous opportunity to see the quantity and quality of artwork being made in New Hampshire today.

Link: How many craftsman attend that?

Dave: There's over 200 in tents all around the base. It's a fabulous event.

Link: It is, it's great to see it grow over the years.

Dave: Absolutely.

Link: So, wrapping this up, where do you see your business going from here? What new markets or new products are coming up? I imagine over the years to keep it engaging for you that you're trying new things and adapting to the market itself. So, where do you think you would like to take things?

Twig Design Railing

Dave: Things that I've noticed, Link, as a friend in the past couple years, is there seems to be a much larger demand for railings and handrails, both interior and exterior landscape railings. Baby boomers: we're not getting any younger, and people are working for that extra safety when coming and going from their homes or going back and forth to the lake from their decks. Just this fall I've got six or seven different railing projects, and I think this is going to be a growth area for us as this large portion of the population gets into their sixties and seventies, that desire for a functional but beautiful safety apparatus will grow. I specialize in a very simple, understated, but handcrafted railing system that's made of solid steel, all hand-forged, that can be installed into exterior landscaping, into granite steps and that sort of thing. I think that will be a big growth area for us. Another area we can grow in as well is I'm working with a hospitality design firm out of Chicago to supply a new hotel with drapery hardware for guest rooms and public areas. We've had some history doing the drapery hardware for the La Quinta hotel chain. We did their national upgrade for drapery hardware for public areas in over 60 properties. This project right now is for an 88-room rustic retreat outside of Chicago.

Visit Winnipesaukee Forge

Link: That's great! How can people learn more about your work and what you do?

Dave: Go onto my website,
IronTable.com. They can like
us on Facebook, at the
Winnipesaukee Forge page,
call: 603-279-5492 or
email me: Dave@IronTable.com.

Link: Great! I appreciate your time today, Dave. Thank you!

Dave: Thank you. Have a great day!

What's the Secret to Making Your Database Work for You?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:31:00 +0000

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Do you track your sphere of influence (SOI) in a database? If you're not building, monitoring and tracking your database, you're missing out on a significant opportunity to grow your business.

When talking about a database, we're referring to your contact list, a list of every single person you know, and even those you don't know. The database is broken up into two parts: mets and have-not-mets. People I've met are people I could call up, send an email or text to, and they are going to know who I am when I give them my name. The have-not-mets are those who do not know who I am yet and who I am trying to build a relationship with in the hopes that they will be a source of future business.

If you have your contacts spread out across your phone, social media, and other sources, you really want to pull them all together into one database. I like to export the contacts from my Facebook, LinkedIn, Gmail, and any CRM systems into one Excel file. Once I have all my contacts in one place, I can sort them into one master list of everyone I know.

For every 12 people I know, if I'm touching and contacting those people on a regular basis, I should be getting two deals a year from them. One of those deals would be from someone who is buying or selling, while another deal would be from a referral. If I market to them and keep in touch with them, it's going to result in the most cost-effective lead generation possible.

A touch is any point of contact with a potential client, whether it's via email, phone calls, or face to face conversations. The goal is to have between 30-36 touches a year with each contact. This means you have to reach out about three times per month; this might consist of a monthly newsletter, a phone call, holiday greetings, and other small gestures. The idea is to get your database together, work on a campaign to reach them, and execute that plan.

Just remember, for every 12 people you know there should be two sources of business. If you have any questions about marketing to your database, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We would love to hear from you!

Why Tracking Your Leads Is so Important

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 16:03:00 +0000

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Today we'll be discussing the importance of tracking leads in your real estate business. Many agents don't keep track of all the leads that they get as well as they should, and that makes it hard to know what the return on investment is from your different lead sources.

To correct this problem, you've got to do two things. The first involves taking a look at all the closings you've had in the last 12 months and assign a lead category to each one of them. Whether the lead was from a past client, referral, or another agent, track the source and place them into different categories. You might be surprised where your leads originated from in the last year.

The second step you need to take is look at all of your expenses in the last 12 months, and group them around those lead sources. For example, did the expense come from a postcard campaign for expired listings, or internet leads that you paid for? If you haven't done this exercise before, I recommend it. It's quite telling to see where your leads come from and what the costs associated with them are.

Agents tend to want to spend more money on more leads that have a lower return, whereas referrals from our sphere of influence tend to be the most cost-effective source of business.

If you have any questions for us about lead management, or anything else regarding your real estate business, give us a call or send us an email. We can't wait to hear from you!

The Benefits of the Buyer's Consultation

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 15:15:00 +0000

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So, you've decided it's time to buy a home. Whether you are a first-time buyer or not, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to engage your real estate professional in a consultation.

From a strategic standpoint, the buyer's consultation is crucial. You can meet with your agent and come up with a plan. We can guide you to a mortgage professional, and we can coach you on negotiation strategies. It's much less stressful to have a negotiation strategy in place rather than finding the home you want and not knowing what to do next.

The consultation also allows you to discuss these things in a much more relaxed atmosphere. You simply tell us what you're looking for in a home, what you need for your mortgage, and we can pull the right strings for you as opposed to flailing about and not handling things in the right order.

The buyer consultation allows us to do you a much better service while saving you a lot of time in the field. We'll also provide you with Internet tools to aid you in your home search.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Are the Benefits of Working with a Real Estate Team?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 21:43:00 +0000

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Is there a benefit to working with a team of agents as opposed to a solo agent? We think a team is much better for a number of reasons.

One of the most important things the Fine Homes Group International brings to the buying and selling process is a team of professionals. Recently, I broke my ankle and had surgery. During the process, I found that the intake process, the surgery itself, and the outpatient process was handled by a team of highly specialized professionals. Each part of the team had a specific role to play, and each used their particular training and expertise to make the process as smooth as possible for me, the patient.

While the real estate industry is very different from the medical industry, there is something to be learned from my experience: complicated processes are made easier when there is a team of specialized professionals working on different parts of the process. On our team, we have agents who work exclusively with buyers and agents who work exclusively with sellers, which streamlines the process. These agents also become experts at what they do because that's what they focus on day in, day out. We have a staff of people who, once the process has begun, handle the paperwork and ensure deadlines are met.

If you have any questions about how a specialized team of real estate professionals works to ensure success for each and every client, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Why Hire a Real Estate Team?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 15:36:00 +0000

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For decades, a single real estate agent was the norm. However, our industry has experienced massive amounts of change in the last few years. A single person can no longer compete on the level that a real estate team does.

Real estate teams are built of industry professionals that all specialize within a single area. They are calculated and coordinated, and this will get you the best real estate experience possible. With more hands on deck, a team can also offer you a superior level of customer service.

This allows you (as a home seller) to sit back and relax. Our team will guide you through the process and we will offer you suggestions and advice on how you can sell your home for top dollar. We will ensure the condition of your home is top-notch, and our pricing strategy will draw buyers to your front door.

Another thing that a real estate team can do is put your home in front of a large audience of buyers. People from around the state will see your home, as well as people from around the globe! Exposure is critical to getting the best buyers, and that's why we devote so much effort to getting your home the largest possible audience.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, we would love to hear from you!

Why You Need a Pre-Qualification Letter

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 19:46:00 +0000

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Today, we will discuss the importance of the pre-qualification letter. The pre-qualification letter is essentially physical evidence that you can afford a home.

The pre-qualification shows seriousness to all parties involved: your own agent, the listing agent, and the sellers. A pre-qualification also helps to inform the buyer. You'll know how much you can afford, and you can plan on how much you actually want to spend.

The lifespan of a pre-qualification letter can vary from lender to lender. If nothing changes, it could be good for up to 90 days. It's important that you don't change anything. Please don't quit your job or buy a car. Don't do anything that would significantly impact the numbers your lender has pulled.

In terms of what the pre-qualification letter says, my preference is not to have a number on the letter. We merely include the letter in the offer packet. The seller doesn't need to know how much you could afford. That would definitely hurt your negotiations with the seller if they know you can afford $250,000 but you're only comfortable offering $200,000. Frankly, it's none of the seller's business how much you could afford.

When you get a pre-qualification letter, you're not required to stick with that lender. However, whether you change lenders or not, make sure you select a reputable lender.

If you have any questions on today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

The Value of Home Staging

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 22:10:00 +0000

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Today, we'll discuss how to prepare your home for the market. There are a few misconceptions about home staging, and many sellers don't see the value in it. In our experience, we've found that investing a little bit of time and money into staging your home increases the chances of selling your home faster and for more money.

The first, most important thing you can do is declutter your home. This is extremely cost-effective. Pack away anything you don't need while you are selling. Take down any pictures or personal items that may distract potential buyers from envisioning themselves living in your home.

Adding a fresh coat of paint is another low-cost, high-return option for preparing your home for the market. If you have peeling paint or bright colors, paint over them with neutral earth tones.

Next, you can consult with a real estate agent or professional home stager to give you some advice on staging your home room by room. Our goal is to make your home appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers. It's a highly customized process; we may use your existing furniture, or bring items into the home. If you occupy the home while it's on the market, you need to maintain its appearance, because sometimes clutter will creep back in.

If you have any more questions on home staging, or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Why Is a Final Walk-through Necessary when Buying?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 20:59:00 +0000

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Today we are going to discuss what exactly happens on a final walk-through when buying a home. It’s very important to have this final walk-through before closing so you protect yourself as a buyer in the event that something has happened to a home since your inspection. We have heard horror stories of trees falling on homes the day before closing, and that’s just not something you want to have to deal with.

We do our final walk-through immediately before signing the final papers. If we are closing at 2:00, we would have the final walk-through at 1:00. Usually at the walk-through, we have the buyers and their agent, as well as the seller’s agent and sometimes the seller. We then physically walk through the property to confirm it is still in the same condition it was before.

Sometimes things pop up during the final walk-through. A common concern is the seller leaving personal property behind. If something like this pops up, it’s the agents’ job to work together to find an appropriate solution. Once that is found, we will go sign the papers together.

If you are an out-of-town buyer or looking at a vacation property, that is just fine. We have represented many buyers in the past at the final walk-through, and would happy to represent you and pass the information along.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or send us a quick email. We can’t wait to hear from you!

How Can You Move Up in this Seller's Market?

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 16:24:00 +0000

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A lot of people have been asking us questions lately about how to move up in a seller's market, which often requires selling your current home and buying your next one in one process. It's a bit of a juggling act, especially in a market like ours, but it's not impossible.

The first step is getting your current home sale-ready. You don't have to necessarily put it on the market right away, but getting it sale-ready is important.

Depending on your financial situation and ability to take risks, you may make an offer on your next home prior to putting your current one on the market, or put your current home on the market and wait for a buyer before making an offer on a home.

A lot of things can go wrong when trying to balance a sale and a purchase. For example, what if you sell your current home before you've found one to buy? What about if you make an offer on a home that's accepted, but you haven't sold your current home yet? It's important to have a "Plan B" in this case, and a trusted real estate professional should be able to help you come up with a good one.

If you're going to attempt this, my personal recommendation is that you hire one agent or a team for both transactions. It's much easier to communicate with one person instead of two, and there's a lot of juggling to be done that would be easier for one person to accomplish if they were handling both sides. They will help at minimizing potential risk, as well as maximizing your profits.

If you have any questions for us, feel free to give us a call or shoot over a quick email. We would love to speak with you!

How we helped Jaime sell her home using our great marketing

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:59:00 +0000

"We had an offer on my house within 48 hours. That was pretty impressive. His approach to marketing was a big part of that. We had listed our house twice before and gotten some not-great offers, so we never sold it. Obviously his marketing works because we had a buyer in such a short period of time. He was on top of things when it came to finding a house. The market has really taken off, because it was hard to find something before someone else had an offer in. Everyone on his team was willing to do whatever it took to get us a house."

How we helped Erik find a great house using our real estate knowledge

info@nhfinehomes.com (Link Moser) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:55:00 +0000

"We got a great house! This house was not on our radar, because it was priced higher than what we wanted to spend. Link knew about the house’s situation, and he was confident that they would come down, so he encouraged us to look at it. Sure enough, they did come down, and we were able to get it! We never even would have looked at it without Link’s encouragement. "