Larry Buchanan Realtor®

Editor’s note: I am always looking for a fresh perspective for my readers and found this author’s article about 5 reasons you need a real estate agent and wanted to share it with my blog fans. I enjoyed the author’s approach to telling the story about a real estate agent’s role. It is straight to the point and a quick read.

5 Reasons You Need a Real Estate Agent
By Adam Jamez

This question arises in many discussion groups regarding real estate. Why would anyone need a real estate agent when one can do their own research to find a new home, an apartment or any other property? This article will highlight five reasons as to why hiring these agents will be a productive move. If you are looking for a new property for residential or commercial purposes, the following information will be of particular importance to you.

1. Fast Access to All Types of Properties

The number one reason why real estate agents are so highly sought after is because of the easy access they have to thousands of commercial and residential properties. They are instrumental in determining what type of property you are looking for and at what price. Armed with this information, they can get to work and come up with a list of properties that match your criteria.

2. Less Time Consuming

A real estate agent can look up multiple properties for you in a very short amount of time. This saves buyers an enormous amount of time and prevents them from running around scouting for properties on their own. Furthermore, an agent will have all the necessary information about the property such as its features and its price so buyers can make a decision on the spot on whether to pursue a particular property or look somewhere else altogether.

3. Helpful In Negotiations

A real estate agents job is to ensure that both buyers and sellers are satisfied with each other and the purchase. There is a fair amount of negotiation involved in purchasing any type of property whether commercial or residential. An agent essentially serves are the middle man or the liaison between the two parties and keeps the transaction process moving forward.

4. Sound Advice

Real estate agents have a very good idea about the market values of cities and surrounding counties. They provide up-to-date information about which areas buyers should focus on and which ones to completely avoid.

It should be noted that these agents work for both sides. They want the seller to sell his/her property quickly at the right price. On the other hand, they also want the buyers to be completely satisfied with the purchase and not regret their investment later on. Therefore their advice is invaluable and should be heeded.

5. Free Services

This comes as a surprise to many but it is true. Many agents provide their services free of charge to buyers. They get their commission from the seller if a deal is struck. This makes them a highly favorable option among people looking for a new home.

Bottom line, there is no reason why one shouldn’t use a real estate agent when it comes to purchasing any type of property. They offer free advice and only show property that matches the buyer’s interest thus saving time, energy and money.

Black Rock Estates is executive living at its finest! Homebuyers cannot afford to miss the new homes for sale at Black Rock Estates in Quarryville.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Jamez

What do you think about the author’s take on 5 reasons you need a real estate agent? I would very much like to have an opportunity to read your feedback. Please take a moment to post your comments below. My plan is to look for more work from this author.

Larry

Larry Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty®
mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

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Home staging experts have proven that organizing a fresh look for you home will help it sell faster.

…….. So, let’s look at a fresh idea…

Take a Tour of Your Home – De-clutter to Show Its Spaciousness

Moving is one of the top stressors in our lives; now is the time for expert support from your Broker/Realtor, Stager and Certified Professional Organizer.

Take an objective person with you to assess your home from a buyer’s standpoint.

Figure out what makes the room seem full or cluttered.

Come up with a game plan.

Decide what to Keep, Toss, Give Away or Sell

Start with a room you use often. You’ll notice the differences because you’re in the room frequently. This helps you stay motivated.

Any items you haven’t used in 6-12 months? Can you donate, resell or recycle?

If you haven’t used it in a year, do you really need it? Can you borrow or repurchase?

Who else might appreciate the item? Family? Friend?

Will you need the item while your house is on the market? That’s a keep-but-store decision.

Reorganize to Release the Clutter

1. Holiday gatherings: An opportune time to pass along the tradition (and dishes)!

2. Clear out clutter-attractors — armoires, desks, hutches. Sort and reorganize. These are magnets for clutter. Shelves and drawers can seem cluttered if not organized. Group together similar items in organizers, baskets or bins.

3. Closets: Decide on a purpose for each closet. Weed/reorganize based on purpose.

4. Photos, family items, collections: Save your favorites. Memory boxes can honor memories and limit how much you can save.

5. Pictures/paintings: Clear walls and tabletops make a room feel spacious.

6. Attics: “Someday” is today! Weed out and store while your house is on the market.

Picture your rooms with nothing in them. See how large the rooms seem? Now visually start putting things back in the room. The point here is to allow you to live more simply … and for potential buyers to see how much space is truly there for all their “stuff.”

Article written by:
Sue West, Space4U,ll Organizing Services

http://www.OrganizeNH.com

603 765 9267… Coaching, speaking, one on one assistance and do it yourself options!

Downsizing Dilemmas – Solved ! Take a look … http://organizenh.com/store.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_West

Editor’s note: It helps to get a fresh perspective about how your home competes with other homes in your price range. Call Larry Buchanan and let a professional, full time Realtor answer your questions.

Call Larry today at: 904-247-0059
email: Larry @ Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

Larry Buchanan Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty

mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

Once we wave goodbye to the long, balmy days of summer and head into the colder, darker, autumn and winter months we should be sure that our houses and industrial premises are fit to endure the colder weather.

One important factor to bear in mind is the condition of your roofing, so if you have any concerns in any way about leaks, cracks or slipped tiles, now is the best time to locate a good roofer to be sure your house or office is ready for whatever the winter might throw at it.

Remember that even hairline cracks can cause major problems with damp further down the line. This is why it is best to check everything is in order now and contact your local roofing company before it is too late.

Flat roofing can be particularly susceptible to cracking or leaking if, for example, considerable amounts of snow or rain fall, so if you have a flat roof, perhaps on an extension or outbuilding, this is the time to inspect the waterproof covering for cracks.

When thinking about the state of your roof, do not forget about your chimney. These tall stacks become very weak in high winds and heavy rain so you will need to make sure the pointing is intact.

And while you’re up the ladder, it makes sense to look at your guttering and ensure it is cleared of any debris, as the autumn and winter weather will bring leaves and other muck to rest in your gutters, which left unattended could cause damp patches on your interior walls.

In case you have trouble choosing a roofer why not check in with the local directories in your area or Google Roofing Contractors and definitely make sure they are fully licensed. By using a licensed roofer you can be assured that work will be carried out to the highest possible standard.

It’s my hope you’ll find this information is helpful as you prepare for the coming months. If you have questions about any matters related to home care, please do not hesitate to ask.

Best Regards,
Larry

Larry Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty
mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

Guest blogger, Ben Forbes reveals:

How to Sell Your Home Faster With Solar Energy….
According to the US Depart of Energy, a solar home will sell two times faster. There are also rebates and tax incentives available. Check your local state to find out what is available in your area. Consumers are encouraged to take advantage of tax and state incentives for energy renewable and efficiency.

Home seekers are magnetically drawn to solar powered homes. Take for example, two identical homes in the same neighborhood; one has a solar panel system installed on the roof. Which home do you think is going to get more attention and more serious buyers? Home seekers associate solar power with lower energy cost, saving money and going green. There is nothing wrong with having extra cash in your pocket while doing your part to save our environment. Gone are the days when only a few could afford to integrate solar energy solutions in to their homes and businesses. People are transforming their homes to solar as a means to lower their electric bill and add value.

Consumers have two basic options to go solar. Hire a contractor or go DIY. Hiring a contractor can bring a pretty hefty price tag. The typical cost for the average home is about $24,000. If you are selling your home you may want to take this into consideration. Can I recoup my investment without pricing myself out of the market? A DIY project is not for everybody, but consumers willing to give it a try are surprising themselves with successful results. A number of people favor this method to save the maximum amount of money and some because they like the challenge. You don’t have to be an engineer or mechanical wizard.

It’s a lot simpler than you think. All you need is a good manual to walk you through the steps. Most projects can be completed for under $200 per panel, compared to buying a finished product for $5000 on average. In fact, you would be surprised to learn that some of the parts can be purchased on eBay. So in closing, if you want to sell your home twice as fast add solar power. This can be a single panel or several panels on your roof, by either having the solar energy installed or doing it yourself. The main benefit is that you will be offering your buyers an option that will save them cash on their energy bill while going green. A solar powered home is more attractive to buyers, is energy efficient and allows buyers to identify with the long term savings potential.

Ben Forbes is a solar power enthusiast and owner of http://www.planetsolarenergy.com If you liked this report, there are two additional reports on the website. Website for Government incentives http://www.dsireusa.org

Editor’s note: For an analysis of your home’s market strength, email me today at:
Larry @ Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

Larry Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty
mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

Editor’s note: if you have questions about Florida real estate, contact:
Larry D. Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty®
email Larry @Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

I thought you might find this trip down memory lane makes an interesting comparison with the real estate scene in Florida these days.

Please feel free to share your comments.

Florida land boom of the 1920s
From:Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Florida land boom of the 1920s was Florida’s first real estate bubble, which burst in 1925, leaving behind entire new cities and the remains of failed development projects such as Isola di Lolando in north Biscayne Bay.

The preceding land boom shaped Florida’s future for decades and created entire new cities out of the Everglades land that remain today. The story includes many parallels to the modern real estate boom, including the forces of outside speculators, easy credit access for buyers, and rapidly-appreciating property values.

By the 1920s, its economic prosperity had set the conditions for a real estate bubble in Florida. Miami had an image as a tropical paradise and outside investors across the United States began taking an interest in Miami real estate.

Due in part to the publicity talents of audacious developers like Carl G. Fisher of Miami Beach, famous for purchasing a huge lighted billboard in New York’s Times Square proclaiming “It’s June In Miami”,[1] property prices rose rapidly on speculation and a land and development boom ensued.[2] By January 1925, investors were beginning to read negative press about Florida investments.

Forbes magazine warned that Florida land prices were based solely upon the expectation of finding a customer, not upon any reality of land value.[3] New York bankers[who?] and the IRS both began to scrutinize the Florida real estate boom as a giant sham operation. Speculators intent on flipping properties at huge profits began to have a difficult time finding new buyers. The inevitable bursting of the real estate bubble had begun.

On January 10, 1926, the Prinz Valdemar, a 241-foot, steel-hulled schooner, sank in the mouth of the turning basin of Miami harbor. The old Danish warship had been on its way to becoming a floating hotel.[4]
The Prinz Valdemar, capsized and blocked the port of Miami for several weeks in January of 1926, helping to usher in the end of the real estate boom. Florida Photographic Collection

The railroads, already strained by the burden of transporting both food and building supplies, had already begun raising shipping rates. When the sea route to Miami was blocked the city’s image as a tropical paradise began to crumble.

In his book Miami Millions, Kenneth Ballinger wrote that the Prinz Valdemar capsize incident saved a lot of people a lot of money by revealing cracks in the Miami façade. “In the enforced lull which accompanied the efforts to unstopper the Miami Harbor,” he wrote, “many a shipper in the North and many a builder in the South got a better grasp of what was actually taking place here.”[5]

In October 1925, in an effort to improve Florida’s clogged rail system, the railroad companies placed an embargo on all railway goods other than food, which further contributed to Florida’s skyrocketing cost of living.[citation needed] New buyers failed to arrive, and the property price escalation that fueled the land boom stopped. The days of Miami properties being bought and sold at auction as many as ten times in one day were over. The first Florida real estate bubble had burst.

The next year brought the 1926 Miami Hurricane, which drove audacious Biscayne Bay development projects such as Isola di Lolando into bankruptcy. The 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane and the Wall Street Crash of 1929 continued the catastrophic downward economic trend, and the Florida land boom was officially over as the Great Depression began.

The depression and the devastating arrival of the Mediterranean fruit fly a year later destroyed both the tourist and citrus industries upon which Florida depended. In a few short years, an idyllic tropical paradise had been transformed into a bleak, humid remote area with few economic prospects. Florida’s economy would not recover until World War II.

Interesting information right?

Thanks for reading this great article from Wikipedia…

Best Regards,
Larry Buchanan, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty

mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059