Not Your Ordinary Agent

Inventory Trends for Areas 62 and 64 in #RVA

2013-05-07T14:50:00.000-04:00

Please also note that this information was gathered from CVRMLS RE STATS.

There are some interesting things to take away from this analysis of the current market in Areas 62 and 64. The red lines represent the "Current" market and the blue lines represent last year. What does this show us? There aren't as many homes on the market as there were this time last year. We're following the same trend as last year, but there are considerably less homes to choose from. When there are less homes, the days on the market drops. Looks like it's a great time to sell!

Mold, The Destroyer

2013-04-29T21:19:00.002-04:00

It kills me to see a home that is beautiful on the outside and then find mold taking over inside. Most of my friends who know me, know that I'm a pretty tidy human being. I am also a real estate professional who knows how important it is to maintain your number one asset.

Good for you, Mr. Homeowner. You fooled your neighbors by keeping up with your grass and the front of your home. Shame on you for letting the back of the home fall apart and for destroying the interior.

There are many types of mold that can easily be cleaned if you catch them early. If you sense a mold problem in your home, go out and purchase a dehumidifier. I talked about affordable ones in the past. When you see mold growing on your ceiling in your bathroom, kitchen, basement, utility room, etc. get out some bleach cleaner and start spritzing! It's not expensive and it's easy to solve before it gets out of hand.

If you knew that just by cleaning the spores could mean selling your home, would you do it? When mold shows up during your home inspection, the purchasers will ask for remediation or they could walk away entirely. According to MoldBlogger, you might be forced to pay anywhere between $500 to $4,000. and that doesn't include major damages. (http://moldblogger.com/mold-removal-cost-what-you-can-expect-to-pay/)

Pay attention to what needs to be done at your home. If you cannot afford to keep up with it, it is time to move.

3 Ways to Teach Children to Be Smart With Their Money

2013-04-15T13:29:00.001-04:00

Recession has taught us a lot and one of the things it taught is that frugality is a trait that’s crucial to survive in today’s world. Which is why every parent out there wants to their children to lead a frugal lifestyle that’s free of debt. A lifestyle that gives their kids real financial freedom and a pathway to their dreams.

In order to achieve all this, you need to start early with your kids. You need to show your them what it takes to be smart with money just the way you’d teach them the importance of being healthy. For example, when you use one of those Williams Sonoma coupons to buy kitchen utensils to save money, your children see and learn from you. This way you’ll raise children who not only value money but also respect it.

In the following article we look into a few simple ways of how you can guide your children towards becoming better money managers...

#1: Begin Early

When you should be giving your kids a monthly allowance and other issues are usually what parents are worried about. However, they forget that if children don’t have access to some money that they can experiment with, they won’t know what to do with it or become better with it.

Children need money to understand/realize/discover what saving means and what savings can do. Not only that they also need to learn what it feels to spend all their allowance the day they get it, and end up waiting for the next week or next month for the next allowance. What you need to realize as a parent is that your children need access to money in order to learn lessons under your guidance.

#2: Set a Striking Example

We all know that children learn from seeing what you do, not from what you say or the promises you make and break. They’re watching you and observing keenly all the time, even if you don’t notice.

Kids model after their parents behavior. So your behavior will not only impact your children but it will also mould them into becoming someone like you. So if they see you making wise purchases and saving money by using discount coupons such as the Williams Sonoma coupons, they will model your behavior. On the other hand, if you go on shopping sprees as soon as you get your paycheck, and your children see you doing that, they’ll do the same when they start working.

#3: Have a “Fun Fund”

Frugality is not about depriving yourself or going too cheap, and your children need to understand that. What they need to know is that frugality means that having a mindset that is about freedom and leading an uncomplicated lifestyle.

Besides using online resources like NerdWallet to get the best discounted deals for yourself, set up a “fun fund” for your kid, so that he or she can use it to buy games or toys of his or her choice. Your children need to know that there’s nothing wrong in buying an Xbox or to go to the movies. What’s actually wrong is to teach children to buy what they want with money they don’t own, such as using credit cards. Creating a fun fund shows them what it is like to be frugal in spending money while saving some for their dreams.

Love Me Some MLS

2013-04-11T21:13:00.000-04:00

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was down for a couple of hours this week and it was very frustrating for most real estate agents. We resorted to using other online sources to rely on real estate information. I will continue to explain why that was a horrible decision and that it proved that MLS is the ultimate resource when searching for real estate online. I will also explain why it is imperative to use a REALTOR® when researching any real estate for yourself or your friends and family.

While MLS was down, I got a little impatient. Enough so that I visited my Google search engine to check the status of a listing online. The search engine led me to Trulia and Zillow where both real estate websites showed me that the listing in question was still available.

After visiting the property I then discovered that the property was under contract and was no longer available. Trulia and Zillow still show the property as ACTIVE.

Now that MLS is up and running (and had been since I left my desk to visited said property), I could plainly see that this listing was under contract. If I had allowed myself some more time, I would have had this reliable information and not have wasted myself a time or gas.

The point of my post is that while Zillow and Trulia are very popular websites and seem to provide loads of real estate information, they are false. There have been many times when I've been sent information from one of these sources for a listing that I sold months in advance. Their numbers are unclear and misleading and I will never recommend depending on their information over our accurate RE Stats from MLS.

In order to get the best information about your current market, you need access to the MLS. REALTORS® are the only professionals who have direct access to this system. When you are ready to purchase or sell a home, make sure you contact your local real estate agent.

Use Google Hangout for Long Distance Client Meetings

2013-03-27T21:26:00.003-04:00

Have you ever represented a client who lives out of state? Sure. We all have. What better way to communicate with them than with Google Hangout? There are plenty of situations when you will want to see your client's face rather than just hear their voice. Another great thing about Google Hangout is that you can share whatever is on your screen and vice versa.

Google Hangout is a feature available on Google Plus that allows you to video conference with other Google Plus users. It's very easy to set up and very user-friendly when it works.

Create a Google Profile by visiting www.google.com.

When you create a Google profile, you will automatically create a Google Plus profile for yourself. When you are logged onto Google, click on the drop down bar on the top right corner by your username.

Click on "Join Google+" and then select "Start a Hangout" on the top right of the screen.

When you enter your Hangout, go ahead and invite your client by their email address to your hangout. Give them a call to let them know you sent them the invitation and continue from there.

This is a great way to point out specifics in a listing that your client could have missed in their own view. The possibilities are endless!

Pricing Your Home Effectively

2013-03-17T21:23:00.000-04:00

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It's very difficult to come up with a price on a home when the client is emotionally attached to the house. The truth is that the fair market value is what the home is worth. It's our job as real estate agents to communicate this to a seller. Unfortunately when a seller is in love with their home and don't want to leave, the definition of "fair market value" is complicated.

When you are trying to determine the best price, you must consider the current inventory in your neighborhood. Who are your competitors? Where are you located?

The majority of sellers assume that updating their home is the only thing that matters, but the truth is the buyers are the ones who determine what your home is worth. If your home is on the market and is viewed by plenty of parties, but never moves? Your home is priced incorrectly and you need to consider changing the price or taking your home off the market. You can spend tons of money on updates, but if the house down the street is a better deal, you've wasted your time and money.

What to Consider When Pricing Your Home:
1) Current Inventory
2) Location
3) Comparables
4) Fair Market Value

12523 Carnoustie Lane- SOLD

2013-03-15T20:06:00.004-04:00

Closed 3/15/13

1541 Presidential DR-SOLD

2013-03-14T13:19:00.001-04:00

Don't Worry About the Kids' Rooms

2013-03-08T21:37:00.000-05:00

Often times when I work with expectant parents or new families, they'll have an issue with bedroom size for the kids. When a child is young, the size of the room will not matter to them. I know this because I am a parent.

Your children will be spending most of their time in your bedroom or other rooms of the home. For instance, as a first time-parent, your baby will not be sleeping in their nursery for at least 6 weeks. You'll most likely find them sleeping in a pack n' play by your bedside or a bassinet.

Don't fret about their bedroom. Most children don't move to a "big kid" bed until they are 3 years old. In my opinion this gives you the opportunity to be more creative with the children's rooms. If you have twins, you can purchase bunk beds. What kid doesn't love a bunk bed anyway? There are lots of different options available these days.

Another wonderful thing about the smaller room is that there's less to decorate! Chances are the design in their room will change more frequently than the parent's room. Kids go through phases and want change. Don't forget that they'll probably try decorating on their own too, i.e. markers on the wall.

Stressing over the size of the 2nd, 3rd or 4th bedroom should not be part of your home search experience. Leave that up to your kids when they grow up and buy their own dream home.

Now get out and buy a home!

How To Narrow Your Real Estate Search Using Pinterest

2013-03-04T21:21:00.000-05:00

Have you had a chance to set up your Pinterest account yet? If not, you're missing out on some great ways to view real estate and other great ideas that will help you improve the real estate you already own.

It's very simple to start using the site. They've removed their "Invitation Only" login and now you can get started with your Twitter or Facebook account. If you do not have accounts with either of those social networks, you are able to go about it the old-fashioned way... with your email address.

Visit www.pinterest.com and sign up.

When you've created your account, it's very easy to get carried away and start pinning everything at random. Try to keep your account organized. Pinterest already provides you with a bunch of default boards. These boards were created to take away the confusion. When you pin something, place it under one of these categories or "boards."

If you are currently trying to decide what style of home you like, visit Pinterest and search for "homes" in the box on the top left of your screen. Pages of images of different homes will appear on your screen. Create a board for the homes you like and homes you don't like. This is a helpful way to narrow down what it is you are looking for.

This is also great practice for determining home improvement projects. You can discover what works and what won't work in your home.

Go on! Happy Pinning!

Top 8 Real Estate Agent Facebook Must-do's

2013-02-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

Does your real estate agent use social media at all? Did you ask your REALTOR® to include your home information on all of the social networks? Do they stick to their word?

Can you believe there are millions of agents out there who are not familiar with how Facebook works? Facebook has been around since 2004 and the public has been able to share just about anything on the platform.

If your REALTOR® hasn't started using Facebook as a primary marketing tool, you might want to think twice about them. Facebook is viewed by over half of the world by now. There are plenty of opportunities for your real estate agent to learn the capacity of Facebook whether by their own broker or via local real estate associations. If they are still unsure how to use the site, direct them to www.thesocialmediapanel.com and their associates will teach them how to properly use the site and effectively market.

What You Should Expect from your Realtor® on Facebook:

1) They maintain a Facebook Page

2) Daily or at least twice a week promotions related to your listing on their page

3) Daily posts on their page

4) Multiple "Likes" by new fans

5) Sharing back and forth with other Facebook users

6) Regular engagement on their page

7) Activity on other real estate pages

8) Added your listing info to Oodle Marketplace if not already done via their broker.

Your listing deserves the best exposure and starting with somewhere as simple as Facebook should be on your agent's priority list.

Good luck!

12523 Carnoustie Lane-PENDING

2013-02-13T21:23:00.003-05:00

The Infamous Association Packet

2013-02-12T22:36:00.001-05:00

The more transactions that go by the more I'm starting to wonder why associations charge so much for their packets. When a contract comes through in the State of Virginia, the seller is responsible to pay for a recent association packet to provide to the buyer. These packets of information typically include the Covenants, governing documents, budget, meeting minutes, resale disclosure statement, certificate of insurance, annual report, financials and so on.

I am in no way trying to insult anyone's job, but is it really difficult to compile all of these documents? They are updated probably at each quarter and not much can possibly change. Does it cost that much to copy and paste? Some associations charge as much as $250 for one of these packets. And let's not forget what they bill the appraisers, closing attorneys and lenders for the information needed for closing.

It's ridiculous.

When you have a Seller who is ready to move on and unload their property, it can be difficult to explain to them they will have to spend another few hundred dollars to purchase documents that they already own.

The Buyer is then given the opportunity to walk away if they do not agree with the information included in said documents.

My point is why not give the Seller a break and release these documents free of charge. I would like to know where the money is going. Seems a little steep to me.

Don't Be A Greaser

2013-02-04T20:46:00.001-05:00

We're all guilty of letting a little grease spill into the sink. I have definitely not wiped down a pan before rinsing it off in the sink. You do know that you are not supposed to pour grease into a sink ever? Right? No, you absolutely should never pour grease down a drain unless you are prepared to replace that drain or pay someone to fix it.

I think we all assume that everyone knows this rule of thumb because it's a fact that you will ruin your pipes. The grease hardens and catches any piece of food or material that follows it. Eventually there will not be a clear drain connected to your sink and you are in big trouble. If you have a septic tank, you could be in some serious trouble.

Wondering what you should do with the grease, keep reading. Remember those empty jars of pickles or preserves you threw away last week? You should have rinsed them out and kept them for a rainy day. Next time remember to save your empty plastic or glass containers and lids for times like these. You can pour the grease or oil into one of these bad boys and let it cool. Knock out the solid into the trash can the next day! Save the empty container to repeat!

This plumbing situation caused an issue during a home inspection. The owner had to pay a plumber to "snake" the grease out of the pipes. Good thing the plumber got there in time. Imagine what more build up could have caused?

Have You Been To Carnoustie?

2013-01-23T19:58:00.001-05:00

12523 Carnoustie Lane- $214,950

North Chesterfield

2BD, 2 BA, 1-car garage

Highlights include:

New hardwood flooring

New carpeting

Freshly painted interior

Exterior recently power-washed

Maintenance-free living- exterior maintenance, snow removal, trash removal, landscaping included

Gorgeous view of Lake and Golf course

New Driveway

Spotless interior

Master Suite with Walk-in Shower, Jetted Tub, Huge Walk-in Closet, Linen Closet, Custom Wire-shelving

Direct Entry Garage with custom wire-shelving and automatic garage door openers

Huge Utility Room with custom wire-shelving

Large dining area

Large living space

Office/Study

Eat-in kitchen overlooking Lake and golf course

Covered back deck-French Doors

Wheelchair accessible

Wide doors

Grilling permitted

Stonehenge Country Club within walking distance

Beautiful wild life

Convenient location

And more!!

PENDING

2013-01-17T08:12:00.003-05:00

1541 Presidential Drive

Outstanding Lakefront and Golf Course View

2013-01-15T20:30:00.001-05:00

12523 Carnoustie Lane, North Chesterfield, VA 23236Fairways Villas at Stonehenge

I'm excited to bring you my featured listing for this month. Introducing 12523 Carnoustie Lane! This gorgeous condo is located in the Stonehenge neighborhood within Fairways Villas. The end unit is ideal for anyone looking for 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths with beautiful and private views of the Stonehenge Country Club. It's an escape from the busy life of the city yet you are close enough to get to all of the shopping you will need. This charming condo was built in 2004 and is practically new! Enjoy the new hardwoods throughout the Living Room and Office. The bedrooms have been updated with new carpet too! The Master Bedroom is complete with a luxurious Master Bath including a huge walk-in closet, linen closet, WC, walk-in shower and jetted tub. Don't worry about a thing in your one-level condo that is wheelchair accessible. Pull into your direct entry garage and put your stuff away in your oversized Utility Room. The entire home is full of custom wire shelving. This place has it all! Visit the listing for more information and email me for an appointment.

My Computer Survived!

2013-01-07T20:42:00.002-05:00

The Dinosaur itself

Oh my goodness, have you ever had one of those days when everything just can't seem to get any worse? We all have, I know. Today was one of those for me. It all started when I woke up and there was no coffee left. I opted for tea, but we didn't have any of that either. I was late dropping my kids off to school and then remembered that I forgot to pack a snack for the oldest. When I got to the office I found gum on the bottom of my shoe. Finally my computer crashed right in the middle of me typing up a contract with a client. I was annoyed, embarrassed, nervous, etc. My immediate reaction was to pack up my computer and start looking up places where I could take my laptop. My whole life is on this thing!

After I apologized repeatedly to my client about the glitch, I was able to borrow a co-worker's computer and complete the important document. Thank goodness!

I tried to leave the meeting without showing my anxiety about my computer, but my client could read my face. I couldn't help it!! My computer is like my baby!

I am so grateful for what happened next. She told me not to panic that I could contact a computer repair company without going anywhere and my problem would be solved in less than a day. Hallelujah!! Do you know how hard it is to take care of a problem like this one that quickly? Everywhere I've gone in the past I have had to drop my computer off and live without it for at least a few days. Thank goodness for Geeks Mobile USA! It's hard to part ways with something that contains all of your information.

Knowing that I can call a reputable company with limitless computer support is wonderful. I depend on my computer daily and take it with me everywhere.

I guess my day ended up pretty well in the end. I discovered a great new remedy for my dinosaur of a laptop and can hang on to this thing for a good while longer.

Housing Market 2011 vs. 2012

2012-12-20T20:58:00.002-05:00

It's incredible what can happen over a year. I thought you might be interested to read what we were saying this time last year:

2011

"While the headwinds remain strong going into 2012, there are indications the economy and the housing market are gaining ground, albeit slowly. Sustained and increased job growth beyond the average monthly payroll gains of 130,000 so far this year ending in November are essential. In housing, look for the rental market to lead the way and for some improvement in the single-family space in parts of the country. All told, next year will be another bumpy ride." -Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac, vice president and chief economist (http://freddiemac.mediaroom.com)

"Own a home? Brace yourself for an even longer recovery than anticipated. A new homeowners survey released jointly by Trulia.com and RealtyTrac suggests we won’t see a housing recovery until 2014 at the earliest now."-Morgan Brennan, Forbes staff (http://www.forbes.com)

"Builders were busier than expected in November, and many are more upbeat heading into 2012. In recent years, housing was supported by temporary help from government tax rebates. Now, the sector looks as if it can stand on its own." -Kathleen Madigan (http://blogs.wsj.com)

Here's what they're saying now:

2012

"Although 2012 will be remembered as the year the housing recovery finally took off, plenty of metro areas still have strong headwinds entering into the new year. And while it's true the housing market still has a long way to go to get back to "normal," the cities among the worst markets might surprise you, especially because many of them have also seen some of the biggest year-over-year home prices increases.

A lot of it has to do with the fundamentals that drive the housing market, says Trulia Chief Economist Jed Kolko—factors such as job growth, foreclosure rates, and for-sale inventories."-Meg Handley (http://www.usnews.com)

"The housing market will improve moderately in 2013, but nobody will mistake this for a boom. The gains in activity and prices will be a welcome relief, but will leave many homeowners still underwater."-Bill Conerly (www.forbes.com)

"U.S. homes are expected to gain more than $1.3 trillion in cumulative value in 2012, the first annual gain in six years and the largest since 2005." -Yeng Bun (www.zillow.com)

Here's to 2013!

Napier ERA is awesome!

2012-12-07T21:21:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited because I finished up our rigorous Napier Realtors® ERA training class this evening. We learned some incredible tools this week and I cannot wait to share them with you.

We discussed all of the cool technological capabilities that put us above other agents and we talked about how far Napier ERA's reach is throughout the world.

There are 30,000 ERA agents worldwide and we span 42 countries. Can you believe those numbers? Amazing that you can find an ERA agent in countless countries! I'm proud to be a part of those numbers.

What does this mean for you? When you list with an ERA agent, your home information can be found not only nationwide, but also worldwide. When someone in Singapore who is represented by an ERA agent is ready to move to Virginia, they have access to our database of listings. Their agent will most likely show them your home if they are looking for a home in Richmond, Virginia. Pretty cool!

We also offer TXT sign riders. When you list with a Napier agent, your For Sale Sign will include a phone number that buyers can text. When they text the number above the sign, a fact sheet will show up on their Smartphone. There's no need for those info sheets to hang off of signs anymore. Half of them were always warped by rain or snow. Isn't that cool?!

We have so many more neat tools to share. Give me a ring and I can show you!

New Construction and REALTORs

2012-11-29T21:41:00.001-05:00

You've done it! You've found the land, so now it's time to start building. You need to make sure you meet the builder and pick what is right for you. How do you know what is right for you? Ask some questions and make sure your REALTOR® is present.

It's critical to meet with your builder and make sure you are clear with all of your needs. Your builder is on your side. They want to construct the home exactly how you want it. They want you to be happy. If you don't ask the right questions, you might miss something. Your REALTOR® is there to be certain you don't forget anything.

Here are some sample questions that you might consider:

How long will the construction process take? What is the turn around time for building permits?
What size home will fit on this lot?
Do you have sample floor plans for this lot?
What are my allowances?

The right REALTOR® will support you and can communicate with the builder in case you can't. Find a REALTOR® who has experience in new construction. They know the whole process of building a home because they've been there before. When you are interviewing a REALTOR®, always ask if they have this kind of knowledge, especially when you plan to build.

How many years have you been working in new construction?
What types of problems have you faced and how have you resolved them?

If you stick with these suggestions, your homebuilding process will be a breeze.

Video Release for Agee

2012-11-20T10:25:00.000-05:00

I knew making the change to Napier Realtors ERA® was the right choice for me because they offer so many technological advantages over other brokers in Richmond, Virginia.

Look at the virtual tour capabilities I have now that I'm working here:

I had been creating my own videos using a simple program on my computer. Now I am able to submit to our virtual tour service and they create a tour for me! It's fantastic.
This video is an example of what they can do with my information. For full residential listings, the tour will be much more complex. The video above is for a lot. There's not much you can include as far as pictures for a piece of land. It does show that there are incredible amenities in Charter Colony, such as the Charter Club, playground, tennis courts and much more.
You can find out more about this lot here. Read about the benefits of this particular spot here.
If you are interested in finding out how I can create an attractive video for you, contact me.

Benefits of Living Near a Highway

2012-11-13T10:27:00.001-05:00

There are plenty of folks out there who are strongly opposed to living near a highway. Their arguments include the noise factor and heavy traffic. I like to look at the issue at the opposite side of the spectrum. You should think about the benefits of living near a highway.

#1. You are closer to your destinations- You will be able to cut the time it takes to get places by living next to a highway.

#2. Traffic sounds more like "white" noise than automobiles. Speak to neighbors who live near the highway and they'll tell you the sound is quite soothing. In the city you'd hear the constant sounds of emergency vehicles.

#3. Landscaping used as sound buffers adds curb appeal to your home.

#4. You have a reason to install that water fountain you've always wanted.

#5. Your family and friends will know exactly how to get to your house.

#6. The barking dog in the neighborhood isn't an issue and neither is the teenager who throws wild parties every weekend.

#7. You can't hear a peep when you are inside.

How to Blog- advice for other professionals

2012-11-11T20:09:00.003-05:00

Getting your message out there doesn't have to be challenging. Having a blog is a great way to start. Here's a list of resources that I highly recommend using when you're ready to start blogging.

View this SkinnyScoop List

Go out and get one of these too!

Why You Should Buy this Lot?

2012-11-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

807 Agee Terrace

It's hard to imagine your home when it's never been built, but that's the joy of it too. The possibilities are endless. You can purchase land and know that the value will always go up. When you decide to put a home on top of it, the price will be even higher.

It's pretty incredible what people can do with land these days. It really doesn't matter whether it's flat or steep. There are architects out there who can create a home that will work almost anywhere.

Courtesy www.cvrmls.com
Your kitchen could look like this???

How often do you see land anymore? Richmond is growing rapidly East and West, North and South. Here's your opportunity to grab it and make it yours. The market will come back and when it does, this land won't be as easy to purchase as it is now.

www.cvrmls.com
Or maybe it will look like this?

Other factors to consider:

Charter Colony is a well-established neighborhood close to shops, schools, hospitals, parks and recreation. You can be in Carytown in 10 minutes if you use the Powhite Parkway. You are only 15 minutes away from downtown Short Pump when you take 288.

This lot is on a cul-de-sac. Your neighbors have already moved in.

You can build the home of your choice with the options you want.

Look around: phone, electric, water and sewer connections are available.

Current owner will build to suit. Contact me with any questions.