Thursday, July 21, 2011

Quick fixes and tips for everyday home problems

Owning a home requires home maintenance.
I was recently visiting my parents and my mom pointed out some of the projects their "Handyman" (His name is Craig and my mom keeps a "Craigs List", clever huh?!)  has worked on over the past year or so.  Although I personally think they over pay him, in the long run it will definitely be beneficial when they put their home up for sale.

I saw this article on MSN.com and thought it would be useful for a lot of new and seasoned home owners. At time you may want to hire a professional or "Handyman" but for some projects I'm sure you would be surprised at how simple they may be!

30 quick fixes and tips for everyday home-problems

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Rentals

Within the last few months more and more people have been asking if I can help with rentals. The answer is, yes! Not only do I help people buy and sell homes, I can rent homes too. 
While it is a fabulous time to buy, I understand it may not be ideal for everyone right now. On the flip side, due to various reasons some people may be looking to put their current home up for rent. In both of these situations I can be of assistance.

I am always honest and upfront when people ask for help to find a rental property (well when people ask about anything really!). I will help find and negotiate a property for you, but I can only do that if the seller/landlord cooperates with a Real Estate professional. The best way to guarantee this is to find rental properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) trend website. This website advertises homes for sale and rent by real estate agencies and cooperates with other agencies. If a client finds a rental on say, Craigslist, most likely I will not be able to help. Individuals and companies putting houses up for rent on these other sites typically are not willing to work with a third party nor agree to pay a commission.

Some of the benefits for hiring a professional to help you are:
1. They will do the work for you. You have a full time job, this is our job so you do not have to spend time or energy searching for properties.
2. Negotiate lease terms.
3. Ensure the landlord is a professional
4. Guides you throughout the transaction

If you are looking to put your home or investment home up for rent, I can help with that as well. 
It is essential to find a qualified and reliable tenant. This will make your experience as a landlord much more enjoyable.
When you list with a Realtor they will check credit, references, and require specific documentation. We are also able to provide professional advertising through websites, signage and much more. It is our job to get your place rented quickly, with the best possible tenant and at the best price.

I hope this helps clarify any questions you may have. If not, I'm always available!