Hill Slowinski • Real Estate: Blog

Owners' Continuing Responsibility for Snow/Ice Removal

With the arrival of Winter this coming week and the surprise snowfall we had last week, it is time to complete your winter preparations, if you have not done so already.  These are particularly important if you have a home listed for sale that is vacant or you are going to be away for part of the holidays.

A Quick Checklist:

If your listed property is vacant:

• Have someone lined up to shovel snow promptly:
  • Clear snow and ice for access from the street - driveways, paths, and walks 
  • Snow-covered and icy walks may present potential liability issues
  • Snow and ice will discourage agents with potential buyers from showing
  • Some local jurisdictions require snow removal from sidewalks within 6-24 hours
• Keep heat on to avoid freezing pipes
• Lower thermostat to 60 degrees to save on expenses
• Enlist neighbor support to contact you if anything is or appears amiss or unusual
• Arrange yard service to remove winter debris - branches, leaves, etc.
• Clear leaves from gutters now to avoid ice dams caused by heavy snows
• Have someone (in addition to your agent) stop by regularly to check on the property
• Turn off water supply to exterior faucets and stow hoses
• Contact pool service company for winterizing outdoor pools
• Turn off outdoor sprinkler and irrigation systems
• Check with your insurance carrier on vacant property coverage

If your house is occupied, you likely have already done these and more: 

• Continue maintenance of the heating system filters, vents, and ducts
• Remove and store window air conditioner units
• Prepare central air conditioning outdoor condensing units
• Check operation of fireplace dampers and check chimneys for ‘critters'
• Check and update weather stripping on doors and windows
• Insulate exposed pipes

It is the owner's responsibility to maintain safe conditions for visitors and guests.

Seven Exceptional Attributes to Look For

Finding an excellent real estate agent or Realtor^® can be a challenge. There are many to choose from and they all appear eager to help you. But how do you know which will serve your interests and help you best?  There are so many to choose from - but how do you narrow your choices?

Refine your search. Among the many qualities you want to see, consider these too::

• All Realtors^® are agents; not all agents are Realtors^®.  There is a distinction. A Realtor^® is a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the state board and the local board, in my case, for example, the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, the Maryland Association of Realtors, and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. Realtors pay annual dues to all of these boards and are accountable to a high degree of ethical standards, while "agents" are not. Realtors benefit you by taking continuing education classes, networking, using professional support services and resources, and more as a result of their membership status.
• A full-time Realtor can research homes for you, network your properties, preview homes for you and much more throughout the day during normal business hours. A full-time Realtor has the time to attend real estate classes and further/update his or her education to better meet your needs.
  • Agents who only work part-time guarantee part-time attention and can hold up the real estate process for you.  Sometimes this could mean lack of focus or commitment, or cause losing the buyer of your house or losing your dream home to someone else.
  • Agents who are routinely "too busy" or who are doing on-the-job training can't be wholly devoted to your interests since they have other responsibilities. If you need answers right away, you will have to wait to get them.  If you have to constantly deal with their assistant, you may want to consider hiring someone else.  Most discount Realtors deal with a lot of homes and will not give full service or personal attention to you.
• Excellent Realtors have strong negotiating skills.  Listing agents who defend their commission validate the greater value they provide and will likely also negotiate strongly for you for the highest selling price from a buyer.  Those who just agree with whatever you say to get the listing will not tell you what they honestly think and will not fight for your interests. You need a confident expert.
• You must have an expert on how to market your property on the web and who is willing to advertise using current technology and invest significant time online to heavily promote your listing. The internet has changed everything; 85% of home buyers use the internet to research their purchase. 
• Committed Realtors vigorously pursue listings and buyers in a tough market or are currently working on real estate deals. Such Realtors are actively aware of what's really taking place in the current real estate market and of changes affecting the business. An agent's number of years of experience in the Real Estate field do not say as much about how up-to-date or involved he or she is with current real estate market realities.
• A great Realtor will always look out for your best interests and has time for you. Find out how many listings and buyers the Realtor has and how often he will communicate with you. Ask for references or testimonials from previous clients. Google him and read their websites and blogs for accurate information.  Check with the local real estate association to see licensing status and if any complaints have been filed.
• Avoid those who will overprice just to get the listing. Have each agent justify a specific price and what supports that price.  If the recommended listing price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Some agents will suggest a high dollar amount just to get you to list, while others may under-price a home just so it will sell quickly.

Overall, the most important consideration is to work with someone you like and has a personality that works well with you. If you are not comfortable with the person representing you, the stressful process of buying a home becomes more stressful.  Work with someone you like, someone you feel you can trust.

SELLERS: Why Your House WILL Sell When Others Don't;
BUYERS: How to Prepare For, Find, and GET the Home You Want 

FREE SEMINARS and WORKSHOPS

Navigating today's dramatically changing real estate market can be challenging. Add to that the complexities of buying or selling a home and you have the makings for a whole lot of confusion. These free seminars will give you the tools, resources and information needed to make the best decisions for one of your biggest investments.

Here are the dates for the upcoming seminars. Each seminar will be held from 11:00 am-12:30 pm at the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Station located at 8001 River Road, Bethesda.

June 12 - Seller Seminar • June 26 - Buyer Seminar

July 10 - Seller Seminar • July 24 - Buyer Seminar

September 11 - Seller Seminar • September 25 - Buyer Seminar

October 9 - Seller Seminar •  October 23 - Buyer Seminar

SELLER'S OUTLINE:  Sell Your House This Year:  Why Your House WILL Sell When Others Don't
Description: Tips, advice and suggestions to help your home outshine the competition in today's buyer's market. Topics covered include:
 
The Seller's Role:
· Getting your property market-ready
· Understanding buyer expectations
· Seven pitfalls to avoid
Your Agent's Role:
· Up-to-the-minute market conditions
· Marketing Do's and Don'ts
· Leveraging relationships
· Pricing strategies for value 
Making the Sale:
· Attractive buyer financing options to consider
· Flexible negotiations
· Win-Win results
 
BUYERS OUTLINE:  Buy Your Dream Home This Year: How to Prepare For and Find THE Home you Want
Description: Tips, advice and suggestions to help you succeed in geting your next home in today's buyer's market. Topics covered include:
 
The Buyer's Role:
· Getting your financial profile ready
· Understanding seller expectations
· Seven pitfalls to avoid 
Your Agent's Role:
· Up-to-the-minute market conditions
· Buying Do's and Don'ts
· Leveraging relationships
· Comparing strategies for value 
Making the Purchase:
· Attractive financing options to consider
· Flexible negotiations
· Win-Win results

 For more information please contact

An Alternative to Brokerage

As consultant to clients who wish to explore all the available avenues for the disposition of real estate, I occasionally am asked what are the characteristics and benefits of the traditional brokerage vs. the marketing method in support of an auction.

Briefly, a transaction conducted in traditional brokerage is a negotiation that occurs over a period of time, with a seller and buyer bargaining and eventually coming to agreement on all terms, conditions, contingencies, prices, and schedule for settlement.  Auctions, on the other hand, are deliberate and competitive interactions among all willing buyers to offer a price for the seller to accept, without negotiation of all the other terms, conditions, contingencies, and settlement date. Those terms are pre-established by the seller and set forth in a property information package.

• Three types of residential auctions: Absolute (no minimum or reserve); Public Minimum (published and made known to buyers), and Reserve (confidential minimum amount set by the seller).

• Seller benefits: Quicker sale; maximum advertising exposure; maximize buyer participation; maximize dollars; no contingencies; property sold in as-is condition; buyer pays all documentary stamps and transfer taxes; commission free to seller in most auctions.

• Buyer benefits: Auctions are fun; bidding process is open and fair; buyers buy at their prices; decision to bid is reinforced by the immediately preceding bid; buyers compete on a level playing field with other buyers because terms and conditions are the same for all.

If you think this alternative might be right for you, call me and I'll help you make an informed decision.  For more information, contact me to talk about whether thisthis is an approach you could consider.

"It's all about my clients ... "

         When clients engage me, either with the renowned Washington brokerage of W.C. & A.N. Miller
REALTORS®, exclusive affiliate of Christie's Great Estates, or with Sloans & Kenyon in its marketing
association for their luxury real estate needs, they find my service levels cannot be matched. 
          My clients understand and appreciate the need for the extensive resources and professional services
 of a full-time, experienced, dedicated REALTOR to purchase or market their largest asset.
          I always have time to help you, your friends and neighbors, and family.  My goals are to provide
excellent service, to fully represent you, and to exceed your expectations.

          Read what THEY say about my services ...

You've heard it before, the three most important attributes of real estate -- 1) Location, 2) location, and 3) location.  Real estate is local.  In these economic times, some experts will tell you that in your neighborhood or general location now is not the time to sell your home.  

But selling might be the only option if you have to move for work, are selling an unused family or vacation home, or are committed to another new home elsewhere. 

Fortunately, most clients I serve in Northwest DC, Montgomery County, and Northern Virginia are seeing stabilization in prices.  But no matter where you are, it is wise to consider the following tips to help you get the most in your transaction:

• Call me first rather than simply posting "For Sale by Owner" signs in your front yard. The commission I earn is worth its weight in the assistance and advice you'll receive in return.  I have experience selling in these markets and I offer a free Homesellers Handbook to get you started.

• You'll also want to make sure your house is priced correctly, that is, priced for the current market regardless of what you think its true value is. Although it can be tough to take a loss, your house may never sell if it's priced incorrectly. To offset this, I can help your house sell faster by being more proactive about marketing.  I use Voice Pad technology and additional Internet resources such as Craig's List and YouTube, my real estate blogs and websites, and many secondary internet sites to reach a much wider audience.

• For further assistance, you may want to think about enlisting a staging company or an interior designer. This can seem counterintuitive when money is a concern. But studies show that staged houses typically sell in less than half the amount of time as their unstaged competitors - and for more money. In other words, your small up-front investment in new paint, accessories, and landscaping can end up saving you money in the long term. I have a special list of proven contractors and vendors I and my W.C. & A. N. Miller Realtor colleagues have used for recommendations to you.  You can do a simple search for a provider in your area on our website.

• Even with the help of a staging company, however, you will still need to make any necessary improvements and repairs to your house to keep it competitive with other houses on the market. Again, I can recommend many proven, established contractors and vendors W.C. & A. N. Miller Realtor colleagues and I have used. Be sure these changes have a good return and will not cost you more than they're worth. If they do, you may want to consider offering the buyer a cash allowance toward the repair instead.

You may believe now may not be the best time to sell. But that doesn't mean good home sales aren't made every day. Contact me to help ensure your home is ready for a good offer by making smart choices.

Hill Slowinski, licensed in DC, MD, and VA

W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, A Long & Foster Company

4701 Sangamore Road,  Bethesda, Maryland  20816

Cell: 301-452-1409  Direct: 301-320-8430  Ofc: 301-229-4000

         Email: hslowinski@longandfoster.com or Hill@HillSlowinski.com

When: Saturday, May 2
Time: 11:00 am
Where: West End Library, 2nd Floor, 1101 - 24th Street, NW, Washington DC

Join us for this FREE sellers' seminar.  Description: Tips, advice and suggestions to help your home outshine the competition in today's buyer's market. Topics covered include:

 The Seller's Role:

• Getting your property market-ready
• Understanding buyer expectations
• Seven pitfalls to avoid

Your Agent's Role:

• Up-to-the-minute market conditions
• Marketing Do's and Don'ts
• Leveraging relationships
• Pricing strategies for value

Making the Sale:

• Attractive buyer financing options to consider
• Flexible negotiations
• Win-Win results

 R.S.V.P.:  Email: hslowinski@longandfoster.com or Hill@HillSlowinski.com

 Hill Slowinski

WC & AN Miller Realtors, A Long & Foster Company

4701 Sangamore Road,  Bethesda, Maryland  20816

Cell: 301-452-1409  Direct: 301-320-8430  Ofc: 301-229-4000