ESAR has Logo Contest

Great opportunity for a young artist to get their artwork recognized…but also open to everyone!!

Eastern Shore Association of Realtors
LOGO CONTEST

The Eastern Shore Association of Realtors (ESAR) is in need of a logo that represents its identity as the managing entity of the local Realtors of the Eastern Shore.  Logo artwork should include the REALTOR “R” and involve imagery indicative to the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

This contest is open to the general public including…but not limited to amateur artists, professional artists, individuals or companies, high school and college students.  Submitted artwork can done by hand or with the use of computer graphic software.  In either case…artwork must be suitable for use on materials such as letterhead, websites, and social media.  ALL artwork must be an original unique piece of art and may not be a copy an existing image in any way.

Artwork will be accepted through 12/31/2015.  The winning artist(s) will receive a cash prize of $250, recognition in a local newspaper, and mentioned on the ESAR website and on our social media.  Should no suitable artwork be received by December 31^, 2015, ESAR reserves the right to extend the contest or to end the contest without awarding a prize.  Artwork may be emailed, mailed, or hand delivered.

To submit artwork, or for more information on logo criteria…contact the ESAR office at 757-789-7630 or ESAR Vice President, Bob Faith of Dockside Properties at 757-894-1479, by email at rmfaith@intercom.net .

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Thanking the Armed Forces…

As Memorial Day weekend approaches…we are reminded about the sacrifices that our armed forces and their families make everyday.  No matter where they are stationed…the men and women of the red, white, and blue sacrifice their time and sometimes their lives to protect our rights and freedoms here in America.  But it does not stop with those who serve…it includes their family members who deal with the absence or loss of a love one.

I am very proud of the fact that I know lots of folks who are serving or who have served in the armed forces.  My father and brother served with the US Army.  I have a niece who served with the US Navy and her twin brother is still active with the US Navy.  And the number of friends and acquaintances are more than I can count.  I personally did not serve in the armed forces…but I did serve as a US Federal Agent.  And despite all I was willing to give in that position, especially during 9/11…I was fortunate enough to come home most nights to my family.  Many members of the armed forces are away from home from months at a time…missing birthdays, anniversaries, and other important events.

The greatest sacrifice by our soldiers and their families is loss of life.  It is so unfortunate how many people who live in our borders take advantage of the sacrifices these men and women make and return the favor by burning the American flag, complaining about pledge of a allegiance, or turning their back on the country that grants them these rights.

I would like to personally thank anyone who is currently serving or has served in the past for all that you do.  Happy Memorial Day.

Why you should not depend on Zillow, Trulia, and other similar sites…

If you have ever searched the web for real estate…you have probably heard the names Zillow and Trulia.  These are independent (private) websites with no direct affiliation with a local Realtor, firm, or real estate board.  There are actually hundreds of these private sites.

First, here is how it works.  Like with most areas…the local Realtor adds a listing to the local Multiple List System or MLS.  The MLS is a database that all participating agents use to view their company’s listings as well as all other local or regional listings.  In our local area…the MLS covers Virginia’s Eastern Shore and is managed by the Eastern Shore Association of Realtors.  It is from this database that Zillow, Trulia, and others get the listing information.  They “data-mine” or upload this data from the MLS database to their data base.

The reason they do this is to make money…they will then reach out to the Realtor or firm and solicit them for a fee so the agent can have their name attached with their own listing.  If they don’t, other agents’ names can be attached to the listing.  So in the case of the Eastern Shore of Virginia…you could have a Charlottesville, Richmond, or Northern Virginia agent listed as a contact point for a listing, rather than connecting the buyer with a local agent or the listing agent.  These long distance agents have no intention of driving 3+ hours to show property on the Eastern Shore.

The next issue is accuracy.  These sites are quick to upload new listings.  Usually within 72 hours.  But they are very slow and updating listings.  If a price change is made or the listing is sold…it can sometimes still show for months after the fact…or maybe worse…show at an old price or inaccurate information.  Both is not good for the buyer or the seller.  Since the local Realtor is not directly involved in this…the information either sits out there incorrect or the agent needs to jump through A LOT of hoops to get the information corrected.  And once it is corrected…any update to the website could cause the information to revert to the wrong information again.

Now for the worse issue for the buyer and seller and the biggest reason not to depend on these sites.  If your a seller…your hardest decision is the determine your asking price.  And as a buyer…the biggest concern is determining if a house you are looking at is worth the asking price.  If you have been on Zillow…you have heard of the term “Zestimate”.  Each of these websites will give you a figure about what they feel the property you are currently viewing is worth.  This figure is almost always WAY off.  For the most part…these websites use an equation to figure out the value of the home you are viewing on their site.   The problem is that the equation they use does not take into account things like waterview, condition, etc.  They claim it does take into account number of bedrooms and square footage…but personally, I can’t see how that is the case sometimes.

So, what is the moral of the story.  If you decide your going to move to a new area these sites might be okay to get a vague understanding of asking prices.  But always find a local Realtor to work with you.  Realtors are held to a high standard and most take pride in what they do.  They are in it for more than the commission check and want to see you happy with the purchase.  And if your a seller…you want to have a local Realtor to be your advocate.  In either case, the Realtor you are working with will give you accurate, up to the minute, information about the market you’re concerned with and can guide you whether you are a buyer or a seller.

If you are looking to buy on Chincoteague Island, the community of Trails End, or anywhere in Accomack County in Virginia…I ask that you give me a call at 757-894-1479 or online at http://www.chincoteaguehomes.net.  And if your a seller in these area, call me to find out why Dockside Properties is the leader in sales for these markets year after year!

Happy Mother’s Day

I think most can agree that one can never say enough about ones mother to due her justice.  A mother gave birth to us and if you were one of the lucky ones…she took care of you one way or another for your entire childhood…and in a lot of cases even into adulthood.  Always there to give advice or help with whatever hurdles you come across.  Always supportive, always a source of reliable guidance.

One could make the argument that anyone can buy a house…but the Mom is the one that makes a house a HOME.  So give your Realtor the credit for helping you buy your house.  But thank your Mother, wife, or even your Grandmother for making your house your HOME!!!

So make sure you talk to your Mom tomorrow and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day…and THANK her for being her!

Why list with a REALTOR?

So I thought for my first “real” post…I would sing the praises of why one should list their property with a REALTOR rather than on their own…or FSBO.  I actually found a good article regarding this that pretty much says it all.

Some homeowners consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers.

Here are five reasons:

1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With

Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner:

• The buyer who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent who solely represents the best interest of the buyer
• The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
• The home inspection companies which work for the buyer and will almost always find some problems with the house.
• The appraiser if there is a question of value

2. Exposure to Prospective Purchasers

Recent studies have shown that 88% of buyers search online for a home. That is in comparison to only 21% looking at print newspaper ads. Most real estate agents have an internet strategy to promote the sale of your home. Do you?

3. Results Come from the Internet

Where do buyers find the home they actually purchased?

• 43% on the internet
• 9% from a yard sign
• 1% from newspaper

The days of selling your house by just putting up a sign and putting it in the paper are long gone. Having a strong internet strategy is crucial.

4. FSBOing has Become More and More Difficult

The paperwork involved in selling and buying a home has increased dramatically as industry disclosures and regulations have become mandatory. This is one of the reasons that the percentage of people FSBOing has dropped from 19% to 9% over the last 20+ years.

5. You Net More Money when Using an Agent

Many homeowners believe that they will save the real estate commission by selling on their own. Realize that the main reason buyers look at FSBOs is because they also believe they can save the real estate agent’s commission. The seller and buyer can’t both save the commission.

Studies have shown that the typical house sold by the homeowner sells for $208,000 while the typical house sold by an agent sells for $235,000. This doesn’t mean that an agent can get $27,000 more for your home as studies have shown that people are more likely to FSBO in markets with lower price points. However, it does show that selling on your own might not make sense.

Bottom Line

Before you decide to take on the challenges of selling your house on your own, sit with a real estate professional in your marketplace and see what they have to offer.

Credits: http://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2015/02/03/5-reasons-you-shouldnt-for-sale-by-owner-4/

There are a lot of advantages to using a REALTOR.  But the biggest that can probably include everything above is advocacy.  Having a knowledgeable REALTOR as your advocate can keep you prepared for most situations and for the situations you didn’t plan for…you can trust you will be pointed in the right direction with the right REALTOR.

Interested in selling your Chincoteague Island home or Trails End property.  Call me today!!

My first post…

This is just a short first post.  Really it is almost a test to see what a post will look like on the blog.  My hope to post on here regularly to help my clients and customers stay on top of the local real estate market on Chincoteague Island, in the community of Trails End and anywhere else in Accomack County.  Stay tuned!!!