Archive for September, 2008
What’s Happening in Your Neighborhood?
September 30th, 2008 categories: Entertainment, Relocating
Sitting in front of your High Definition (HD) big screen television, watching somebody else live their life can be awfully tempting at times. I mean, you’re in that controlled environment. Better yet, YOUR controlled environment! But, most of us, sooner or later, hopefully, wake up from watching other’s lives, and decide to get out and experience the many activities our communities have to offer for ourselves.
But, once we decide to get out and find out what’s happening, where do we go to discover what’s taking place in our cities or neighborhoods? For many of us, we depend on that weekly newspaper insert. In this area, the local newspaper, the Free Lance Star, has its weekely Weekender section that does a splendid job of providing a rundown of local things that are happening. But for us online types, there may be an easier solution.
A few months back, sitting in front of the computer, I ran across AmericanTowns.com. Talk about community information! When you have a moment, take a look. It offers the latest in Community News. Some of the items covered are:
School Activities, Classified Ads, Church Activities, Community Events (like the Pumpkin Patch, Guide To Apple Picking Orchards, Movie Guides, Volunteer Opportunities, etc.), Best Local Gas Prices, Classified Ads, Recreational Activity Sign Up, Arts & Entertainment News, Local Traffic Videos, Area Maps…in other words, Just about Everything!
White Water Thrill
American Towns has about all you’d want to know about your local area. As a matter of fact, it covers the entire U.S. Make sure you take advantage of this wonderful online tool. You’ve got all you want to know at your fingertips. So, do yourself a favor, stop playing the couch potato (not just on weekends) and start enjoying all that your local area has to offer!
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Can I Really Do That?
September 25th, 2008 categories: Market Trends, Relocating
During times of crisis, especially those crisis when we’re trying to solve a problem, we’ve been told time and time again, “You’ve got to think outside the box. In times like these, you have to look at things differently, and not approach things routinely.”
To say that today’s housing market is in “dire straights”, is probably an understatement. The good news is, while the government is attempting to formulate some sort of plan of relief for distressed homeowners, some private individuals have taken matters into their own hands by using innovative marketing techniques to sell their homes.
In March of this year, a Maryland couple, after unsuccessfully struggling to sell their home through the traditional “list with an agent” method, unloaded their home through a raffle. Yep, you heard it right, a RAFFLE. While in most states it is illegal to raffle off a home, allowances are made in some states if the homeowner is partnering with a nonprofit organization. In these cases, the homeowner is restricted from making a profit on the “sale”. All profits beyond the break even point or appraisal price are kept by the nonprofit.
Before you get the idea that raffling your house off is a great idea, take the time to investigate the many hurdles needed to make it happen. Many have tried it and found the red tape run around more than they could handle. It isn’t easy, but, if your state allows it, it may be a struggle you’re willing to take take on. If so, you can get more details at usahomeraffle.com
Another alternative is the option of swapping homes. While this practice isn’t commonplace, it has seen an increase in use over the past couple of years. Although it sounds simple enough, like many things, the devil’s in the details. The most important step you’ll take is to establish a list of “wants” in the home you’re looking for, including the location you’d like to move to. While it’s rare that you’ll find an exact value to value match, there are many online service agencies that facilitate this process.
Some of these include:
GoSwap.org
Home Trade Nation http://www.hometradenationwide.com/
Online House Trading http://www.onlinehousetrading.com/
Try Swapping It http://www.myhouse4trade.com/
Domuswap http://www.domuswap.com/
Each of these online sources are deisgned to assist those who are looking to trade or swap homes instead of selling them the traditional way. For those with a bit more experience at online trading, there’s always Ebay or Craig’s List as well.
As the Greek philosopher Plato once said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” With the dramatic slow down in the market, listing and selling a home isn’t as easy as it once was. As a result, some would be sellers have looked for other ways to “move” their property. While raffling off or swapping a home may not be the conventional method, it can, in the current environment, achieve the objective of getting rid of a home. And, if that’s the case, perhaps we need to consider the exception instead of the rule when making the decision to market a home.
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Hazardous Waste and You
September 23rd, 2008 categories: Real Estate News, Relocating, Repairs
Each year, between the end of summer and the Columbus Day Weekend, we try to do a little house cleaning. And, apparently, so do others. While a garage sale regular I’m not, plenty of my neighbors are. And, for all of us the intent is the same; get rid of stuff we no longer need. But, what do we do with that left over toxic or hazardous material we have sitting around? You know, those old paint cans, cleaning solvents, fertilizer, and other chemicals that have been sitting in the garage or shed for years.
Both local area counties, Stafford & Spotsylvania, set aside dedicated time each year for its residents to get rid of this kind of waste. Stafford’s hazardous waste collection is scheduled for the weekend of October 17-18. Spotylvania’s is September 27th. In both each cases, the event is for county residents only. According to local gudelines, hazardous material is any “that can catch fire, react or explode when mixed with other substances, or is corrosive or toxic.”
Take advantage of your local waste dumps and landfills. They’ve provided us with the opportunity to get rid of some of that toxic material we’ve left over and will probably never use. Now, if I can just get my teenager to clean his room, we’ll be set for the Columbus Day holiday. It may mean an extra toxic waste run to the landfill, but it’ll be well worth it!
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Frog Legs Anyone?
September 18th, 2008 categories: Market Trends, Relocating
“Facts don’t cease to exist because they are ignored”
Aldous Huxley
Have you ever heard the “boiled frog” story?. You know, the frog who starts out in a cold pan of water, and sits there while the temperature slowly rises, and before it realizes it, it has been boiled to death. It is one story I’ve often used in my attempts to teach my sons a lesson or two.
The use of this anecdote or object lesson serves as a warning of the perils of complacency or false sense of security. By the time you’ve realized the perilous state you’re in, you’re past the point of rescue or return. In other words, you’re doomed!
How real estate is bought and sold has changed tremendously since the development of the web and the digital age. The capabilities of the internet have revolutionized how we do business. Every year, we’ve seen an increase in the percentage of buyers who begin their search for homes via the internet. This makes perfect sense. When homes are simply a few mouse clicks away, why wouldn’t you choose the easiest path of resistence?
The California Association of Realtors trade group recently reported that in its annual survey of home buyers, 78% percent of buyers used the internet as an important part of their home buying and selection process. This was an increase of six percent from the previous year, and followed the increasing pattern of previous years. According to Sherry Chris, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens, this shift of information access has had a dramatic change on the real estate busness. Today’s “consumer has access to all the infomation now, it is much different than it used to be.”
Most of us agree that one of the beauties of the web is the education it provides. On just about any subject, there’s more information available than you have time to read, or watch (Thank you, YouTube). For home buyers, while there are a number of different available “Homes For Sale” sites, the key question might be, “Are you using a search for homes site that is drawn directly from the MLS? If not, you should be. Why? Because they provide you the real time status of homes. If a home is Under Contract or Sold, the actual/current status will be reflected, not two day, or two week old status. If you’re working with a Realtor, they should be providing you with a daily feed of active homes directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that are on the market that match your search criteria. If they aren’t, ask them to provide you this free service. If they are unable to meet this need, it might be time to look for another Realtor.
For some real estate agents, these modern search tools aren’t exactly what the doctor ordered. While they certainly appreciate the online search for homes capability, their willingness to educate and provide useful online home related information to their clients isn’t met with that same enthusiasm. That doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t want their customers or clients to have the information on financing options, home inspections, settlement issues, moving links, and local utility providers, among other things. It simply means that THEY aren’t providing the information. I suppose the question is, “Why?”
The information paradigm has shifted in the home buying and selling business. What used to be something controlled to a large degree by those inside the real estate marketing club, has now been put on the web for all to see. We live in an “open source” or online world. For buyers, there’s no excuse not to take advantage of everything that’s available concerning neighborhoods, county agencies, schools, and homes, and anything else about the next place you’ll be calling home. These days you can often tour a prospective neighborhood and walk through a home from across the globe months before you ever set foot in your new location, by just going to the web.
For agents, we can provide our clients more information about their new county, city, local culture, and home, than they could ever desire to know, in just a few minutes by maneuvering the mouse and using the keyboard. I certainly appreciate clients that have done their research before beginning their quest for their next home. They, in turn, appreciate more information as opposed to less.
As far as the boiled frog story goes; it is an urban legend and not true. Tests have shown that as the water temperature increases, the frog becomes more and more active in its attempts to escape the gradually increasing water temperature. If there is a way to jump out of the hot water, the frog will. And, that kind of makes sense. There aren’t many of us who like being in hot water.
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It’s More Than a Matter of Inches
September 13th, 2008 categories: Military Installations, Relocating
“Why aren’t there any room sizes on the listing?”
I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been asked this question by prospective home buyers, whether calling to inquire about a property for sale, or after I’ve handed them a copy of the property listing. Buyers are consumers. And, in most cases, consumers want to know exactly what they’re spending their cold hard cash on. Predictably, they’re interested in knowing whether or not the property suits their needs.
Home ownership is not a “one size fits all” business. For those of us who’ve picked up a “super-sized” dining or bedroom room suite during one of our duty tours abroad (does Germany ring a bell?), room size is a vital consideration when looking at a possible next home. Not being able to fit furniture in a particular room is not an option.
Many property listings include the total finished living space, but far fewer mention or provide the size of each of the rooms inside the property. For many prospective buyers, this is information that is sorely needed when making the decision on whether a home might be suitable for occupancy.
Room sizes are included in a property listing to provide buyers with an accurate picture of the property. These sizes are normally not included for one of three reasons:
1) The seller has requested they not be included.
2) The agent has chosen not to include them.
3) The listing agent has not taken the time or made the effort to determine what the room sizes are.
Do any of these reasons make sense? Of course, the seller has the right to do whatever they choose. However, the listing agent has no excuse for not including room sizes in the property listing. Their duty is to act in the best interest of their client.
Providing information about a property, through words, pictures, or virtual tours, is the primary means of informing the viewing/shopping, or buying public what you is being sold. In selling a home, less is not more. On the contrary, home buyers want more information. The Stafford & Fredericksburg areas aren’t lacking when it comes to informed consumers. As far as our clientele is concerned, the more informative and specific a listing agent is in describing a property in the Multiple Listing Service(MLS), the better.
Fortunately, if room sizes are not included, there are a couple of ways to determine what the actual room sizes are.
First, the property made have been listed previously. If so, the room sizes may be included in the previous listing. Secondly, the listing agent, or seller, may actually have a blueprint or house plan indicating room sizes. Finally, when all else fails, you can always take measures (literally) into your own hands. When viewing the house, pull out the tape measure and measure the room sizes yourself. Believe it or not, most homeowners won’t mind. Remember, they want the home to sell! If you measuring rooms will help accomplish that, then they’ll be more than happy to oblige.
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When Karaoke Just Won’t Do
September 10th, 2008 categories: Entertainment, Relocating
One of the many pleasures in life is being entertained. For some of us, the convenience of the family room and big screen T.V. on a Sunday afternoon is about as good as it gets. I mean, how many armchair quarterbacks have ever been wrong?
But, hopefully, other than your daily back and forth to work, you get out every now and then to enjoy the people, places and things your community has to offer. Our Stafford & Fredericksburg area offers a variety of entertainment outlets for both young and old. One of the attractions that suits just about any taste is the Bella Cafe which sits on Route 1, just North of Stafford, VA.
The Cafe is not your everyday attraction. While it’s been called a restaurant or eatery, it’s anything but. Known for its Tuesday and Thursday Chess nights, the pieces and chess boards are actually in use whenever there’s table space and players ready to play. While the chess nights seem to attract an older crowd, it’s the Open Mic nights on Friday and Saturday that really draws the twenty-something and younger crowd. The “open mic” is just that.
While there is the line-up of regular performers, the microphone is open for all comers. As a matter of fact, it’s the ideal place for any and all beginners to get some experience. Whether its an instrument you play, or you just like to sing, there’s no better place to get your feet wet. For those with a bit more experience, what better place to hone their skills? Most of us do our best singing in the shower. For us, Bella offers us a comfortable place just to sit back and enjoy the entertainment. You won’t be disappointed. Of course, what’s a Cafe without food?
Bella is an all day affair. In other words, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. While open, food is served. Hours are:
Monday – Thursday 9:00AM – 10:00PM
Friday 9:00AM – 10:30PM
Saturday 9:00AM – 11:00PM
Sunday 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Menu items include many different offerings of various types of sandwiches, wraps, bagels, & soups, among other things. Drinks available include expresso drinks, gourmet coffees, smoothies, custard shakes, and the regular lineup of soft drinks. Teens stand in line for the 21 oz custard Brainfreeze which comes in an assortment of flavors. While I have yet to have one, the numbers don’t lie. The Brainfrreze must be tasty! But, it’s their Shrimp and Roasted Corn Bisque that I find hard to pass up. If a soup can be labeled gourmet, then it is gourmet.
The Bella Cafe isn’t you’re everday hangout. Not only is the food very good and the entertainment enjoyable, but, what keeps the faithful coming back is its charm and sense of community. So, next time you decide to turn off the big screen T.V. and head out for a bite to eat, by yourself or with friends and family, stop by the Bella Cafe. If you’re lucky, you may have the chance to listen to the next star of “America’s Got Talent.”
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