THE SMARTER-THAN-HUMAN PET: My Seller’s tell me how friendly their dog is and will explain they ‘just get excited when you first come in and then they settle down'. From experience the translation of this is really ‘every time the home is to be shown to a buyer and I am not around, then you get to come over before the potential buyer arrives and enter, kennel and bribe our smarter-than-human dog to behave during the showing.' I WIN: What the owner does not realize is that when this actually happens, their adorable and well behaved pet knows their master is not around and the unsuspecting …

YOU HAVE NOT MISSED OUT: There is no need to panic if you did not buy a home in the spring and move over the summer as the real estate market will be very busy for the next couple of months. Sellers have returned from vacation, their teens have gone off to college, closets are being emptied, rooms straightened and thanks to hurricane Irene, basements re-carpeted. Soon you will see new For Sale signs. THE NEW KID: Many buyers feel that moving over the summer is the best for their children. But wait a minute, think back to when you were in school and a new kid came into the classroom mid-school…

I look at the calendar, amazed how the summer flew by, school is just around the corner, with the lazy-days gone by.    Buyers and sellers moved, to be settled in for school, their boxes were unpacked, between dips in the pool.    Back to a routine, no more sleeping in, sports practice and homework, Let it all start and begin.    For my buyers and sellers, what do you have in store? Our Fall market is STRONG, with interest rates you can’t ignore.    New listings will come on, for you to look at and buy, get ready to write a contract, for your new home, oh my!    So I’ll see you in September, …

I have become a Shoot-a-Note fanatic capturing anything I need to remember with my BlackBerry phone camera. I figured this out in Cape Cod while my husband and I drove from beach to beach which we had identified on a printed map. We stopped and walked each beach, shot great photos and then hopped in the car off to find the next. The next morning we wanted to return to our favorite beach, but which one was it? The photos now all looked the same and even the map was confusing as we each remembered the details of our trek differently. (Fighting over maps or directions was not what I wanted to do…

The fairest negotiating to both the seller and the buyer is when an agreement is reached where the seller accepts a little less and the buyer pays a little more than each had hoped. Would you consider that scenario a win-win or a lose-lose? That would depend whether you see your glass as half-full or half-empty! The typical question asked about every property sold is “How much?” Sellers and certainly their neighbors hope for the highest price and buyers fancy the lowest. In negotiating, however, there are other components that need to be considered such as; closing date, mortgage requirements…

When filling out a contract to purchase a property with your real estate agent look carefully at the calendar and select a specific closing date that works the best for you. Most buyers just write in the first or last day of the month; hence those days have become the busiest and the most difficult for scheduling movers, cleaners, utility companies and attorneys. To avoid being “harried” and the Deathly Hallows, write down a rough schedule of your final days. Some items you will want to consider might include scheduling of: Packing of your CURRENT home (professional packers’ need 1-2 days). …

Ever have someone say or do something that totally infuriates or disappoints you that all you want to do is give them a piece of your mind? You verbally let them have it, blow off steam, and then afterward you wish you had said something different. Over the next few days you seem to replay over and over the “situation” in your mind like it was a scene in a play. The reenacted scene is played out just a little differently and better each time. OK the villain is still the villain, but you, as the heroine perform and speak with such command and respect that your words and actions elevate your …

House hunting begins for buyers with a similar wish list: 1) not on a busy street, 2) good schools, 3) flat yard, and … 4) light and bright. Real estate agent's property descriptions and ad copy will many times read 'sunny, light and bright home with plenty of windows.’ Buyers and real estate agents love lots of light, whether natural or from light bulbs. On sunny days, rooms look inviting and larger. Sellers should look at their windows and doors and decide if the sheer curtains are really necessary or can they be removed? Blinds should be pulled all the way up. Allow your outdoor space to …

The inspector is hired by, paid by, and prepares the inspection report for the buyer. The buyers and the buyer’s real estate agent should be at the inspection. The seller’s real estate agent should be present on behalf of the seller to listen and observe as they are the ones that are going to have to interpret any findings to the seller, the attorney and the repair contractors.  They should not participate or interfere in any way. The seller should not be present. Yup, leave your house again for 1 to 3 hours nervously waiting for your agent to call and tell you what was found. The inspector …

Compassion is the glue that is needed for every move. At the end of every transaction come the farewells to a home that is familiar, comfortable and chock full of memories.  Some memories are joyous – of celebrations, accomplishments or births.  Some memories are of construction fiascos or design choices. Some memories are of family, pets now gone, friends or neighbors. Some moves are made for achievement, a lifestyle or job change, for health, a one-level home or a larger and more impressive home. Buyers, sellers and especially your real estate agent needs to be compassionate throughout the …

Mom's typically choose the house to buy. She is usually the one on a mission in search of a great kitchen to cook many home meals, a mud room for the kids knapsacks and muddy shoes, a spot to do homework and a large master bedroom closet for her clothes. Dad can have the smaller closet or the one in the guest bedroom. To survive, she needs a playground nearby to meet other moms to talk with or to arrange play dates. Mom is also a fan of a soaking tub and she can imagine herself enjoying a tranquil moment; which in reality will only happen once or twice. Dads seem to prefer a steam shower. Mom…

In the Summit area, an active listing and selling time is upon us … it’s Spring Market. The exact peak of this period tends to vary each year due to weather, interest rates, and Wall Street bonuses. Many buyers will try to make a purchase in April-May-June which would allow them to close and move June and July and be ready for school in September. One of the busiest closing days is June 30. (Tip: schedule your closing for before or after June 30 if you want to find a mover and have your attorney available). A slower but still active period begins July 4. August is absolutely vacation month …

Once a seller’s home has been listed in the MLS, showings to clients or previews by agents will begin. Agents will visit the home during the realtor open house or agents will set an appointment to preview the home. A “preview” is a quick look without clients where an agent runs in and out quickly. All the lights in the house do not need to be turned on as you do for a buyer showing.  Don’t think the agent rude if they are super quick as they know exactly what they need to see.  Sometimes the agent is previewing for a specific client or they are just being diligent to see all inventory. They …

What should you expect when your house is actually “on” the market? Typically a week prior to your home being listed in the Multiple Listing System and buyers being shown your home, this is what happens: The listing paperwork is signed, your home is measured for a floor plan, the interior and exterior photos are taken, ad copy written and the brochure prepared. On the agreed list date, the property and photos are uploaded into the MLS along with the floor plan, survey, Seller’s Disclosure and Lead Disclosure. A realtor open house is immediately held on a Tuesday or Thursday from 10 a.m. to  1…

From the first time a buyer sees their “dream home” they are thinking about new paint colors, refinishing wood floors, furniture, fabrics, appliances, lighting, landscaping and where the swing set is going to go.  But there is one thing that they forgot. Let me ask you this, what is your reaction when you meet someone you don’t know who drives up in an expensive car or is wearing a fine tailored suit with cuff links or substantial jewelry? Leave an impression? If you had to drop a package off at a stranger’s house and the front door knob was tarnished and the door knocker was pitted, what …

Equally as important as clearing closets, touching up paint and staging your home to be attractive to buyers is pulling together old paperwork such as home inspection reports you had done when you purchased your home. Find them, re-read them and compile a list of dates of the age or repair of your roof, furnace, air conditioner, electrical or plumbing. Dig out your survey. Dig out your termite paperwork. Dig out your old home inspection report. Dig it all out NOW. The visual pretty’s and nice smells in your home may be what a buyer is excited about when they write a contract, but it is the …

It is very easy to create a lasting impression; however, you need to make sure it is the impression you want.  Try this and see if there might be one or two changes that could apply to your home.  Start by locking your front door, go outside and walk from the street or driveway up to your own front door.  Pause on your front door stoop for a few moments, look around, unlock the front door and step inside.  Pause again.  What is your first view?  Now don’t start pealing off your coat, bee-lining for the kitchen or stop to pet the dog … keep your coat on and walk into your living room and …

Real Estate:  12-Minute Rule Why does it seem that you have less-than-24 hours in a day to accomplish the things you need to accomplish? It feels like everyone else has more time than you do. As soon as you finish one thing on your To Do list, two more get added. It's endless. But, last time I checked, 24 hours is exactly that and we all get the same amount of time each day.  Try the 12-Minute Rule. Give yourself 12 minutes to do anything for yourself. If you were to set aside 10 minutes, that is not enough to do the task as hand, so you don’t. And there is no way you could spare 20 minutes, …

Thank you for your e-mails telling me you are enjoying LORI-tips.  Sometimes changes are so simple but make such a difference. I would love for you to share some of your own simple habits and I will add them to my LORI-tips. Now that snow days are upon us, it is a great time for everyone to organize and tackle their closets, basements or attics. If you are NOT BUYING OR SELLING, try a few of these suggestions and you will be amazed at how good it feels. If you are a potential BUYER, you need to define how much room you really need for living space, closet space and storage space. If you are …

Lori celebrates moving in the New Year with "Move Into 2011," a poem to remember.   You may be moving Up, You may be moving Down, Or just possibly moving … to a different town.   You count all your pennies, Then figure in your pay, The grand total will tell you … if you move or if you stay.   The mortgage rates are low, Plus your credit is great, The time couldn't be better … for you and your mate.   You've selected a town, Mapped out your favorite streets, Shared your wants with your Realtor … who won't yield to defeat.   The dream home you described, To your Agent with glee, Was just listed…