Larry Buchanan Realtor®

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

In today’s market, you as the seller need every advantage that you can get in order to move your home quickly. One of the fastest ways to attract buyers is with an “Open House”. This is one of the strongest reasons to use a professional real estate agent. There are result proven steps, you the seller, must take in order to ensure the “Open House” is successful. You will find the contents of this article to be helpful in preparing your home for the showing.

You have heard the old adage that the first impression is a lasting impression. This saying is never more important than when you are trying to sell your home. This is why your home must be spotless from the top to the bottom. If you don’t have the time to do a thorough cleaning you can contract with a professional cleaning or maid service. The money you spend in this will return to you in two different ways.

The first way is it should help you get a quicker offer to the table. The 2nd and perhaps the most important for you is it will definitely enable you to increase the asking price for your home, thus recouping or possibly even doubling your return on the cleaning service.

The next important impression, which be made upon your potential buyer in going to be the way your home smells. The olfactory senses are arguably the most sensitive of the five senses. Consequently if the house does not smell clean you will immediately turn off many of your open house viewers. Of course one of the fastest ways to eliminate these odors is to have the carpets, furniture, curtains/blinds, mattresses and anything else that smells washed and steam cleaned. It is also a good idea to move pet bedding, cages and litter boxes and of course the pets completely out of the home on the day of the showing.

It is extremely important that the interior of your residence appear as spacious and open as possible when showing the house anytime. Be sure and have all the blinds/drapes open to increase the sense of space.

Take the time to eliminate all the clutter you can from the walls, end tables, entertainment centers, closets and even unnecessary furniture out of all rooms. You can pack the clutter in storage boxes and the extra furniture neatly in the garage.

Better yet you could rent a small storage space temporarily to store the excess stuff from your home. Not only will your prospective buyers be impressed with the space, you will be also. You will have a side benefit from taking this step, as it will make it much easier for your home to be kept clean while you are selling.

Another aspect of preparing for the showing of your home is to create a relaxed ambience within your home. Again this can be done quickly and simply. A few simple things like placing a white tablecloth on the dinning table with a simple vase of fresh flowers, having a tray of cookies with napkins placed on the kitchen counter, soft music playing in the background, a lit lavender candle in several rooms.

It is vitally important for the ambiance of your home that the temperature is set for maximum comfort depending on the season. These few things will make your visitors feel at home and they will remember your home, verses the others which did not take this step, because of the sense of being relaxed and feeling at home in your residence.

When you implement the steps above as a package you will find your “Open House” will be successful and may well lead to an offer being made on your home.

For more tips or to get an up to date evaluation of your home, give me a call. I always return my calls and look forward to speaking with you.

Larry Buchanan Realtor
Keller Williams Realty

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

email: Larry@ LarryBuchananRealtor.com

Thanks for stopping by…

You and your family have decided that it is time to move to a larger home. However, you must sell the home you are currently living in to be able to make the move. The nagging question that pops into your mind is “When is the right time to sell my home?” The truth is there is no clear answer to your question.

The reason there is no clear answer is because there are many factors to be considered and each of these are of a subjective nature. But, all is not lost. The information contained in this article, hopefully, will give you a better feel for when the right time might be for you to sell your home.

People who are looking to buy homes do so through out the year. They base their decision on their own personal circumstances, which are occurring in their life and the life of their family. The circumstances can range from illness, divorce, employment, retirement, death of a loved one and the list goes on and on, as you well know.

The only clear trend which can be drawn from this is that normally there are more of these buyers entering the home marketplace during the spring and summer. This in turn can lead you to believe this is the best time, however there are more factors you should take into consideration.

While seasonal trends are important they are not the most important thing to keep in mind when selling your home. The most compelling factor in selling your home is your own needs and personal circumstances. There has to be a reason why you are selling your home and more than likely you are facing a deadline of some type. Focus on those rather than on the time of the year. Although, your own personal circumstances may not allow you to wait for the busy season, you should also pay attention to the current market conditions in your area.

It is important for you to determine whether it is a “Buyers Market” or a “Sellers Market” as either one will dramatically impact the value of your home. A buyers market usually indicates there are a great many homes on the market and the prices are falling because of the glut of homes on the marketplace. The sellers market will usually be an indication of a limited supply of quality homes, rising interest rates and home prices. If it is a buyers market you will be facing stiff competition when you are trying to sell your home.

One of the things you should consider in a buyers market is whether or not your home is extremely well maintained and priced so it will standout above the other homes on the market. If you think your home will not stand up well against the competition, perhaps, if your personal circumstances allow, you will better off waiting until the housing market takes the turn back to a sellers market. However, if your personal circumstances will not allow you to wait, the sooner you get your home on the market the better.

Apart from the current market conditions you should also understand where the market is going. This involves a bit of research to figure out future trends from past ones. Though you can’t accurately predict the future of the market you can get a reasonably close picture. The real estate market experts usually will have some expectation based on their experience and this should be factored into your decision making process.

The best time of the year is not as important as your personal needs and the state of the market. Therefore, after you have had time to weigh your personal circumstances and the marketplace, then and only then, will you get a better feel on the right time to sale your home.

I’ve got lots of stories I can share, however, the bottom line is, you need solid answers and lots of them. Yes, the market is moving, however, not for everyone. Let’s get together and take a close look at options that will work best for you.

I’m Larry Buchanan and I’m a full time Realtor. Let’s talk.
email: Larry@ LarryBuchananRealtor.com

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

The media has been broadcasting this headline for years. There is no doubt that we are in a recession. What you have to answer for yourself now is what are you going to do about it? On your own, you can change it but you can adapt to the situation until things blow over.

Now how do we do that? Well the best thing to do is tighten your belt because the credit market is frozen so you won’t be able to get a loan for personal or for business purposes.

With the money you have, it is best to use it wisely by buying only the important items when you go to the grocery. If there are other items you want to go get, you have to sacrifice in order to get it by buying different brand that is more affordable. Since most supermarkets have special offers, give out free vouchers or samples, you should also avail of it.

Do you drive yourself to work? If you do, has it ever occurred to you how much you spend on gas everyday? If you drive an SUV, chances are you spend a lot on gas just to go to and from work. Part of tightening that belt means trading in your SUV or a smaller car. If it is possible, go for a hybrid because you save on gas and get a tax break from the government.

Most people eat out during their lunch break. Instead of buying food, why don’t prepare it at home and then bring it to the office. That way, you don’t have to spend your hard earned dollars for lunch so you can use this elsewhere.

Your employer is aware of the current financial crisis. You can help him or her by suggesting if it will be possible to do some of the work at home. Some companies allow their employees to do this so just have to check if this scenario can work for you. Just be sure that you are as productive at home like you are in the office.

But because you spend more time at home instead of the office, your electricity bill will surely go up. To try and resolve that, the best thing to do will be to replace your lighting fixtures with those that consume less wattage. Since you have a landline and mobile phone, you should change this with a provider that offers better rates than what you are currently paying for. The same goes for other bills that pay monthly.

With all the money you are able to save, you should use it to pay any outstanding debts that you may have with the bank to ensure you have a good credit rating. You can also use this to take up a training course so you or go back to school so you will be able to shift to another career if the current one you are in right now is not working out.

The current recession isn’t going to end by Christmas since it is forecasted to last until next year. For you to survive, you have to tighten your belt. If you don’t know how to do this or want to learn more, it is best to hire a financial adviser who can come up with a plan so you can just follow it.

I wanted to keep it short and informational. Please feel free to leave your comments. The best comments have their feedback posted in a column next month. Thanks for stopping by.

Best Regards,
Larry
Larry@Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

My cell is always near my ear:)
Larry Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty
mobile: 904-910-0203
office: 904-247-0059

When you want, or need to sell your home quickly, especially in today’s market, there are many things you can do. Most of the top 5 ways to sell your home quickly are obvious. However, they deserve repeating.

1. You’ll want to price your home appropriately for the neighborhood. These days you may want to check as much as a 10 mile radius centered around your home.

2. Choose wisely when you decide on a Realtor. You want your chosen agent to be experienced, not just in regard to his or her knowledge about features and information. Also important is the type of experience that helps you learn the secrets of moving a home when the market has loads of homes for sale.

3. Be sure you are open to considering ways of using the Internet to market your home. Again, a savvy Realtor will be knowledgeable about how and where to promote your home without spamming.

4. Make sure your Realtor creates a very descriptive flyer to describe your home. This may seem like a no-brainer, however, there are loads of flyers that do not grab the buyer’s attention, even though they are technically perfect. It takes more than a pretty picture to sell your home.

5. I like to travel through the city at least 3 times a month to compare homes and get an idea of what homes are selling for. I think like a buyer and look for signs that indicate hidden gems…or faults, from the front yard to the roof line and back to the edges of the lawn.

Make sure your home is white glove clean, or as close as possible. And keep your curb appeal in line with other homes that are competitive.

Please feel free to check with me before you make any final decisions. I’m a long time Jacksonville resident and have found many attractive values for both buyers and sellers. I’m still keeping busy thanks to the contacts I’ve made and the clients I’ve earned over the years.

Let’s get together and chat about possibilities. You may be closer to a positive outcome than you think. Don’t let the media scare you into procrastination, or even worst, trying to time the market recovery. Thinks are already moving. It’s time to take action.

I’m Larry Buchanan, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. Call me at 904-210-0203 or reach me by email at: Larry @Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

Thanks a million for visiting…

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

Very few days go by where I do not have a conversation with a friend or business contact who must sell their home quickly. The media has done a good job of alerting everyone to the fact that the housing market has taken a dive, which definitely slowed the sale of millions of homes across the country.

If the thought of when to place your home on the market is a concern, as you continue to read, you will find that a few things have changed since the first of the year, especially in the greater Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beaches areas.

According to a recent story in the Associated Press, the fallout in regard to foreclosures seems to be affecting Ohio, Nevada, Arizona, California and Florida with the highest increases in foreclosures in the first quarter of the year.

While it’s easy to miss the positive side of this news, the impact on home buyers is on the up-swing. However, in the City of Jacksonville and the Beaches areas, home sales are gaining ground as well. I’ve been fortunate enough to find a couple of niches that are moving somewhat faster, sales wise, than the market in general.

The circumstances that support this trend are most likely tied to rising foreign interest in the US real estate market, fueled by the current weakness in the dollar. When combined with the rising number of foreclosures and the attractiveness of the US dollar’s purchasing power in many countries, the timing is right for sales to warm up in this area.

My best advice for homeowners interested in selling is to spruce up and liven up interior and external areas of your home. Particularly in the Beaches areas where traffic is becoming noticeably higher.

My advice for buyers, including investors is to shop carefully. While real estate in interior areas of Jacksonville provide good dollar values, Jacksonville’s Beaches are beginning to sell at very attractive levels. With foreign interest warming, don’t hesitate too long before starting your search. There are many hidden values just waiting for an offer.

Please feel free to call me to get your questions answered.

Best Regards,
Larry
Larry Buchanan Realtor, Keller Williams Realty

Email: Larry @LarryBuchananRealtor.com

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

I have six quotes on my wall that I recently added… and many people
have told me they like to read quotes as part of starting their day. My friends speak of quotes as an important part of their tool kit of success secrets.

Without getting too technical, psychologists have observed that during times of financial turmoil and associated stresses, positive quotes can stimulate a powerful response in the subconscious mind.

Bottom line, you will be more successful, based on the advice of professionals in the world of personal development, if you add quotes to your daily exercise routine…I promise.

Here are a few quotes I recently received to share with my blog fans. Please feel free to write these down and use on your wall or carry in your daytimer.

- “Self esteem is everything. There is power in believing that I deserve success!”

- “All men are very much alike. It is their habits which separate
them.” (Ladies are not off the hook for this one either)

- “Time is the irretrievable element. A top ranking decision I must make every day is how I use my time.”

- “I will never punish myself for any mistake I make out of enthusiasm.”

- “I will cut all ties with dishonest or negative people and revise my list every day.”

- “People will only treat me like my actions TEACH them how to treat me. Nothing more and Nothing less.”

What do you think of those quotes?

I hope you found them fresh enough to add them to your list of things-to-do today!

I look forward to reading your comments.

Best Regards & Thanks for stopping by…
Larry
Larry Buchanan Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Office: 904-247-0059
Mobile: 904.910.0203
Email: Larry @LarryBuchananRealtor.com

You’re probably asking yourself, what does Larry know about wild flowers? I’m laughing out loud when I think back a few years at the easy answer I’d have for that question.

Actually, I’m a Realtor rather than a gardener. But I’ve watched how buyers respond to bright flowers and a nicely landscaped home so I thought I’d share an article with my blog readers. I assure you, curb appeal and landscaping go hand in hand when making a home more attractive….to buyers.

So what’s it take to add a little color and pazzaz to your curb appeal with wild flowers? Read on…

A wild-flower garden has an attractive sound. One thinks of long walks in the woods, collecting hands full of colorful plants, and then of the fun in fixing up a really cool wild garden.

Many people say they have no luck at all with such a garden. It is not a question of luck, but a question of understanding, for wild flowers are like people and each has its personality. What a plant has been accustomed to in Nature it desires always. In fact, when removed from its own sort of living conditions, it sickens and dies.

That is enough to tell us that we should copy Nature herself. Suppose you are hunting wild flowers. As you choose certain flowers from the woods, notice the soil they are in, the place, conditions, the surroundings, and the neighbours.

Suppose you find dog-tooth violets and wind-flowers growing near together. Then place them so in your own new garden. Suppose you find a certain violet enjoying an open situation; then it should always have the same. You see the point, do you not? If you wish wild flowers to grow in a tame garden make them feel at home. Cheat them into almost believing that they are still in their native haunts.

Wild flowers ought to be transplanted after blossoming time is over. Take a trowel and a basket into the woods with you. As you take up a few, a columbine, or a hepatica, be sure to take with the roots some of the plant’s own soil, which must be packed about it when replanted.

The bed into which these plants are to go should be prepared carefully before this trip of yours. Surely you do not wish to bring those plants back to wait over a day or night before planting. They should go into new quarters at once. The bed needs soil from the woods, deep and rich and full of leaf mold.

The under drainage system should be excellent. Then plants are not to go into water-logged ground. Some people think that all wood plants should have a soil saturated with water. But the woods themselves are not water-logged.

It may be that you will need to dig your garden up very deeply and put some stone in the bottom. Over this the top soil should go. And on top, where the top soil once was, put a new layer of the rich soil you brought from the woods.

Before planting water the soil well. Then as you make places for the plants put into each hole some of the soil which belongs to the plant which is to be put there.

I think it would be a rather nice plan to have a wild-flower garden giving a succession of bloom from early spring to late fall; so let us start off with March, the hepatica, spring beauty and saxifrage. Then comes April bearing in its arms the beautiful columbine, the tiny bluets and wild geranium.

For May there are the dog-tooth violet and the wood anemone, false Solomon’s seal, Jack-in-the-pulpit, wake robin, bloodroot and violets. June will give the bellflower, mullein, bee balm and foxglove. I would choose the gay butterfly weed for July. Let turtle head, aster, Joe Pye weed, and Queen Anne’s lace make the rest of the season brilliant until frost.

Wow…I didn’t realize how much reading a simple process could be:) But at least now you have the basics and with a little help from our always varying NE Florida weather, you’ll probably amaze yourself with the results of your wild flower garden. Just take a little time each week to stop back to review this article.

But in case you’d prefer to explore other ideas for improving your curb appeal I’ve got an option for you.

Click on this link for details about a great book, simply called: Curb Appeal

There are great pictures and descriptions of the types of small changes that can make a huge difference in how your home presents itself to prospective buyers.

I hope you find this somewhat lengthy article to be useful information. Please feel free to leave your comments and questions.

Larry
Larry Buchanan Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Office: 904-247-0059
Mobile: 904-910-0203
email: Larry@LarryBuchananRealtor.com

Purchasing real estate is no laughing matter – whether the economy’s doing well or it’s experiencing recession. It’s a well-known fact that buyers are in a better position to purchase real estate during a recession. However, there are still some risks involved.

So how do you make sure you’re still getting the best real estate deal during the recession times? Here are some tips that you can make use of:

Determining whether you have gotten yourself a good deal in buying real estate, or simply just about anything, depends on your priorities. My years as a Realtor have taught me one thing for certain, all of us have different priorities, that’s a fact.

So if you’d like to make sure you satisfy yourself, get your own expectations in check. Creating a checklist can help you here. Finding a property to buy with a checklist handy can greatly facilitate the process.

I definitely advice about the importance of knowing your priorities and recommend that you create a checklist to guide your decisions. However, flexibility can also get you a long way. Be objective with your judgments and take a hard look at the property you are considering for your purchase.

Think hard and see if you are actually being too choosy to the point of being impractical. Would you like fancy or functional? Is it comfy or uber-elegant? How about trying to meet in the middle? Have you asked for suggestions from family or friends with experience? Do they agree with you?

Although you do not need to wipe your slate clean and accommodate all their opinions, are your expectations realistic enough… and what about your budget? Remember it is recession. Naturally, as a Realtor I can research many of the variables that help you consider your options. There’s no downside to taking advantage of this free service.

Many think that since it is recession, they can just buy and buy and buy properties. Although many property sellers are usually on the lower part of the scale during these times, not all deals are the best ones. You still need to be as careful as ever in purchasing real estate. My listings cover a wide range of choices, and I have access to literally thousands more. Should your schedule open we can set an appointment for a tour that will blow your mind. The market is absolutely perfect for great values at this point.

Many would pursue a short sale trying to grab a good deal. However, before you buy a property with a price that seems too low for the location, check with me about the areas and properties you’ve thought about. I can investigate to make sure you have all the facts. This is important since you should not just make an offer on a pre-foreclosure, short sale property.

Home sellers do know that during a recession, they may not be able to sell their properties for a better price. This means that they would have to wait longer to put their home out on the market. There may be properties for sale, but they get bought quicker, too. It would be helpful if you are prepared enough to make a purchase without dilly-dallying if you really are into it.

Your decision should not be clouded in buying a property. Always shop for the lowest price, which fortunately is more attainable during recession for buyers. However, do not forget that the lowest-priced property is not necessarily the best one.

In summary, there are some advantages to buying a home during recession. However, if you do not really have the budget or are not that well-educated in the real estate industry, do not feel pressured to jump in. There is still time for research and planning to help you make the best choice for the one decision that is a most important investment of your life.

Best Regards,
Larry
Larry Buchanan Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Office: 904-247-0059
Mobile: 904-910-0203
Email me: Larry@Larry Buchanan Realtor.com

Click here to see my complete listing of homes in the Greater Jacksonville Area

These days I seem to be getting more questions about credit than buying and selling houses. I always look for the positive side of things so my hunch is people want to prepare for a warming trend in the financial markets. Regardless of the reasons, it’s always a good idea to monitor your credit report to make sure you’re in good shape.

Your credit score is a very important in any financial transaction that you make or intend making in future. So it’s good you know exactly how you are scored. You’ll want to understand what is meant by the numbers of your credit score and how you can improve it if it’s not good enough.

If you have ever borrowed money or used credit before, the “score” reflects how well you’ve handled credit in the past. Your credit score is determined by amount of credit you have, how much money you owe and whether or not your payments were made in a timely manner.

Your credit score serves lenders as a predictor of how likely you are to repay credit they can extend. When payments are made on time your credit history will be stronger than with a history of slow and late payments. This is a major issue for both banks and credit unions.

Tips For Improving Your Credit Score

Bottom line, value your credit more than cash on hand. Naturally, it is great to form the habit of putting away cash savings, regardless of the monthly amount.

However, when it comes to our use and understanding of credit, it is easy to accumulate bad habits that can be costly. Check with your banker for guidance. You will find the best advice is easiest to find at your local bank or credit union. And the price is right.

Best Regards,

Larry Buchanan Realtor
Prudential Network Realty
Phone: 904-910-0203
email: Larry @LarryBuchananRealtor.com