Podcasts about pullquote

Recently, Rudy Giuliani, formerly known as ‘America's Mayor,' sat down for a media interview with Newsmax, and likely it did not go as intended. One unprepared quote later, and the resulting gaff ended up all over social media. This type of thing can happen to anyone, and this week's podcast looks at why this interview was such a train wreck. Tuning in, you'll find out how Giuliani started off on the wrong foot, why the biggest mistake he made was treating a media interview like a conversation, and you'll hear the soundbite of the shocking faux pas that rocked headlines as a viral pull quote. This episode also includes five important things to consider to avoid saying something you'll regret in a media interview, as well as tips on how to handle mistakes, difficult questions, and tough reporters! You won't want to miss it.  Key Points From This Episode:  • Thoughts on the 21st anniversary of 9/11 and how much has changed.  • Rudy Giuliani, his unofficial title of 'America's Mayor,' and his subsequent downfall. • The Newsmax interview with Giuliani and why it was such a train wreck. • How a pull quote is different from a soundbite. • The importance of preparing for a media interview. • The soundbite where Giuliani got off on the wrong foot. • Five things to consider to avoid saying something you'll regret in your next media interview. • Why conducting an interview 'off the cuff ' is one of the most dangerous things you can do. • What to do if you make a mistake in an interview. • Tips for answering difficult questions and dealing with tough reporters. • The Indestructible PR tip. Links Mentioned in Today's Episode: "Rudy Giuliani to Newsmax: US 'in More Danger' Than Before 9/11"  Molly McPherson Molly McPherson on Twitter Molly McPherson on TikTok Molly McPherson on YouTube  Molly McPherson on InstagramIndestructible PR on Facebook Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis Audio Book  Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts  © 2022 Indestructible PR 

Cohen grew up in the east, hopping around small New York ski hills like Stony Point and Silver Mine. His father took him on trips to Vermont, skiing Stratton, Stowe, Killington, Mt. Snow and more. Mondays were a day off for his father, who owned a bakery, so it wasn't unusual for young Lee to play hooky and head off to Hunter Mountain or other day destinations.Along the way, he started thinking about skiing out west. A friend brought back a trail map from Aspen Highlands. Then in eighth grade, he went with a friend's family to Austria, skiing from village to village in Kitzbühel and experiencing his first powder day at Kaprun. A few years later, it was off to the Rockies, poaching slopeside lodging in tents and snow caves as he and buddies traveled around the west, eventually visiting Utah. He was hooked.In the early 1980s, Cohen got a camera and just started shooting his buddies. They traveled the west chasing powder. He still recalls vividly the record-setting winter of 1983-84. Photography was different then. There were no iPhones, digital cameras or autofocus lenses. It was all film, so you never really knew what you had until the film was processed. But he worked hard at it, figuring out his formulaic system. Soon, editors soon took notice.Photography was fun. It was an art form. And he was getting good at it. In December 1985, he made his first commercial sale, an image of a local skier who played hooky from school to ski High Rustler after a 42-inch storm. Soon his images were adorning the covers of SKI, Powder, Freeze and more.The next decades saw his work burgeon. His 2012 book Alta Magic captures the real spirit of the Wasatch in a magical collection of images and essays. Today, he still enjoys returning to old haunts - both in-bounds and in the backcountry - with willing ski models, including son Sam, and always looking for that new combination of sun, sky and snow to produce exhilarating images.While both photography and skiing have evolved greatly in his 40 years in the Wasatch, Cohen still has the touch. In the Alta marketing office, he proudly shows off his recent cover of SKI. Here's a sampling of our conversation with photographer Lee Cohen's. Listen in to the full  episode of Last Chair, the Ski Utah podcast, to learn more. As you drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon, what are some of your landmarks?I enjoy the whole ride. I like seeing the ridge of Monte Cristo and Superior when I first start getting above White Pine. That's unbelievable to me. Then it's Snowbird on the right and then there's Alta. High Rustler is one of the all time runs to be looking at from the bottom of any ski area.Do you recall your first trip to Utah?I don't even remember how I first heard about Alta, but I had this whole magical powder thing like it was fully in my head even before I'd seen the place. And then we got to ski here and I was sold by. We were here for about 10 days, and by the time we left, I knew I was coming back for good as soon as I could.“I always think I can get a better one, even in a spot that I've gone to before that. I'm always thinking I can get the best one ever today.”You really mapped out the perfect career for yourself, didn't you?I got into ski photography because I loved powder skiing. That was perfect since, here I am, at Alta - the bastion of powder skiing. But at some point along the way, I feel like I get pigeonholed as the deep powder photographer.How do you make locations look different each time you shoot there?I find that you can always make a place look different. You shoot it with a different millimeter lens or from a different spot. If you shift your location even just a few feet, you're making it look different. And change lenses - it's way different. Just try to change your approach and make the same old thing look different.Any simple tips for recreational photographers?Concentrate on following your subject. Try to set up your shots to make the odds be in your favor and and have the light working in your favor, either being side lit, front lit, backlit. If you're shooting in the storm, go out when there's a lot of snowflakes falling.“Ski with style  - form is everything.”What are some secrets to great powder shots?The biggest thing that I would say to my skiers skiing powder is, don't lay it over because you want to. In Utah, it's deep enough. You don't have to fake it. Just try to ski with form and style. Don't bring your hands too high. Don't make your hands too low, no higher than like a little below your shoulders and alternating pole plants in the powder. Ski with style  - form is everything.Nikon or Canon??I think they're all great. I've been a Nikon person my whole life. I love my Nikon equipment. It's burly. It can take a beating. Like, I'm not like the most careful person, so I'm a little abusive of the equipment and it's done me well.Do you ever get nostalgic for the old days of film?Some of the best times of my life as a ski photographer, and for my skiers, were the old days. We would be over the light table at my house, just foaming at the mouth, like we crazed out of our minds. Oh, my God, I knew that one was going to be like that. Yeah, that was a very exciting time in photography for me.Learn more about Lee Cohen's career as Utah's ski photographer in this episode of Last Chair, the Ski Utah podcast. 

Cohen grew up in the east, hopping around small New York ski hills like Stony Point and Silver Mine. His father took him on trips to Vermont, skiing Stratton, Stowe, Killington, Mt. Snow and more. Mondays were a day off for his father, who owned a bakery, so it wasn't unusual for young Lee to play hooky and head off to Hunter Mountain or other day destinations.Along the way, he started thinking about skiing out west. A friend brought back a trail map from Aspen Highlands. Then in eighth grade, he went with a friend's family to Austria, skiing from village to village in Kitzbühel and experiencing his first powder day at Kaprun. A few years later, it was off to the Rockies, poaching slopeside lodging in tents and snow caves as he and buddies traveled around the west, eventually visiting Utah. He was hooked.In the early 1980s, Cohen got a camera and just started shooting his buddies. They traveled the west chasing powder. He still recalls vividly the record-setting winter of 1983-84. Photography was different then. There were no iPhones, digital cameras or autofocus lenses. It was all film, so you never really knew what you had until the film was processed. But he worked hard at it, figuring out his formulaic system. Soon, editors soon took notice.Photography was fun. It was an art form. And he was getting good at it. In December 1985, he made his first commercial sale, an image of a local skier who played hooky from school to ski High Rustler after a 42-inch storm. Soon his images were adorning the covers of SKI, Powder, Freeze and more.The next decades saw his work burgeon. His 2012 book Alta Magic captures the real spirit of the Wasatch in a magical collection of images and essays. Today, he still enjoys returning to old haunts - both in-bounds and in the backcountry - with willing ski models, including son Sam, and always looking for that new combination of sun, sky and snow to produce exhilarating images.While both photography and skiing have evolved greatly in his 40 years in the Wasatch, Cohen still has the touch. In the Alta marketing office, he proudly shows off his recent cover of SKI. Here's a sampling of our conversation with photographer Lee Cohen's. Listen in to the full  episode of Last Chair, the Ski Utah podcast, to learn more. As you drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon, what are some of your landmarks?I enjoy the whole ride. I like seeing the ridge of Monte Cristo and Superior when I first start getting above White Pine. That's unbelievable to me. Then it's Snowbird on the right and then there's Alta. High Rustler is one of the all time runs to be looking at from the bottom of any ski area.Do you recall your first trip to Utah?I don't even remember how I first heard about Alta, but I had this whole magical powder thing like it was fully in my head even before I'd seen the place. And then we got to ski here and I was sold by. We were here for about 10 days, and by the time we left, I knew I was coming back for good as soon as I could.“I always think I can get a better one, even in a spot that I've gone to before that. I'm always thinking I can get the best one ever today.”You really mapped out the perfect career for yourself, didn't you?I got into ski photography because I loved powder skiing. That was perfect since, here I am, at Alta - the bastion of powder skiing. But at some point along the way, I feel like I get pigeonholed as the deep powder photographer.How do you make locations look different each time you shoot there?I find that you can always make a place look different. You shoot it with a different millimeter lens or from a different spot. If you shift your location even just a few feet, you're making it look different. And change lenses - it's way different. Just try to change your approach and make the same old thing look different.Any simple tips for recreational photographers?Concentrate on following your subject. Try to set up your shots to make the odds be in your favor and and have the light working in your favor, either being side lit, front lit, backlit. If you're shooting in the storm, go out when there's a lot of snowflakes falling.“Ski with style  - form is everything.”What are some secrets to great powder shots?The biggest thing that I would say to my skiers skiing powder is, don't lay it over because you want to. In Utah, it's deep enough. You don't have to fake it. Just try to ski with form and style. Don't bring your hands too high. Don't make your hands too low, no higher than like a little below your shoulders and alternating pole plants in the powder. Ski with style  - form is everything.Nikon or Canon??I think they're all great. I've been a Nikon person my whole life. I love my Nikon equipment. It's burly. It can take a beating. Like, I'm not like the most careful person, so I'm a little abusive of the equipment and it's done me well.Do you ever get nostalgic for the old days of film?Some of the best times of my life as a ski photographer, and for my skiers, were the old days. We would be over the light table at my house, just foaming at the mouth, like we crazed out of our minds. Oh, my God, I knew that one was going to be like that. Yeah, that was a very exciting time in photography for me.Learn more about Lee Cohen's career as Utah's ski photographer in this episode of Last Chair, the Ski Utah podcast. 

The final of four compilation episodes highlighting the best moments of the Dave Lee Down Under Podcast's second season. Watch the VIDEO PODCAST at DLDU Podcast YouTube Head to kicks.com.au and use the code DAVE15 for 15% OFF your order!Check Out randomspacemedia.com ON THIS EPISODE 00:00 - The Start / Intro 01:21 - Disastrous Opening in the Studio! 04:33 - Scheduled Upload Disaster!  08:24 - Corporate Shill for the Mouse (#FreeGuy) 12:26 - Dave on The Weakest Link 36:19 - Dave's 5th YouTube Anniversary 40:26 - Begging Sony for a 4K Projector 43:10 - Dave's Pull-Quote on the Raya DVD 47:47 - WandaVision's ‘Inconvenient' Weekly Releases 01:18:30 - Subscriber Questions - Fave Things to Do in Isolation 01:22:49 - The End FIND DAVE ON:YOUTUBEDave Lee Down UnderDave Lee Down Under EXTRADave Lee Down Under PodcastTWITTER   @daveleedwnundrINSTAGRAM    @daveleedwnundrAMAZON US AFFILIATE STOREAMAZON UK AFFILIATE STORE

In This Episode: An announcement on the future of the Geek to Geek podcast. Join Our Community! Discord: discord.geektogeekmedia.com Slack: slack.geektogeekmedia.com Other Geek to Geek Media Original Content We have expanded the original content on the Geek to Geek Media website. We now have video game reviews, movie lookbacks, geeky toy rundowns, and all sorts of original blogs and livestreams. Not to mention the slate of fantastic podcasts that you know and love. Head over to geektogeekmedia.com to check it all out. Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | Spotify | RSS Feed Music by CarboHydroM --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/geektogeekcast/support

Our guest is Bruce Jones with 1ON1 SEO Training. He teaches people SEO in a simple, understandable, no nonsense way. It's not arcane magic, and he makes it clear. Bruce shares with us how he got started in his business as well as some great tips on doing SEO, including the importance of link backs, such as what you get when you go on a podcast and they link back to your web site.   Want to take advantage of the free coaching call I offer in the episode, click here. To learn more about Virtual Speed Networking, every first Wednesday of the month at 7 PM Eastern, click here. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle

In this episode, we interview Dylan Pilon. His Cloud Nine Marketing Group leverages collaboration to create a powerful team of marketing professionals to deliver a variety of solutions to his clients. In this interview, we talk about the importance of branding, why you have to keep marketing especially in hard times, and what's new in digital strategy including LinkedIn and Tiktok. This interview was originally recorded on July 2nd, 2020. Be sure to check out our upcoming Virtual Speed Networking events on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!)   Mentioned in this episode: Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle

A great conversation with David Toney of DP Group. He is a real estate investor from Indianapolis. We first connected when David used my https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy) link on my web site to get an introduction to an ARV appraiser in Indianapolis, a city to which I have never been. We learn about real estate investing, how to get into the business even if you don't have capital, and a bit about what it takes to be successful in business. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle

Today we have a fascinating interview with Dr. Michelle Tichy. Dr. Tichy is an expert in educational psychology. She works with parents to help them unlock the amazing potential of their children to learn and grow. We discuss matters of education, new ways of learning, and what it's like to teach in the era of Covid. Stay tuned at the end of this episode for a sneak peak of the upcoming season of the podcast starting September 29th. How to find Dr. Tichy online: http://www.drmichtich.com (www.drmichtich.com) facebook.com/drmichtich https://www.facebook.com/groups/854980048345723 (Facebook Group) IG @drmichtich http://www.drmichtich.ctcin.bio Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com

In this interview, we'll be speaking with Mark Spinnato of Bouvier Insurance. Mark is a true insurance professional, holding the prestigious Certified Insurance Consultant credential. I was fortunate enough to meet Mark through the Mystic BNI chapter of which were are both members, and I've been impressed by his encyclopedic knowledge of the industry and his commitmentto taking care of his customers. If you want to connect with Mark Spinnato directly, you can reach out to him directly. He works with Bouvier Insurance in Waterford, and you can reach him at 860-859-9821x313 or 860-625-7702. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com

Our guest today is Larry Zaccaro, scientist, author, game designer, Toastmaster, and more. Larry is the author of children's book https://amzn.to/30L4Xn8 (Amy and the Orca) and the insightfully philosophical novel Convergent. He invented the card game Wordplay, is a member of the Mystic Aquarium Toastmasters Club, and in his free time he helps his son who founded https://www.toxbrewing.com/ (Tox Brewing) in New London, Connecticut. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com

Tyler Hespeler, a local Realtor and real estate investor here in the Mystic area. It all started when he and his wife bought a fixer upper home and discovered that there was the potential to make money in real estate. One thing led to another, and now Tyler invests in real estate and helps other families on their own real estate journey. Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise )License Thanks to Pat Helmers of Habanero Media for all his great advice in getting this podcast back up and running. Our thanks to Tyler Hespeler for a great interview. Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com

A great conversation with William Martin, the executive director for the http://www.waterfordcountryschool.org/ (Waterford Country School). Nearly a century old, the Waterford Country School serves kids that might otherwise be left behind, through their foster homes, the unique schooling programs, their therapeutic boarding school, and more, they provide support that truly makes a difference to the kids they serve. To contact the host, Michael Whitehouse, email michael@guywhoknowsaguy.com Credits: Theme song produced by Patrick Howard of Four Unicorns Design Woosh sound from Benjaminharveydesign https://freesound.org/people/benjaminharveydesign/ https://filmmusic.io/song/5066-perls (Pullquote music: Perls by MusicParadise) License Need an introduction from The Guy Who Knows A Guy? https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/i-got-a-guy/ (I Got A Guy!) Mentioned in this episode: Get my MP3 I have recorded my book in audio form. Get your copy for free at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com Network without talking to strangers Did you know that you can network without ever talking to a stranger? It's true. Networking is not about awkward conversations and elevator pitches. It is about making connections and creating value. I'll teach you how in a two minute video at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/innercircle

Happy new year! We've got a special treat for you today. You may have heard that we've been working on an experiment, a new mini-podcast series called Pull Quote. The episodes are short audio gems that we've dug up from our archives and from elsewhere. This week, we're sending our first batch of episodes to those of you who've donated to support the show. But as we start the this new year together, we thought we'd share the first Pull Quote with all of you: some words of wisdom about beginnings from writer Jamaica Kincaid.  We’ve had a lot of fun making these, and it's not too late to sign up to hear them all. If you want to hear the other Pull Quote episodes we’ve made, chip in $30 or more right now. We’ll email you a special link every morning for a week where you can listen in. Plus, you'll get to tell us what you think about this Pull Quote series and whether we should make more. Thanks so much to those of you who've given money and supported our show. We really appreciate it. Look out for a new episode from us later this week. — Special thanks to composer and sound designer Hannis Brown for his scoring work on our Pull Quote series.   

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at (503) 427-9233 for a FREE home buying or selling consultationLocated just minutes south of downtown and right next to Lewis And Clark College, this safe community offers the best of both worlds with huge estates and an amazing school system. The Riverdale school district in Dunthorpe has the high school and the elementary school with 18 students per classroom and an average of $14,000 spent on each student.I’m joined by Andre, who just moved to Dunthorpe from Pasadena, California, to talk about Dunthorpe and his favorite parts of living here. “The location allows us to be almost in a country-like environment right here in Dunthorpe, and yet we are 10 minutes away from Lake Oswego, we are 15 minutes away from downtown, we have access to the Five Freeway very easily,  and we have a number of ways that we can go downtown,” Andre said. “The access from this position is outstanding.”Andre has already found several favorite restaurants here in “The City of Restaurants,” as he says, including Tucci and A Cena for Italian and Tavern on Kruse for a modern option, and of course a number of restaurants he frequents downtown both on the East Side and West Side.Lewis and Clark offers a wonderful library, lectures, and music, all of which Andre plans to take advantage of, living just walking distance from the college.I also want to show you this beautiful custom home built in 2007 between the Willamette River and Highway 43 on Riverwood road, in one of the most exclusive parts of Dunthorpe. It recently sold in 2015 for just under $1.6 million.Take a look at Elk Rock Gardens, one of my favorite spaces in all of Dunthorpe. Elk Rock Gardens boasts about six acres of English gardens designed by an amazing firm in New York City that also designed Central Park. It’s a great place for a picnic where you can sit knowing you can be here seven days a week. Thanks so much for joining me in our tour through the beautiful Dunthorpe neighborhood. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Call me at (503) 427-9233 for a FREE home buying or selling consultationWest Linn is located in Clackamas County and it’s where I was born and raised. There are some lovely old homes in this rustic area, and if you’ve never been in the area, I recommend you come and take a look.Holloran Winery and Oswego Hills Vineyard are popular spots for locals. McMenamins is where I’m shooting this video, and this restaurant was the first brew house in West Linn. Their Sunflower IPA is their signature beer, and this is because their beer garden is lined with sunflowers. If you come here, you need to see the Williamette Falls. There is an intricate lock system built by the pioneers that settled here, and these falls are the 17th widest in the United States!West Linn was established back in 1913, and in 2011 CNN and Money Magazine ranked West Linn as the 69th best place to live in America. We were also voted as the top place to live in Oregon!We are also named ‘Tree City USA’ by the Arbor Day foundation for our commitment to urban forestry. Developers like to come to West Linn and renovate old homes into new and beautiful ones. We are actually doing this right now and will be selling 3,000 sq. ft. homes for about $575,000. If you want to find out more about West Linn, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.More and more, we’re starting to see the same problem during home inspections. In 2002, the state of Texas started requiring double-pane windows to be installed on all homes moving forward. These windows have a life expectancy of about 20-30 years, depending on the type. Since builders use different manufacturers and different types of materials for their double-pane windows, they are not all created equal. As a result, we’re seeing a 15% failure rate on some of the earliest windows, typically installed sometime between 2002 and 2005. The cause of these failures is our extreme weather. When you have 100-degree summers, the seals in the windows expand and contract; over time, they lose their elasticity and you get moisture in the window. A sign of a failed window is cloudiness on the inside of your windows, so if you’re seeing that on some of your windows, you may want to get them checked out. If you think your double-pane windows might be failing, it’s best to get them checked out and fixed before you list your home. You don’t want to lose a buyer over an issue like this, and even if the buyer sticks around while you get them repaired, it will really slow down the process. If you have any questions or concerns about this topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to give you a hand!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Every so often, we have foreclosed homes that come onto our market, and there are always many different kinds of buyers looking to purchase them. A lot of them are wholesale buyers, looking to purchase a property, rent it out, and sell it. Then we also have the families, the everyday buyers, who are looking for a good deal and want to move into the property right away. If you are a homebuyer looking at a foreclosure, it’s true that these homes will often be marketed at a discounted rate if they are in need of some improvements or other work. Some, if not most, of these foreclosures, wind up in a bidding process. By the time the price gets bid up to an actual sales price, typically it’s not a good buy anymore because of all the time and effort that’s needed to make the home suitable for you to live in. However, people still flock to these properties because they are labeled as “foreclosures.” Usually, regular homes are every bit as good of a purchase. Foreclosures are essentially a mixed-bag, and you rarely know what you’re going to get. If you have any questions about foreclosures, feel free to give me a call or send me a quick email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.One of the most frequent questions I get these days is if we are in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in Houston. The answer is, we are actually in a balanced market. Whenever you’re in a balanced market, you’re never really even-keeled. Typically you’re trending one way or another; toward a seller’s market or a buyer’s market. The Houston real estate market is currently trending toward a buyer’s market.This means we have more sellers than we do buyers. Right now we have about 6.5 sellers for every buyer out there. Typically when you get to about a five month supply of homes for sale - which we’re easing towards right now - it turns into a full-blown buyer’s market. Right now, prices are becoming competitive because we have so many sellers trending toward that buyer’s market. Over the past year we’ve seen about a half point decline in home values on a monthly basis, so prices are down in general; about 6% lower than where they were during the same period last year. I expect the current decline to continue, well into the summertime. In fact, I expect us to hit that buyer’s market at the end of July, when prices will become even more competitive, and we’ll have about 10 sellers for every buyer in the market. Things will get interesting unless something changes dramatically in the petroleum industry (which is what controls a lot of our market in Houston).If you’re interested in learning more, email me and I’ll provide a free market analysis. If you have any questions in general, send me an email or give me a call. I look forward to working with you.

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.A lot of people have been asking me about the differences between a short sale and a foreclosure. They are both different kinds of distressed properties, and I’ll tell you the difference today.A foreclosure is a home that a bank owns because it was repossessed due to an owner’s inability to pay back a mortgage loan. A short sale is a process in which a bank allows a homeowner to sell a home at less than what they owe the bank. This usually happens because of a drop in value. I did a search this morning, and we are seeing more short sales and foreclosures because of the rise in prices in the area. I actually expect a 50-60% increase in the number of foreclosures. The market has been white-hot the past few years, and it’s simply time for it to cool down a little. No need to worry, though, our market is still very strong!Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help buying or selling a home in Houston!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Today, I want to talk to you about a market condition that is starting to happen more often. This isn’t something that happened when Houston was in a seller’s market, but now that we’re in a balanced market, buyers have started making an offer on a home, executing a contract, and then continuing to look for homes. If the buyer finds another home they like better, they will secure that home under contract and terminate the initial contract. The Texas real estate contract lets the buyer out during the termination option period with a very insignificant penalty to the buyer.This drives sellers and agents crazy, but buyers have the upper hand in this market. We haven’t seen this happen before. Now, just having your home under contract is not a sure thing. It used to be that if problems arose during the home inspection and the buyer and seller couldn’t negotiate a deal, then the buyer would walk away. That’s not happening as much anymore. Now buyers are just finding a home they like better, and they have a lot to choose from. In our current market, there are 5.5 sellers for every buyer to choose from. If you have any questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.The great news right now in the Houston market is that interest rates are still low and buyers still have faith in the market. There will come a point when many home buyers will decide to wait another 6 months to start buying again, and when that happens we are going to start to see some declines in buying activity. The biggest challenge sellers are having is that there is only one buyer out there for every 5 sellers. We are seeing 1 out of every 5 homes sell, and the rest are sitting. A lot of people are listing their homes right now and as long as petroleum stays in the $30 per barrel range, we expect this to continue. One other thing we wanted to mention is to remember to protest your property taxes. I can help you with that. Head over to drtaxprotest.com and I’ll send you the info you need to protest them in 2016. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to get a call or email from you!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.December 2015 was a record month in real estate for the Houston area. The momentum has continued so far in January, which started out with a phenomenal burst of buyers. In fact, this past weekend we had 48 people show up to a single open house, and we received three offers by the end of the day.What we're looking for this year is an increase in interest rates. When rates rise, they decrease the affordability index, which can negatively affect home prices. If you take a home price of $250,000, a change in interest rates from 3.75% to 4.25% will have a pretty dramatic impact on the affordability of a home. It will likely put some downward pressure on the median sale price, but how much pressure depends on how big the change is, so be sure to keep an eye on rates throughout the year.If you have any questions about what you can expect from the Houston market this year, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to help you take advantage of the market before rates rise and prices fall!

Considering Buying? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're a prospective seller, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Market Analysis. For any other questions, feel free to call me at (281) 599-6575, or shoot me an email at rdr@daleross.com.Recently, I had a client who was searching for a home ask me an interesting question. He asked if certain builders’ homes sold for higher prices than other builders’ homes. This isn’t an easy question to answer, because many buyers who buy re-sale homes, even custom homes, have no idea who originally built the home. If the homeowner keeps the home updated and upgraded to the point where buyers form an emotional connection with it, typically those homes are all going to sell for the same price. When you’re talking about brand-new homes, there are some builders that initially charge more than others. But really, it’s comparing apples to apples when you’re comparing custom homes. Whenever a buyer goes in, has an emotional connection, and can see great upgrades and updates in the home, it can sell for top dollar. If you have any questions for us or are concerned with how your home will present to a buyer when you’re ready to sell, let me know. I can give you tips and hints to sell for top dollar in Houston. I look forward to hearing from you!

Check out the next Agent MastermindApply OnlineIf you’re eligible for one, a VA mortgage loan is one of the best products available. A VA (Veterans Administration) mortgage is offered to veterans, active duty service members who have had two years of active duty or been on foreign soil, and surviving spouses of veterans. There is 100% financing and no private mortgage insurance, which keeps the monthly payment low for our veterans.Our minimum down payment requirement for VA loans is 0% (unless the purchase is for a home valued at more than $417,000). We do require that the borrower has at least a 600 credit score, and the debt-to-income requirement will be determined by the automated underwriting system, but the requirements for VA loans are far more liberal than some other conventional loans. One thing that’s different about a VA loan is that they have a residual income piece. The Veteran’s Administration wants to make sure that families can pay for their homes as well as certain other expenses. So, along with the debt-to-income requirements, you must meet a certain residual income requirement. Like I said earlier, the VA mortgage is one of the best products available. If you can qualify and are interested in buying a home anytime soon, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Interest rates are incredibly low and it is a phenomenal time to buy a home.I look forward to continuing this conversation with you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationRyan Mackay of Real Property Law joins me to answer a recent client question: What is the number one problem for sellers to avoid? If you’re selling a house or bare land condo, you need a real property report. Ryan sees a huge percentage of sales come in without a real property report. A lot of these sellers are two weeks away from closing and say they have never even heard of this report!The real property report is essentially a surveyor’s drawing that shows where your property lines are. The RPR lets you know if your stuff is sitting on your land or if your new fence is encroaching on your neighbor’s property. If that’s the case, that problem will cost money to fix.If there’s no RPR in play, the contract gives the buyer complete power over the deal. You need a real property report with a municipal compliance stamp from the city confirming that everything is okay. If you don’t have that, the buyer can put the entire deal on hold and even delay funds. If you need that money to purchase your next home, suddenly, you’re in a bad position to purchase your next home.Get the real property report ready to go when you list your property. Sometimes, you might have had one before, but if you built a new fence or shed you need to get it updated. This is a huge problem that is easily preventable. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationWe’re back again with our good friend Ryan Mackay of Real Property Law to discuss the important topic of real estate and divorce. Ryan’s going to share some tips, best practices, and processes of going through a transaction while going through a divorce at the same time.Even a “good divorce” isn’t always a good time. There’s always a lot of stress and pressure during this time, and the last thing you want is to add more of it by having to deal with a real estate transaction. Quite often during a divorce, both parties have their own family lawyer and want to use that lawyer. Either way, someone will be left feeling extremely vulnerable. One way to remedy this problem is by hiring an independent, 3rd-party law firm that’s just there to do the transaction. Someone like Ryan and his team. For the most part, when both parties have agreed to sell, there isn’t much left to fight about. However, there are worries about money. If people come to Ryan, he will help them sell and if they give him a written statement explaining what to do with the funds, things are made a whole lot easier. Otherwise, he can hold the funds in trust until the family lawyers have done their thing. This makes sure no one is taken advantage of throughout the process.Ryan and his team can be a helpful unbiased third-party, an intermediary who can remain neutral. As for buying a home from a couple that’s divorcing, it’s important to know one thing. When you move into the house, it will be full of junk that neither spouse wanted. They will take the stuff they want and leave the rest. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a good thing to know. If you are going through a situation like this or know someone who is, we can help. Just give us or Ryan a call or send us an email, and we’ll be sure to handle things with the utmost care. We look forward to hearing from you!

Want to Sell Your Polk County Home? Get a free home value reportLooking to Buy a Polk County Home? Search all homes on the mlsBrock Jennings, a listing partner here at The Butler Team, joins us today with a couple great reasons to have our team sell your home! Guaranteed buy program: If we don't sell your home, we'll buy it from you! Systems: We provide you with many great services, including state-of-the-art marketing, from professional staging to professional photography.Speed: The average days on market is only 62 days, from the moment you sign a contract with us to the time you deposit the money from your sale into your bank account.These are only a few of the many reasons to sell with us. If you would like our assistance in real estate, or if you have questions of any kind, give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon! 

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report  Purchasing in the Indianapolis area? Click here for full MLS accessOftentimes, first-time home buyers and current rental tenants ask us whether they should consider buying or renting. There are a few reasons why buying is better than renting, especially in the surrounding Indianapolis region. Pride of homeownership: It’s the American dream and what everyone strives for. If you get approved for a loan, now is the best time to make the transition.Mortgage interest deductions: You can take your mortgage interest and deduct that from your taxes. If you’re renting, you’ll only receive the standard $1,500 deduction.Your credit score: Everybody knows how important credit scores are! It helps you buy anything you want. Owning a home and paying your mortgage on time can increase your credit score.Rising rents: The country faces increasing monthly rent payments everywhere. Instead of paying rent, you can be investing in your own property.If you’re thinking about buying in the local marketplace, give us a call or send us an email! We’d be happy to work with you and answer any real estate questions you might have.

The Central Iowa real estate market is diverse with both buyers and sellers alike seeking a variety of different properties. As a prospective seller, you can find out the market value of your property with a free home value report right here, or if you're looking to purchase in the Central Iowa click here for full MLS access. Always feel free to reach out to us for any questions regarding the current market conditions, or the value of your property at 515-229-9764.The Misty SOLDwisch Team is hiring! This spring, we’ve been extremely busy. Luckily, we’re also experiencing phenomenal growth. That’s why we’re looking for someone new to join our real estate team. If you’re looking to get into the industry, or want a different approach if you’re already in it, we would love to talk to you about becoming a buyer specialist.There are plenty of advantages to working with my team. We have plenty of leads to pursue throughout the Des Moines metropolitan area at different price points. We know buyers ready and eager to purchase a home. We have television commercials featuring Barbara Corcoran and radio ads with KJJY and WHO.Additionally, we offer unparalleled training. Not only does every single staff member go through personalized training, but they’re paired with a seasoned mentor to help them during those introductory months. This helps you be as confident as possible.Third, we have amazing support. I have two full-time transaction managers to ensure everything is in order once a contract happens. That helps our agents concentrate on working face-to-face with clients, rather than all that daunting paperwork.If this opportunity sounds adventurous to you, we would love to hear from you. Give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleHome 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!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationThere are countless pitfalls you can fall into during the home buying process. Today we want to help you avoid some of the more troubling ones, so we’ve invited Ryan Mackay, an attorney with Real Property Law, to talk a little bit about how to avoid certain pitfalls that have ruined deals for buyers in the past. Within a purchase contract, there are an endless number of things that could go wrong. While the big, catastrophic problems are rare, they are still possible if you don’t have the right person or team of people guiding you through the process.Ryan says that most of the problems he sees are mistakes made before the client even comes to his office. One of the biggest issues he’s been seeing has to do with home inspections or lack thereof. Let’s say you are looking at a house and for whatever reason, you decide not to get an inspection. You may think that everything appears to be fine from your walkthroughs, but what you don’t know is that there is a clause in a standard contract that says the property will be in essentially the same condition on the possession date as the day the contract is signed.If there ends up being something major wrong with the home that doesn’t get picked up due to a lack of home inspection, there is nothing Ryan can do to help at that point. By waiving your inspection, you waived your right at re-negotiation of the contract due to repairs. The contract says you're buying as-is, so you end up paying good money for a broken item. This is a completely preventable issue and proof that getting a home inspection is a wise investment. More than just the inspection, it’s about hiring the right people to work with so that you never have the opportunity to skip an inspection. You want your agent, your lender, your lawyer, and your home inspector to all work together in order to help you buy a home.If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home market anaylsisIn Denton, there’s three important questions to ask when you go house hunting. It’s not always about finding the perfect house at the right price. The ratings of the area schools: Some people don’t think to ask because they don’t have kids, but it’s important to know where you sit in ratings of area schools for the purpose of resale value. Ratings range anywhere from poor to exemplary, and you can find them all on our website. Utilities and fees: You can’t just look at the average utilities. Is the property in a co-op or is managed by the city? Those will make a difference in your rates, as well as whether or not it is unregulated. Can you choose your electricity provider? We can help you with all of that information. You need to find out if your property is located in an area that collects a special resale tax when you sell. Some areas tack on an additional fee when you turn around and sell.What the area is like over the course of the day: Find out what the area is like during at least three different times of day. You’re probably seeing a house during the day, but look out at night for things like how many cars are parked and how many people are home or not home. You should also look into what it’s like on the weekend versus midweek.Have further questions about these topics or anything about real estate in general? Give us a call or send an email and we’d be happy to speak with you.

Looking to buy in Beverly Hills?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell in Beverly Hills?  Get a free home value reportToday, I’m going to talk about discount brokers and some of the dangers of using one. A discount broker will offer to sell your property at a discounted rate compared to a full-service broker. The discount broker operates on volume. They are not interested in getting you the highest and best value for your home. They are using the sale of your property to attract buyers, so they can work with a buyer and get paid the full commission. What makes a good broker? A good broker offers you the knowledge to price your home effectively to sell it for top dollar quickly with the least amount of hassle. Additionally, an ideal broker advocates your best interests when negotiating, instead of making your property fit their business model. Are they worth the money? Absolutely, a good broker is worth every penny! They have your best interests at heart. Their goal is to get you the highest and best value for the sale of your home while offering you a full, professional service. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleIf 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.

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report  Purchasing in the Indianapolis area? Click here for full MLS accessToday we’re coming at you with three simple tips to prepare your home for sale in this selling market. We want you to be ready should you decide to sell your home. Here are our three steps:1. Declutter your homeThe last impression you want to give to buyers is that you’re a hoarder. Start decluttering every nook and cranny of your home, including your closets, garage, and pantry. Everything needs to look as neat and clean as possible.2. Think about your curb appealWhen people first drive up to your home, what impression do they get? If you have fresh mulch, new plants, and a tidy yard, buyers will be more drawn to your home.3. Fix broken thingsThe first thing a buyer is going to do after their offer is accepted is order a home inspection. If you are proactive and get a pre-listing inspection, you have the opportunity to fix these problems before they even show up. If you fix these broken things before you list, there will be fewer items on the inspection and less room for the buyer to negotiate. This leads to a smoother closing.If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationToday I’m here with a big announcement. I have decided to switch companies and have moved over to CIR Realty here in Calgary. Not only is this an exciting step in my career, it’s also a great opportunity to better serve all of you.CIR Realty and I are putting on a client event, so make sure you register. We are having a Homeowners Trade Show. This is a great session to get information on how to list and sell your home. There will also be a great real estate investment opportunity with Walton Capital Management. If you are interested in learning about land investment, selling your home, and more, join us Saturday, April 23rd at the Winsport International Arena. If you show up, you will have a chance to win $10,000. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Submit your resume hereBrock Jennings, our number one agent for the month of May, joins us today to share his success!Brock had 13 closed transactions in the month of May and earned a biweekly check of $25,000! We offer a ton of lead sources for our agents, so we play a huge role in helping him produce at such high level! Every day there are more leads, making it easy for motivated and hardworking people like Brock to take home a whole lot of money!We have a fun work environment and love to help our agents succeed in the industry. If you or anyone you know has any interest in joining our stellar team, give us a call or shoot us an email. We're always looking for talented people to join our team! We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Submit your resume hereWe have a very exciting opportunity for everyone today, and we are looking to hire an agent that is hungry to succeed.We have over 300 leads coming in every month, and we need help. Even if you don't make $75,000 per year, we will pay you the difference. It sounds crazy, but it's true.We want to hear from you, so please call us at 863-294-6773 or call my cell at 863-206-3500.You can also email us about this opportunity: getpaid@thebutlerteam.com

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home market anaylsisSpring is upon us and the selling season is in full swing. Today, I want to talk about “pre-habbing©” your home for sale. Basically, pre-habbing© involves the two D’s: depersonalize and declutter. To depersonalize your home, remove all of the items that tie you to the home. That means taking down family photos, trinkets from vacations, and other things of that nature. You want to start the home selling process with a blank slate. If you’re not sure what I mean, feel free to stop by a model home and you’ll see what I mean. Decluttering your home feels amazing. Go ahead and have the best garage sale ever. Advertise your garage sale on social media to draw more people. If your neighborhood or community is having a sale, chime in with them. You will sell even more by partnering with a community sale. If you don’t have time to do these things - or if you aren’t interested - just give us a call. We have great relationships with multiple estate sale companies. We can find one in your area that would love to take care of you.These two steps are very important to the pre-hab© of your sale. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationWhen you decide to put your home up for sale in Calgary, you need to ask yourself a few different questions. We’re going to review them today.Are you going to hire a Realtor? If so, how will you find a good one? Word-of-mouth is a good way to find a Realtor, or looking at reviews online and checking credentials is also helpful in finding a trustworthy real estate professional.How will you prepare, present, and price your home? These are the three P’s of real estate, and they are essential for selling your home. Prepare: This includes decluttering, cleaning, repairing, landscaping, and more.Present: You may want to invest in a professional home stager to make your home more appealing to a wider range of buyers.Price: If you don’t price your home correctly, your home won’t sell. Your home’s price is your #1 piece of marketing and advertising. We’re currently operating in a very competitive market, so your home’s price has to be right at the fair market value. Buyers don’t want to pay extra when they don’t have to, and they will know when they’re getting a raw deal. To pinpoint a perfect price, you will have to consult a professional like myself to run a comparative market analysis. This is the only way to find an attractive price for your home.If you need help selling in Calgary this year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

Selling your Baltimore and Harford home? Get a free home value reportBuying a Baltimore and Harford home? Search all homes for saleWho does our market currently favor, buyers or sellers? Let’s take a look at a few recent market trends to find out!Right now, inventory is incredibly low, which makes it a great time to be a seller. Buyers are out looking for homes because interest rates are so low and, as the spring season approaches, demand is only going to increase. In order to take advantage of this influx in buyers, it’s best to start getting your home ready for the market right now. Give us a call if you’re interested in a free market analysis and help with staging. We can help you sell your home quickly and for top dollar.Although sellers have the upper hand, it’s not necessarily a bad time to buy. There is a lot of grant money available for first-time buyers, making it cheap to buy a great first home. Talk to your local lender, or one of our preferred lenders, to see what kind of lending program works best for you and your family. Even if you’re not a first-time buyer, borrowing money is pretty cheap right now, as interest rates are historically low. Experts believe that rates will rise this year, so now is an opportune time to lock in a low rate when buying a new home!If you have any questions about where our market is heading, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

Looking to buy in Beverly Hills?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell in Beverly Hills?  Get a free home value reportToday we are going to talk about how to handle multiple offer situations in Beverly Hills. When you receive multiple offers on your home, there are a few different ways you can approach the situation. First, you can counter all the other offers. Ask all the buyers’ agents to submit their highest and best offer by a specific date. Another option you have is sifting through all the offers and simply picking the one or two strongest to counter. If one offer is clearly better than all the others, you might want to go ahead and accept that one right away. Here’s what you should be looking for in a strong offer. First off, you want very strong supporting documents, which include a current proof of funds and a current pre-approval verification. On top of that, we want our lender to cross-approve the buyer to make sure they are financially capable. When you are a seller dealing with multiple offers, don’t just look at the numbers. You also have to look at the terms and evaluate the offer as a whole. Often times, people will try to trap the seller with an attractive price, only to load up on the contingencies. We don’t want that.We want to see the entire agreement, looking at the price as well as all the terms. We also want to see who is representing the buyer and make sure they have a good track record. At the end of the day, you want a smooth transaction as well as the highest and best offer. Every situation is unique, however. So if you have any specific questions for us about buying, selling, or investing in Beverly Hills real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price EvaluationToday we’ve got a market update for you, and all the latest stats for the Calgary market. It’s going to be a challenging market for sure, but we have some good news.What we’re seeing lately is that our office has had the 2nd best February we’ve ever had, which is always great news. Another trend we are seeing is extremely low interest rates. People are getting used to the “new normal” of low oil prices, so now people are using that savings to buy homes while rates are low. People are also using these conditions to move up into nicer homes.Let’s say you own a $400,000 3-bedroom home, but have 5 kids. You’re going to need a bigger house. One great thing about the current market is that there is a healthy demand for homes priced between $350,000 and $450,000. At the same time, homes priced between $500,000 and $700,000 have taken a hit in this market, and are being sold at a discount. For move-up buyers, this means selling their home quickly for a little less than they would have gotten in the past couple of years. However, you can also then move-up and buy your new home for a lot less than you could have in the last few years. We’re seeing a ton of activity at our open houses, and buyers and sellers are out there in the market ready to make moves. Things are really starting to stir, and we expect to have a really good 2016. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home value reportToday we’re going to talk about how we set our clients up for success when making an offer during a bidding war. If you’re thinking of selling this spring, you’ll likely face situations similar to this. It’s important to know how to deal with them.There are several secrets and tricks of the trade we have to win offers for our clients that find themselves in multiple offer situations. One of the most important of these is a pre-approval letter. The seller doesn’t know you from the next buyer, but this establishes your credibility with them. Get pre-approved by a local lender, who is recognizable by the seller’s agent, so they can recommend this as a good move and a solid pre-approval. We also like to see buyers put down a substantial amount for an option fee. This is the fee that shows the seller you are a serious buyer and aren’t just putting out offers on any and every property. Another tip is to write a personalized letter to the seller. You want to put some feeling into it and make the sale real to them. It shows that you are a real buyer with a real family looking to buy a home.As for the amount you offer, you want to be realistic about price. If it’s priced right, offer what they are asking, or maybe a little more depending on what the situation is. However, we would never let our clients overpay for a property. Finally, we like to make sure we are utilizing the seller’s agent’s preferred closing office. This is something a lot of agents will pass over, but is just another way to highlight your offer and help it stand out amongst others.These are just a few of the tips and tricks we have for getting our clients’ offers accepted in a multiple offer situation. If you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home value reportWhich is the better deal: a foreclosure, a short sale, or a traditional home sale? A foreclosure goes into default and the banks reclaims the home. Many times, the banks can be a little behind in what the market values are, so foreclosed properties are priced too high for the current market. Additionally, most foreclosed properties are in disrepair. That’s why foreclosures aren’t always the best deal.  One of the great secrets in real estate is the short sale, which is perfect if you’re not in a hurry. Contrary to its name, a short sale is anything but short! These are properties where the homeowner has defaulted, but the bank has agreed to sell the home short of what’s still owed on it. You can get a tremendous deal on a short sale, especially if the homeowner has taken care of the property. You just have to be a little patient. If you need a home in a timely manner and you don’t want to handle a lot of repairs, a traditional home sale is your best option. If you hire us, we can negotiate the best deal for you. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleI’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!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleIf 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!

Buying a Northern Idaho Home? Search all Homes for SaleSelling a Northern Idaho Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report The 2016 real estate market is soaring in Coeur d’Alene and if you’re thinking of selling your home this year, it’s best to get a jump start on the market before everyone else lines up to sell in the spring. We would love to come over to take a look at your home and let you know what kind of improvements will and will not add value to your home. For now, we’ve got a few tips on what to do to prepare your home for the market. Cleaning your home and adding a fresh coat of paint are two simple, inexpensive improvements we suggest to all our sellers. Another good idea is to get an appraisal, so you know your home’s exact value. Home inspections are also a great thing to have before listing, especially with an older home. It shows you the things you should take care of before listing, and with a home inspection, you will know buyer’s concerns before they do.If you have any questions for us, or want to make an appointment with us, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleWe 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!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home searchSelling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation Today, we'll discuss some important information for the January real estate market. We'll go over  where we're heading in 2016. Knowledge is power. Although things aren't great in the Calgary real estate market, it's not all bad news.If you plan on selling in 2016, it's important to pay attention to cycles in the real estate market. We saw a lot of layoffs in Alberta in 2015. Similarly to 2008 and 2009, these people will have to go on employment insurance. Considering that we're a year into this depressed oil cycle, that employment insurance will run out on them this year, forcing many people to sell their homes. We're already in a buyer's market, so when more homes come onto the market this year, home prices will fall. Here's what you need to know: your house is worth more right now than it will be later in the year. In fact, your home value is at its highest point today. It's going to be awhile before the market recovers. If you want to sell your home, get it on the market before the flood of listings come in the spring. Get ahead of the curve now so you can net the most money for your home. Mortgage rates have also risen. The Bank of Montreal has raised interest rates about thirty basis points. Higher interest rates mean it's more difficult for people to qualify for a mortgage, which will mean fewer buyers to look at the home. However, it now looks like rates might come down again! What? Talk about a roller coaster. The economy is trying to find its footing. Expect instability in mortgage rates, oil prices and other commodities and therefore jobs and ultimately house prices for the year to come, if not longer.Of course, some buyers will jump into the market to lock in a mortgage before interest rates go up. If you list now, you have a great opportunity to attract those buyers. On a bright note, our clothing drive on January 10th was a big success. We collected a lot of clothes for the drop-in shelter here in downtown Calgary. Thank you for participating!If you have any questions about today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home value reportToday, I want to tell you about my latest adventure! I just got my real estate license!It's been on my bucket list for a very long time and I finally did it. I'm working with a great team right now that has more than 15 years of experience!I am ready to hit the ground running! If you or anyone you know is looking to make a move, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm eager to show you all what I've learned!

Looking to Buy a Home in Denton County?  Get a full home search Looking to Sell Your Home?  Get a free home value reportThis spring will be an amazing selling season, and there are three simple things you can do to whip your house into shape.Think about the ages of your big ticket items. When's the last time the roof was replaced? What about the AC unit, water heater, or gutters? If these items are relatively new, that is a great selling point.Do your own walk-through. Do your carpets need to be replaced? Are there some spots on the ceiling that need a quick paint touch up? See what little things you can do on your own to improve home appearance.Call in the pros! This is the most important step, and it's where we come into play. My team and I can go through your property and let you know what items are necessary to repair in order to get the most bang for your buck.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Buying a Northern Idaho Home? Search all Homes for SaleSelling a Northern Idaho Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report We had a dynamite year last year! We experienced 500 sales in 2015. Additionally, we have 500 pending sales in the works right now. We anticipate a strong, stable year in 2016.Although the Fed decided to increase interest rates, we don’t expect this to dramatically impact sales. We still have a large pool of eager buyers looking for their dream homes. However, it is in your best interest to list before the spring, when more homes enter the market.If you’re thinking about getting your home back on the market, give me a call or email today! I’d love to meet with you and talk about how we can sell your home quickly for top dollar.

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleI'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!

Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for saleWe’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!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Idaho Home? Search all Homes for SaleSelling a Northern Idaho Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report Today I’ve got the latest market update for you for Coeur d’Alene on all the latest trends we’ve been seeing in our market. It’s an awesome time to sell right now because we have less inventory and less competition than we have had in the last few months.Why not sell right now while conditions are perfect? In 4-6 months there will be a lot more competition for you on the market. That will decrease your chance for a top dollar sale. If you need to get your home sold, let’s either get it on the market or keep it there and get one of our highly motivated, qualified buyers to make the purchase. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to speaking with you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Interested in buying a home? GO HERE to perform a Full Home Search, or if you're considering selling, CLICK HERE to receive a Free Home Value Report. For any other questions, please reach out to me at (719) 299-5778, or email me at Donny@IntegrityTeam.net.We've had an amazing summer here in Colorado, but now that the fall is in full swing, there's no better time to start preparing your home for the cold winter months!The first thing to look at is your outside lighting. It's starting to get dark a whole lot earlier, so now is a great time to get outside and replace bulbs and fixtures as needed. You don't want to wait until there is snow on the ground to do these things! You're really going to enjoy the fact that your lights are working when you arrive home after work and it's pitch-dark out!It's been so warm here lately that there's obviously been no need to use the furnace. A bad thing about an unused furnace is that it collects dust, which is bad for your heating system and, more importantly, your health. Now is a great time to pull out the filter and clean it (or replace it altogether)!Next, you should take advantage of the remaining nice weather days to clean your gutters. This is important: as ice and snow accumulates, it will build up in your gutters if it has nowhere else to go. Leaves and brush block the drainage system on your roof, and this is dangerous because once the ice and snow melts, it will not drain properly and could cause harm to your home and your family.Lastly, take a look at your water spigots and your hose and make sure that no water is left in the lines. The biggest problem we have with sudden freezes in Colorado is flooded basements. If you're going to be leaving your house for an extended period of time, you need to leave your thermostat in the 60s to prevent freezing. However, even this can be risky; I suggest unscrewing your hose from the water spigot, which will allow water to flow from the hose and should prevent breakages in the system.If you want to stay dry and warm this winter, we highly recommend taking these tips to heart! Give us a call or shoot us an email if you have any questions for us or if you need real estate assistance of any kind. We're always here to help!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Want to Sell Your Polk County Home? Get a free home value reportLooking to Buy a Polk County Home? Search all homes on the mlsToday, we discuss the number one thing buyers are looking for in a home. If you plan on selling in the near future, you don't want to miss this! There's really only one thing buyers are looking for: a clean house! No one wants to purchase a home that feels lived in or worn out. Clutter, dirt, and stains make a house feel like a chore rather than a new opportunity.Cleaning is something that can be done inexpensively, and buyers will greatly appreciate it. Sweep off the back porch, vacuum, clean the walls, windows, and baseboards. You want the home to look like new, so buyers can focus on the positive aspects of your home!If you have any questions about how you can get your home looking fantastic, or if you need real estate assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to hear from you! 

There are many great St. Louis area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (314) 302-2319 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.Our latest real estate video update comes to you from Austin, Texas. The Balossi Team is on the road at one of Keller Williams' annual events, called Mega Camp. It's a great opportunity for us to meet with some of our top vendors. Today, we talked to Sarah from Zillow, who gave us some great information about how it can be used most effectively.The Zestimate should be viewed as a starting point value of a home. People often make the mistake of confusing it with an appraisal, but by no means does Zillow claim to have the necessary information to give an accurate appraisal. Rather, Zillow gathers information from 3 different sources: public records, tax assessments, and comparable home sales. These data points are then put into Zillow's algorithm, which comes up with a Zestimate. The average median error is +-8% which is why it's not called a 'Zactimate' or a 'Zappraisal.'The CEO of Zillow has said that one of the goals of the site is to keep the agent as the central point of the real estate transaction. The Zestimate is a tool that should be verified by an agent, because the value is often too high or too low. It's definitely worth having a conversation with an expert before getting to excited or discouraged about your Zestimate.As you can see, Zillow plays an important role at the beginning of the home search. But once you get serious, you should work with an agent. That's what we're here for! Call or email us today if you are ready to buy or sell a home in St Louis. We'll make your real estate experience one to remember!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Madison home? Get a full home search here Selling your Madison home? Get a free Home Price EvaluationOther than the fact that it's a beautiful day here in Southern Wisconsin, we have some great news for you today. Our real estate market has shifted, making now a wonderful time to consider selling.If you're curious about your home's value or if you want to get a market analysis for your area, we would love to help. Right now, our clients are getting 100% of their asking prices and are receiving multiple offers! Buyer activity continues to improve in the Madison area, so now might be the time to get top dollar for your home!We would love to help you take advantage of this wonderful market. Give us a call or shoot us a quick email if you have any questions - we would love to hear from you!

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.You have the Chance to Win $10,000 Towards Your Down Payment and Possibly a $100,000 Grand Prize!In today's Coffee with Connie, I'm proud to announce that I have partnered with a group of Realtors to give back to our community. We've formed an amazing sweepstakes so that you can win $10,000 toward the down payment on a new home, or even to renovate your existing home. The choice is yours!We will be giving away $10,000 every two weeks starting now until January 2015.Better yet - there will be a $100,000 dollar grand prize given away in January to cap off this sweepstakes. In order to enter for a chance to win, click here and provide us with your information. www.georgiahomegiveaway.comAs always, if you're interested in buying or selling a home in Cobb County, please feel free to contact me!NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 21 years and older. Ends1/31/15.To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions and how to enter withoutpre-qualifying for a mortgage, visit www.TheGreatHomeGiveaway.com . Void where prohibited.

Looking to buy or sell a home in Cobb County? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (678) 631-1812 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.Selling your Atlanta home? Don't make these 5 mistakes!A recent survey asked buyers what kinds of things annoyed them when they view a home. These mistakes should be avoided at all cost because they could cost you the sale of your home. With spring and summer approaching in Cobb County, now is not the time to chances on the sale of your home!The Top 5 Offenses Homeowners Commit when Showing Their Property (according to buyers interviewed by Realtor Magazine):Being present at the showing: This will always make the buyer very uncomfortable, and it makes them feel like they are intruding on someone's privacy. If you have a showing, make sure you're not in your home while it is going on. Just take a hike and get some coffee. This can make the situation less awkward for everyone involved.Pets: Animals are nice, but not to people that they have never encountered in their home before. Even if your pet is well trained, you never know how it will react to a guest in your home. Even when caged, they can still bark or growl, which can ruin the buyer's showing. Bad Smells / Odors: Pet odors, cigarette smoke, and strong odors from cooking can deter many buyers from your home. I had a client who lost $35,000 dollars in value because she could not get the stench of cat odor out of her carpet. Bad / Odd Home Renovations: If you like doing your own remodeling but are not so highly skilled, you might want to consider having some repairs made onto your renovated areas. It's fine to renovate your home by yourself, but sometimes it is best to leave the job up to the professionals. Dirty / Cluttered Homes: People can absolutely not stand a dirty home or a cluttered home. It is surprising how often I see this, too. When you show your home, it needs to be sparkling clean. No dirty dishes, and no laundry should ever be left out. You need to make a good first impression with strong staging, and your home must be clean and orderly to do that. We have a professional stager who can view your home and give you tips about how to best prepare your home for a showing.Hopefully this information has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me. Consider me your #1 resource for real estate in Cobb County!