If you are faced with a work-related move, ask your company if it will help you relocate. In some cases, employers will go so far as to purchase relocated employees’ homes. This enables employees to free up sufficient funds to purchase homes in the areas to which they are being relocated. Otherwise, employers may offer a guaranteed price for relocated employees’ old homes if they do not sell within a specified period or for a preset price. Employers have also been known to carry the interest payments on the old homes until they are sold. At the very least, employers who ask their employees to relocate can be expected to help with moving costs.

Should you be preparing to relocate, contact me. You will benefit from my experience dealing with people who are moving due to their careers. I will walk you through every step of the transaction. Contact me at 716-474-5646. I will arrange an initial meeting. Learn how I earned a superior reputation!

HINT: Employers who ask employees to relocate may also pay the costs of taking up temporary residence while the house-hunting search is being conducted in the new area.

If you have been following the real estate market from a national perspective, you may be genuinely perplexed. The good news is that real estate is local. It matters more what is happening in your own neighborhood than what real estate conditions are 200 to 2,000 miles away. For this reason, it is more important than ever to engage the services of an experienced agent, who can crunch the numbers for you. A “comparable market analysis,” based on recently closed sales, pending sales, average times on the market, and the volume of properties for sale in a competing price range provides would-be sellers with invaluable information. It costs nothing to ask, and you may be surprised by the answer.

I receive ongoing training, and the information I receive regarding the sales of comparable properties in your area is constantly updated. I can offer you a ‘real time’ report that will indicate the best asking price for your home. Reach me at 716-474-5646. I will arrange a meeting, provide you with a free market analysis, and discuss an individualized marketing plan with you.
HINT: The most critical factor in selling your home, especially now, is to price it correctly.

Baby boomers are making waves again. This time, it seems that, over the past three years, they have been leaving their “empty nests” and downsizing to smaller homes. This movement is based on baby boomers’ desire to move out of the homes in which they raised their children, and move to retirement homes that require less upkeep. However, this does not mean that baby boomers want to relax on the front porch. According to a recent online survey, these empty-nesters want to remain engaged and active. This means they are more likely to purchase retirement homes near places where they can pursue their passions. More than half of baby boomers surveyed viewed their properties as homes first and investments second.
I hope you found this topic to be both interesting and informative. I have a successful track record of assisting Baby Boomers who are transitioning from one sort of property to something more appropriate for their new ‘lifestyles’. Contact me at 716-474-5646. I’d be happy to meet with you to discuss your housing options.
HINT: Sellers who want to directly appeal to empty-nesters’ desire to live near activity areas should promote their homes’ proximity to golf courses, universities, and recreation spots.

The best way for sellers to get the price they want in a reasonable amount of time is to avail themselves of the services of a knowledgeable real estate broker. Those equipped with detailed knowledge of the local market will be able to make a credible listing presentation that includes a discussion of a home’s value, a justification of the numbers, and a marketing strategy. Savvy brokers go beyond what sold and when to the “whys,” such as the fact that a particular home sold for more than a comparable home because the seller agreed to replace a heating system. These are the details that make sense of the market in a way that makes future success more likely.

Proper pricing, staging and achieving ‘curb appeal’ are all components of a winning combination when selling property. Your success is my #1 priority. I have a successful track record of assisting sellers in realizing the best return for their real estate investments. Contact me today at 716-474-5646. I will arrange an initial meeting

The decision to purchase a home is fraught with both financial and emotional issues, especially for first-time buyers. However, buyers cannot allow themselves to be pressured into making this important purchase. So, if prospective buyers must visit a home in which they are interested many times before all their questions and doubts are settled, that is what they must do. However, first-time buyers should be careful that fear of making a commitment does not underlie their indecisiveness. If it does, it may prevent them from making offers on homes that suit them perfectly well and losing the homes of their dreams. When buyers have trouble committing to homes, they should discuss the issue with their real estate agents.

Making a purchasing decision when you are first entering the real estate market can be quite intimidating. So many factors come into play when making a decision that is right for you. Why not benefit from my years of experience? I will walk you through the homebuying process, step by step. Call me today at 716-474-5646. Allow me to arrange an initial meeting. Your success is my #1 priority!

HINT: Real estate agents can provide buyers with objective reasons for buying a home that may help override emotional concerns that are blocking the way of a purchase.

If you are selling your home, you had better know who your potential markets are and what they are looking for. Recent research reveals that the mix of buyers has not changed over the past few years, only the numbers have. That is, there is still about the same ratio of couples to singles to families to first-time buyers to repeat buyers. There are just fewer of them, and they are more discerning. With so much to choose from, buyers are placing more emphasis than ever on “location” and “condition” as prime factors to choosing a house. While there is not much that sellers can do about the location of their homes, they can bring them as close to move-in condition as possible.

Should you be considering the sale of your property, contact me. I understand what motivates buyers. Allow me to provide you with a free market analysis. Reach me at 716-474-5646. I will arrange a meeting when we will discuss how I can best market your home.

HINT: Single women make up 20 percent of all homebuyers.

A survey recently conducted by the National Association of Home Builders shows that a majority of consumers prefer green-built homes because they would cut their energy costs. When asked what factors they consider most important when purchasing a new home or remodeling an old one, nearly two-thirds indicated that reduced energy costs were most important. More than half (55%) said they would purchase a green home “because it would be healthier,” and 49% said that it was “the right thing to do for the environment.” This survey is but one strong indication that buyers want environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient design built into their homes. Sellers should also keep this in mind when looking to make their properties more attractive.

What can you do to make your home more ‘green’? With energy costs skyrocketing, any steps taken to make a home more energy efficient can only be a plus. Let me help. Call me today at 716-474-5646. I will provide you with a free market analysis of your property, and make suggestions on how to enhance its’ appeal.

P.S. To be certified under the National Association of Home Builders Model Green Home Building Guidelines, homes must meet energy efficiency levels that are at least equivalent to Energy Star, which is the Environmental Protection Agency program.

As they entertain offers, sellers should take into account that there is more to an offer than price. As they look through the contingencies that a prospective buyer has included in the contract, sellers must decide if they are acceptable. For instance, a financing contingency is both fairly common and reasonable. Aside from taking into account the buyers’ time frame for getting their financing, the seller will want to know whether the buyer has been pre-approved for a mortgage. Beyond that, a sale is often contingent upon a successful home inspection, which should pose no problem for a conscientious seller. However, a sale that is contingent on the buyers selling their home should raise a red flag.

Negotiating the sale of property is critical to making a good ‘deal’. You certainly don’t want to take your property off the market unless you’re quite sure it will culminate in a sale. Contact me at 716-474-5646. You will benefit from my experience with sellers and buyers alike.

HINT: If you want to own your own home but are unable to secure conventional financing today, leasing a home with an option to buy may be your best option.

One of the reasons that car buyers choose one vehicle over another has to do with the fact that some warranties are better than others. For the most part, consumers do not want to make big-ticket purchases involving complex goods that do not have the backing of the seller. With this in mind, real estate agents are increasingly recommending that sellers provide a home warranty that offers protection for mechanical systems and certain appliances against unexpected repairs during the first year of ownership. Sellers may want to replace systems or appliances that are in imminent danger of failing and transfer the accompanying warranty to buyers. Otherwise, sellers can purchase home warranties that provide potential buyers with peace of mind.

Would offering a warranty be helpful when selling? Allow me to meet with you and discuss individualized options to choose from when putting your property on the market. Planning a marketing strategy is essential in the current real estate market. Reach me today at 716-474-5646. I will arrange an initial meeting. Your success is my #1 priority!

HINT: Smart real estate agents know how to remove buyer concerns and facilitate the sale.

The current real estate market climate presents many potential first-time buyers with a real opportunity. If you are looking for your first home, chances are that you have searched the Internet as your first step. In fact, one survey shows that more than half of first-time buyers who utilized the Internet for their home searches made their way onto a Multiple Listing Services (MLS) website. After taking this initial step, first-time buyers then turn to the experience and expertise of a real estate professional to buy the homes they want. Fully 84 percent of first-time buyers rely on real estate professionals to help them understand the home-buying process and evaluate the properties that they are seeing. Experience matters.

Purchasing property for the first time can be an overwhelming process. I have a successful track record of assisting those who are just starting out. I will walk you through the process, and minimize any confusion or stress you could experience. Call me at 716-474-5646. Learn how I earned a superior reputation!

HINT: According to the 2007 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, over a third of first-time buyers say that using a real estate agent shortened their home searches.