Tag Archives: Vicki Reed

Indianapolis Holiday Attractions

Posted on by
Yes, it’s that time of year again…what fun things can you find to do for the season?  This is from the Visit Indy website:

Christmas-at-the-zoo-2

Indianapolis is a city of tradition and the holiday season is no exception. Join 100,000 spectators on Monument Circle as we flip the switch on the Circle of Lights for the 52nd time. Or be a part of a new tradition and see the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center glowing in holiday colors for the very first time.
From old to new, here are few of our favorite holiday attractions and traditions.

Christmas at the Lilly House

Indianapolis Museum of Art, November 15 – January 4, 2015

Christmas at the Lilly House

Christmas at the Lilly House on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art uses the American country house setting to explore the decorative ideas of the 1930s and 1940s. Explore this piece of history and witness nearly a century of holiday tradition firsthand.

Jingle Rails

Eiteljorg Museum, November 22 – January 18, 2015

Jingle Rails

Jingle Rails at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is a journey to the Great American West – the real West and the West of the imagination. With over 1,200 feet of railroad, watch seven trains wind past the local treasures of downtown Indianapolis, including the Eiteljorg Museum, Monument Circle, Union Station, and Lucas Oil Stadium, as well as historical sites, including Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite Falls, and Old Faithful.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, November 22 – January 4, 2015

Jolly Days

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland is a holiday treat for the whole family at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Complete with an indoor “ice skating” rink for children to skate in their socks, an ice fishing area, and a holiday train, this is an unbeatable family tradition. Mark you calendar – on November 29, Santa will arrive Indy style in a Dallara IndyCar!

Circle of Lights

Monument Circle, November 28 – January 11, 2015

Circle of Lights

Circle of Lights is the world’s largest Christmas tree, complete with nearly 5,000 lights and 52 garland strands streaming from Indy’s beloved 242-foot tall Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This tree has been named by Travelocity as one of the top five must-see Christmas trees in the nation.

Celebration Crossing

Indiana State Museum, November 28 – December 31

Celebration Crossing

Celebration Crossing at the Indiana State Museum invites you to learn about holiday traditions, both longstanding and new. Visitors can ride the Santa Claus Express, visit with Santa and get their photo taken, and participate in holiday- and winter-themed activities on all levels of the museum.

Christmas at the Zoo

Indianapolis Zoo, November 28 – January 4, 2015

Christmas at the Zoo

Christmas at the Zoo is a wintertime extravaganza everyone will enjoy. Stop by the Indianapolis Zoo for its annual light spectacular, and experience one of the nation’s top 10 zoos in a whole new way as hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights delight and inspire. Soaring 150 feet above the Skjodt International Orangutan Center, you’ll be able to spot the Beacon of Hope glowing in holiday colors from miles away.

Outdoor Holiday Adventure

Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, November 28 – January 4, 2015

Outdoor Holiday Adventure

Outdoor Holiday Adventure at Conner Prairie will take you on a winter adventure through Prairietown as you enjoy the holidays the 1830s way! Meet a variety of characters in their homes as they prepare for the holidays. Discover what holiday treats, games, and gifts were offered and even what pranks were played more than 175 years ago.

So what are

Do you have an addiction to your smartphone?

Posted on by

I know I do!  As a REALTOR®, I’m constantly checking emails and texts and thanks to my bluetooth, I can even do it while I’m on the phone!  This article is courtesy of the MSN Lifestyle page, but I found it to be so true!

You constantly look at it. When you aren’t around it, you feel anxious, and when you have it, it’s all you can think about. Yes, we’re talking about your smartphone. Our obsession with mobile gadgets has become epic – 1 in every 5 people in the world own a smartphone these days. And now there are a handful of new syndromes that come with that addiction.

1. Text claw and mobile phone elbow

“Text Claw” is a non-medical term used to describe all of the finger cramping and sore muscles that come from continuous scrolling, texting, and gaming on smartphones. An even more common side effect: Using your phone too much can cause inflammation in your tendons and enhance existing conditions, like tendinitis and carpal tunnel. Similarly, “Mobile phone elbow” describes tingling or numbness in ring and pinky fingers after bending your elbow for long periods of time. 

If your non-stop smartphoning has you feeling sore and weak, do some stretches. Put down the phone, then try bending your wrists backward, putting your hands together like a prayer and pushing down. Then, doing some wrist flexes. If you experience pain for longer than a week, try applying heat. Or better still, see a doctor.

2. iPosture and text neck

Slouching over your phone for hours at a time is ruining your neck and hurting your back muscles. “iPosture” or “text neck” are just two of a few phrases doctors throw around to describe the excessive stress on neck muscles. According to a study of young adults in the U.K., 84 percent of those tracked experienced back pain during the last year, mainly due to being hunched over smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Fixing your posture can relieve lower back pain, and limiting your phone use can alleviate neck strain. While it seems awkward, try to hold your phone directly out and in front of your face, not on your lap where you might need to look down for minutes at a time.

3. Computer vision syndrome

Staring at the tiny font in your texts and scrolling through dozens of tweets can lead to eyestrain, blurred vision, dizziness, and dry eyes. And blurred vision plus sore neck muscles can also cause headaches.

If you’re experiencing eye discomfort, make your phone’s font size bigger. Mark Rosenfield, O.D., Ph.D., told Men’s Health that phone users should try to hold their phones at least 16 inches away from their faces. Every few minutes look up from your screen at something far away for short breaks, and don’t forget to blink.

4. Nomophobia

Short for “no-mobile-phone phobia,” this is exactly what it sounds like: the fear of being without your cell. According to a study of 1,000 people in the U.K., 66 percent of the population fears losing or being without their phones at any given time. Some of the symptoms of nomophobia include anxiety or negative physical symptoms if you have lost or cannot use your cell phone, obsessively checking to make sure you have your phone with you, and constantly worrying about losing it somewhere. Interestingly, the study found that women suffer from this more than men.

If this sounds like you, experts suggest employing common anxiety-relieving relaxation techniques like yoga and deep breathing.

5. Phantom pocket vibration syndrome

No, you didn’t just get a text message! A professor at Indiana University found that 89 percent of the undergraduates in her study experienced phantom vibrations when their phones weren’t actually vibrating. The study also found that students who were dependent on text messages and social media updates were more anxious when their phones weren’t really vibrating.

A good way to break the addiction? Try shutting your vibration function off and commit to only checking your phone during designated hours. If you have to keep your phone with you, place it in your bag instead. And try to resist checking your bag every five minutes. Otherwise, you might become the first case of phantom bag vibration syndrome.

So…do you exhibit any of these symptoms?????

smart phone

Vicki Reed

 

OMG it’s already Benton House Home Tour Weekend…

Posted on by

I can’t believe it’s here!  I feel like I still have so much to do, but Sunday there will be hundreds of people coming through my home as part of the tour!  This is from their website:

Irvingtons’ Benton House Tour of Homes is a main fundraising activity for the House. Proceeds from past tours have helped to provide a new permanent sign in the front yard, a new slate roof, gutters and downspouts, fifty new folding chairs, a much needed trim and removal of dead trees on the grounds and foundation repairs.

 

~REDEFINING LEGENDARY: IRVINGTON CELEBRATES 41 YEARS OF HOME TOURS ~

The Irvington Benton House Tour of Homes on Sunday, September 21, 2014 will showcase the history, charm, and architecture of Irvington neighborhoods while bringing inspiration, education, and home improvement ideas to the Indianapolis area. Celebrate over 40 years of outstanding home tours by touring an array of stunning historic homes in vibrant Irvington. Guests can enjoy viewing the properties of homeowners who truly fuel the Irvington neighborhoods. Many of the homeowners not only live in Irvington, but, invest further in the development of the 143 year old community.

 Home Tour Tickets are now available at pre-sale prices ($12) at the following Irvington businesses:

 Central Ace Hardware, 10th & Arlington Ave.
     Bookmama’s, 9 S. Johnson Ave.
     Black Sheep, 5626 E. Washington St.
     Dufour’s, 5648 E. Washington St.
     Antique Mall (Jack & Jill’s), 5501 E. Washington St.

Tickets are $15.00 the day of the tour. For more information call 317 506 6808.

This year’s Tour theme: “REDEFINING LEGENDARY”! The Tour is Sunday, September 21st, from noon to 5pm. We hope to see you there!

 

We are very grateful to the following sponsors of last years’ tour.
Please click on the businesses below to go to their website.

Ace Hardware ~ 1025 N. Arlington Ave.
Downey Avenue Christian Church ~ 111 S. Downey Ave.
The Legend Cafe ~ 5614 E. Washington
Snips ~ 5731 E. Washington
George Thomas Flowers~ 5609 E. Washington
Dufour’s Eatery ~ 5648 E. Washington
Hart Bakery & Gifts ~ 7030 E. 10th
Black Sheep Gifts ~ 5626 E. Washington
Bookmama’s ~ 9 Johnson Ave.
Oakley – Hammond Funeral Home ~ 5342 E. Washington
The Weekly View 
Cupckake 911, Valparaiso, IN

Volunteer Opportunities include:

  • Home Selection
  • Publicity
  • Sponsorship
  • Signage
  • Brochures
  • Flowers
  • Docents

I personally want to thank The Windowbox Gardener and my friend Gretchen Jacobs for the beautiful flowers they added to my front porch – these ladies are so incredibly talented, check out these pics:

20140918_215044

I’ll be hanging out at home on Sunday talking about the wonders of Irvington…will I see you there?

Vicki Reed

In the market for a new home…got $25 mil to spare?

Posted on by

From the Indy Star last week…amazing, the property taxes annually are more than most people’s first home price!

Asherwood, the lavish Carmel estate where Mel and Bren Simon and their family lived for many years, is for sale for $25 million.

The seven-bedroom, 51,000-square-foot house sits on 106 acres that includes two swimming pools, tennis courts and a private 18-hole golf course, according to www.mibor.com.

Like to be outside? The lot also includes a clubhouse, greenhouse, pool house, and guest house among other maintenance buildings.

Prefer the indoors? There’s one indoor pool, an expansive workout room, home theater and caterer-ready professional kitchen in the home where presidents have been wined and dined.

The property tax on the estate is $54,654 semi-annually, according to the website of the listing Realtor Natasha Radovich with Carpenter.

The home also includes six fireplaces, eight full bathrooms and 16 half-baths.

It is the most expensive residential property on the market here in recent years, said Claire Belby, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors, or MIBOR.

INDYSTAR

Since 2000, 72 properties have been listed for $10 million or more. But only four of those have been residential; the majority were for commercial land or agricultural properties.

Simon and his first wife, Bess, bought the Asherwood home and property in 1973. Automotive engineer Louis H. Schwitzer built the original estate.

Over time, Simon and his second wife, Bren, expanded the home, adding on a 10,000-square-foot addition that included a 4,000-square-foot master bedroom wing.

But in 1998 they had to rebuild after a fire, thought to have started when a candle lit fabric-covered walls in one of the bedrooms, left much of the house uninhabitable.

Mel Simon, co-owner of the Pacers and co-founder of Simon Property Group, died in 2009.

INDYSTAR

The sale of Asherwood comes after the end of three years’ of litigation over his $1 billion estate, which ultimately was settled out-of-court.

Deborah Simon had alleged her stepmother coerced her father into changing his will so that Bren Simon received a much larger portion of the estate.

Mel and Bren Simon had multiple homes. She sold a New York condo soon after his death. In 2010, she listed their 20,000-square-foot mansion in Los Angeles’s Bel-Air neighborhood for $50 million.

The price was steep even for Bel-Air. She lowered the listing to $29 million in 2012 and delisted the property in 2013.

Estate properties can be a hard sell. Lucas Oil co-founder Forrest Lucas bought Stephen Hilbert’s estate at auction for $3 million in 2010 after it languished for five 5 years on the market.

Built for $35 million, the 25,000-square-foot house with its 15,000-square-foot sports pavilion, swimming pools and infinity waterfall, pool house and opulent grounds, originally was listed for $20 million. The property listing dropped to under $10 million over time, but finally went to auction when no buyers stepped forward.

Don’t feel like you can spend $25 mil?  Let’s talk about your budget and see what we can find that’s a little more reasonable!

Vicki Reed

 

Happy Labor day…do you know why today is a holiday????

Posted on by

From the U.S. Department of Labor Website:

LABOR DAY: WHAT IT MEANS

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

LABOR DAY LEGISLATION

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From these, a movement developed to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

FOUNDER OF LABOR DAY

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

THE FIRST LABOR DAY

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

A NATIONWIDE HOLIDAY

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

So what are your plans for this holiday?

labor day

Vicki Reed

 

Time to Sell?

Posted on by

Thinking about selling your home?  Just a few things to think about…

Renovations: The changes that make your house work for you may not appeal to potential buyers. Not everybody loves that bright blue paint color — no matter how much you personally adore it. Make sure any big changes you make will increase, rather than decrease, your home’s value.

ALWAYS leave during open houses and showings: No hovering!  Current homeowners hovering over potential buyers as they tour the house…it’s a lot of pressure and can prevent them from giving honest feedback that could ultimately help you sell your home.

Waiting to list in the Spring: Most people house hunt in the spring and summer, but that’s also when most people list their homes. List yours when it’s available and you’ll reach those buyers who need a home now and aren’t finding much on the market.

Setting the price too high: What your home is worth to you and what it’s worth on the current market can be vastly different. Take a good look at the comparables provided by your REALTOR® and follow their advice…we are the experts!  Ignore Zillow…the Zestimates they offer are just WRONG!

Not doing enough marketing: Just putting up a “for sale” sign isn’t enough. Talk with your REALTOR® about other options, like online listings with virtual tours to attract buyers who aren’t looking on Craigslist!

Not getting a real estate agent: Unless you’ve had plenty of experience, going the “for sale by owner” route is probably not a smart bet. A REALTOR® can give you insights, marketing advice and, most importantly, can get your property on the multiple-listing service (or MLS or if you are in Indianapolis, BLC), which gets it in front of other agents.

Not staging your house: You need to help buyers envision themselves in your home. This includes removing any clutter and overly personal items (like family photographs) and making sure furniture flows well and demonstrates the purpose of each room.  Don’t go overboard, sometimes you can declutter and depersonalize to the point that the potential buyers can’t envision anything!  Discuss with your REALTOR® and if they don’t have a good eye, bet they know a good stager!

Okay, now are you ready?  Call, text or email me and let’s get started!

sold

Vicki Reed

 

Think you are ready to buy a house?

Posted on by

Buying a home is an emotional decision for most people, this is where you will likely spend the next 5 to 7 years of your life, more if you buy right and love the area.  Do your research!  Think about these things and when you are ready…CALL ME!

Researching the neighborhood: Is this some place you really want to live? What amenities are nearby? How is the school district? What does the traffic and street activity look like when you drive by it at different times of day, like Sunday morning and Monday evening rush hour?

Get an inspection: This is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, and you’ll be living with it for years to come. Don’t pinch pennies — shell out $400 for an inspection. Make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for.

Remember, you can paint!  Don’t buy or not based on decor: Paint color can be changed. Tiles and cabinets can be changed. What you want to look at are the bones of the house. Will it meet your needs? Does it flow well? Does it have enough space?

Don’t buy the most expensive home on the block: Hate to break it to you, but the most expensive home on the block isn’t a good deal. It will only depreciate over time, and you could have trouble selling it when buyers can see plenty of more reasonably priced options in the same neighborhood.

Be realistic with your budget: There are 2 numbers to look at when you are buying a home, just because your lender says you qualify for a $250,000 mortgage, that doesn’t mean you can afford it, especially when you factor in the other costs that come with homeownership. Be real and only look at houses you can realistically afford.

Be realistic about your DIY abilities: Will you really tear down that wall to make a master suite or gut the entire kitchen to make it work for you? Don’t let too much HGTV and delusions of grandeur drive you to buy an ongoing project you’ll regret taking on.

Have money for a down payment:  FHA financing requires 3.5% down, Insured Conventional 5 or 10%, Conventional 20%.  Anything less than 20% down and you’ll pay private mortgage insurance (aka PMI) payments and a higher monthly mortgage payment overall. It may be worth saving up for an extra year or two to reduce your long-term costs.  VA and USDA are 100% down programs, but make certain that’s how you want to go.

Make sure you are ready: Are you financially ready?  Are you ready emotionally? Are you sure you want to stay in this area for years? Does your income feel stable? Are you prepared to take on all that yard work and the repairs you avoided as a renter?

Think you are ready?  Time to call in the experts and find a realtor!  Call or text me at 317-919-7931 or email at vlrrealestate@gmail.com…I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Buying a house

Vicki Reed

 

 

Lucky Guy!

Posted on by

Have you seen the latest Hoosier Lottery news?  Indiana Resident has won $1 million…TWICE in 3 months!  From the Indy Star…

Indy man wins $1M lottery prize for second time

Steph Solis, steph.solis@indystar.com10:51 a.m. EDT July 30, 2014
LINKEDINCOMMENTMORE

The chances of winning a $1-million lottery ticket are slim. Winning the same lottery twice is unheard of.

Yet an Indianapolis man defied the odds twice, winning his second $1-million prize in three months.

Robert Hamilton claimed his $1 million from the Hoosier Lottery Commission July 22, according to a news release. He purchased the ticket in the $120 Million Cash Spectacular Scratch-off from a Speedway on South East Street.

After taxes, Hamilton collected $792,846.04, according to the website.

Hamilton won another $1-million prize in the same game three months earlier, on April 28. He told the commission he stopped by a Casey’s in Jasonville on his way to a conference and purchased the winning ticket there.

“It’s the icing on the cake,” Hamilton said, as he claimed his second prize.

The odds of winning the $1-million prize on that game are one in 2.1 million, according to the news release. Five of the $120 Million Cash Spectacular Scratch-off prizes remain unclaimed.

With his first prize, Hamilton bought a house with his wife Donna Hamilton, paid some bills, scheduled a vacation, bought a truck for his father and purchased equipment for his commercial trash hauling company.

This time around, Hamilton said he plans to buy a motorcycle.

Donna Hamilton said she and her husband wouldn’t let the winnings go to their heads.

“We’re just everyday, normal people,” she said.

Lucky guy!

Vicki Reed

NCAA Coaches live where???

Posted on by

Ever wonder where some of the NCAA coaches call home?  Think they live like we do?  Not really!  Early out in the NCAA offers them an opportunity to head to one of these great homes – MSN shares this slide show by Neal J. Leitereg of realtor.com:

March Madness mansions: Homes of college-hoops coaches

By Neal J. Leitereg of realtor.com

With its mix of powerhouse programs and Cinderella schools, March Madness energizes sports in a way that’s not quite like most events. At realtor.com, we’re pumped up from looking at the homes of some of NCAA basketball’s top coaches.

Take a look through the slide show below and tell us in the comments which coach’s home you would rank No. 1.

NOTE: All descriptive information comes from listings on realtor.com. Properties were on the market and listed as available at the time of publication in March 2014 unless noted otherwise.

Most people I know are likely most interested in Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo and Steve Alford’s homes, but I find the pricetags astounding!  And the square footage – who really needs 10,000 square feet!  Click through the slideshow to find out!

Meanwhile back in the state of Indiana…yes, I know, none of our teams made it to the dance this year, the spring market is really heating up, despite the fact we are in for a cold week ahead.  If you are thinking of buying or selling this spring, call, text or email me.

images

Vicki Reed

Spring Selling Season Arrives Early!

Posted on by

Winter finally seems to have broken and the temps seem to be on the upswing!  Homes in the hot areas are already moving quickly in the Indianapolis and surrounding areas.  If you’re thinking this spring is a good time to starting looking for a house, you aren’t alone. That’s the problem. Your dream house, which might have been easy enough for you to grab a few years ago, is being eyed by other potential buyers.

IT IS A SELLER’S MARKET!  Whether you are a first time buyer or a move-up/down buyer, you must have everything in order prior to viewing homes!  Gone are the days of getting your financing in order after you found the home of your dreams, in order to make the home buying process run as smoothly as possible, follow these simple tips and LISTEN TO YOUR REALTOR!:

1. Get your financing lined up.  You may not worry about being turned down by the mortgage lender, but the seller doesn’t know that. The seller may also be in a hurry to hand you the keys. YOU HAVE TO BE PRE-APPROVED FOR YOUR MORTGAGE!  There are 2 numbers when you are dealing with your financing – first is the number your lender approves you for and second is the number you are comfortable spending!  The lender may say you can spend $300,000, but what does that mean to your monthly budget?  Working with a lender will help you decide what the right number is – contact Pat Hammer at Waterstone Mortgage and get started today!

2. Try to find out why the seller is selling. Buying and selling homes are emotional decisions, an emotional seller versus a nonemotional seller will react to different things.  If you have sellers who raised their kids in the house and lived there for most of their lives, they may appreciate a buyer who will do the same. Sending a personal letter with your offer may move you to the front of the pack!

3. Be flexible.  If you’re competing against other buyers, be as accommodating as possible.  Be flexible on closing dates and occupancy, the goal is for you to get the home of your dreams, and see number 1…a mortgage contingency allows buyers to back out of the deal if they can’t get financing for the house. Sellers don’t like mortgage contingencies – they don’t want to wave off potential buyers only to learn that their buyer can’t actually purchase the house.

 4. Sweeten the deal.  In a hot market, it is not uncommon to offer over list price, how much more is up to you, but even another $500 might get the seller’s attention.  You could also consider waiving the appraisal. That means if the bank determines the house isn’t worth the purchase price you and the seller agreed to, and it won’t lend you all of the money to cover it, you’ll have to make up the difference – provided you have the funds, of course.

5. Be fast. This is a big decision and you likely don’t want to rush, but if you know you can afford the house and you love it and the neighborhood, then, yes, you probably should rush.  In an age of instantaneous communication, minutes count and can make the difference between an accepted or rejected offer.  Make certain your agent uses the most current technology such as electronic signatures, in order to ensure immediate responses.

6. Be bold. If you really want the house, don’t get too cute and make a lowball offer, thinking there will be a lot of negotiation. You should suggest something close to the price the homeowner is expecting, or risk your offer being ignored. And this isn’t the time to be petty – or cheap, don’t haggle over $500 on a $200,000 deal.

7. Provide good customer service. Wait, isn’t that the seller’s job? You would hope so, but in a competitive market, it comes down to thinking of the homeowner as your customer. You’ll get his business (well, the house) if you’re personable, easy to work with and able to offer a good deal. Of course, you want to make sure you don’t offer the seller such an amazing deal that you hate yourself the day after closing. You want the welcome mat – what you don’t want is to be a doormat.

I can help you meet your goals and provide excellent guidance through what is one of the most important purchases of your life…call, text or email me!

images

Vicki Reed