This is entry #3 for the March challenge hosted by Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist, and Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP.###You Don't Lose Me When Things Go WrongThat's right; you don't lose me when things go wrong because there is always some turbulence. You know the old saying, SNAFU. You lose me when you don't handle the hiccup, return the call, blame it on your assistant, and have someone else call to tell me how busy you are.Yes, it was the end of the month, and that situation happens 12 times a year for everyone, not just lenders. We spoke when the contract came in, and you assured me that you were taking charge, the buyer was well qualified, and you wanted to win my business.I asked explicitly about closing the week of Thanksgiving, allowing you to have a longer ti... 03/26/2023

Only Get Upset When It Can HelpPatricia Feager and Kathleen Daniels are hosting the March challenge, asking us to use critical thinking using original content. Think about a scenario that can march you into trouble. Please write about a scenario that has the potential to come up during a real estate transaction.  *Note the underlined links below to previous situations. When a situation is out of our control, getting upset is a total waste and...I don't do upset.Here's an example: Closing has to be delayed. The buyer and seller have arranged time off from work. It's the end of the month. Everyone is inconvenienced... from the lender to the title company, the agents to the clients, and all the others working on a transaction. That includes movers, family members, babysitters, employers, a... 03/22/2023

 "Spring forward, Fall back" reminds us how Daylight Saving Time affects all our time-telling devices, including computers, alarm clocks, cell phones, microwaves, car clocks, and the numerous watches we may own.Daylight saving time (DST) begins each year on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m. And that is Sunday, March 12th.  Spring forward and get your home listed. 03/10/2023

This one is for Anna Banana Kruchten Phoenix Broker. Thanks for the challenge.My top 10 posts for 2022.   Start Worrying, Details To Follow Public 05/15/2022 655 50 12 1 Celebrating TEN Years Public   Featured 12/28/2022 1013 46 27 0 Are You Ready For The Photographer Public   Featured 06/18/2022 1982 45 13 0     623 39 15 0 Why I Am Still Blogging Public 12/05/2022 442 38 15 0     711 37 18 0 What An Honor I'm A Cover Girl Public 06/16/2022 606 34 14 0     930 33 17 0 Bull's Eye Public   Featured 07/22/2022 1306 29 14 0 Well Hung Public 10/10/2022 359 28 13 0 It's Not Time To Tell The Seller Public   Featured 06/24/2022 1213 28 12 0 This Can't Be Happening Public 06/04/2022 383 28 9 2 Getting To Know Me With Twenty-One Answers Public 05/02/2022 731 27 14 0 03/06/2023

 How much work should one do before selling? Do you paint, re-carpet, update counters, remodel old baths, and install a new kitchen while we're at it? It depends on your budget and how much time it will take to do these projects. Did you notice the four most expensive words while we're at it? A remodel, and a move can be overwhelming for most people. On Sunday, I will have a guest talking about how she only wanted more cabinets over her laundry, but one thing led to another, winding up with a total gut of her kitchen. When you watch TV shows about any contract work, it seems everything is done in twenty minutes. A wrong cabinet or a broken granite counter is not rectified in minutes. They must be reordered and can stop progress on the rest of the project. Many decisions exist, from floo... 02/25/2023

Maybe It's Not Time To Sell Counseling is a big part when working with potential sellers. You often have family members making decisions. Grown children think Mom or Dad should be in a condo or adult community. Sometimes they are correct, but sometimes it is not the right answer. I have seen couples sell their homes at the urging of others...only to reverse the situation and try to come back home. It is a huge challenge moving once must less twice. And way too exhausting even for people of a younger age. I have been known to talk people out of selling their homes. Or at least have them think about it for a while.And these situations may take longer, need more explanation, and require patience. A senior must know that the option exists to stay and age in place.It's not about getting the ... 02/21/2023

Pay Attention to Your Garage When Selling When marketing a home, remember closets and garages. Please make sure they are either neat, empty, or even staged.  Some sellers want to take everything from inside the house and put it in the garage! This is their quick way of getting the house ready for the photographer. Not A Good Idea. Garages need cleaning to show that it is only for cars. After the listing is signed, we go through the home to see what is necessary to make the best first impression.Garages are an excellent selling feature in Baltimore. Especially with our wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Either quite hot in the summer, cold in winter, a quick thunderstorm, rainy days, and the possibility of snow and ice later in the season.Careful about storing something f... 02/18/2023

 What To Call Double Closets  Depending on the potential couples as clients, I sometimes call the closets 'Hers and Hers' when showing properties.It is usually funny until one says he has more clothes.  Then I say, ' Okay, they are now 'His' and 'His.'There is always a smile, especially when someone first hears this. Our advertising and selling.. needs to have some personality and some fun. I have seen the couples teasingly ( I hope ) when visiting this much space, telling the other partner they can have the tiny linen closet. All in fun.By the way, closets can sell a home; ensure they are neat and organized.You are lucky to have two closets, no matter what you call them. 02/17/2023

By living at home for a while, some young people may be able to get into home ownership faster.A record number of young adults moved back home during the pandemic. High rents and the ability to work from anywhere remotely made it possible to save money and work on their credit scores. They could also pay down loans, save up for a down payment and work on their debt ratios. Since home prices are up about 100K from 2020 to 2022, living at home has helped.Because of high rents,  more young people are moving directly into homes and skipping apartment living. Living at your parent's home may not be the ideal solution, but it may help more younger buyers access homeownership.  Thinking of buying or selling a home Call Margaret Rome   02/10/2023

Weekly Baltimore Market Report February 5, 2023This week in the Baltimore Market report, we are finding that offers are coming in a little more quickly.  As buyers begin to return to the market, they are finding competition for available homes for sale.Buyers are touring more homes, increasing over 10% from last week.Prospective sellers might return when they see more buyer interest, and we may see more listings even before the spring market.    Thinking of selling your homeCall Margaret Rome 02/08/2023

Don't pack what you don't want to throw away. I had a call from one of my recent sellers who moved out of state. She tried to warn others to pack carefully. You don't need to pay to move unneeded stuff that will only get moved again once you get to your new home. Thinking she had thrown, donated, and given away a tremendous amount before she moved, she found she still kept way too much. And once in her new home has started to donate and toss things not needed.If you don't love it, don't pack it. Repurpose it before you move!If you want to sell your homeCall Margaret Rome 02/06/2023

 Properties with a smaller buyer pool are more likely to spend more time on the market.And this is true of unique and unusual properties. There are fewer buyers for these homes, and we must dig deeper to match them up with the right buyer. These listings take much more time to find the right buyer from that limited buyer pool.I have always enjoyed the challenge and hide nothing when describing these houses. Always explaining the unique feature, whether built in the 1700s, has cantilevered decks, is attached to a cemetery, is adjacent to the beltway, or is upside down (not financially), but the bedrooms are on the lower level. Maybe the house is on the railroad tracks, has no basement, has more bathrooms than bedrooms, an indoor pool, a funky custom design, a converted barn, or an unusua... 02/02/2023

Is it negotiable? This is almost always the second question after asking for the price.  Hmm...Isn't everything in life negotiable? Many low offers have made it through to closing. You cannot insult me with a lowball offer, and I should not allow the seller to be insulted.  The people who visited your home showed your home and made NO offer...were the insulting ones.  When someone takes time to write, submit, provide financial proof, chooses a lender, a title company, produces earnest money, decides on various dates, closing, inspections, etc., and...signs forty pages, that is not an insult..that is an offer!       The seller does NOT have to accept.. but it is the start of negotiations.  Please respond with a thank you.  If it cannot be negotiated...just an " We appreciate the offer, ... 01/26/2023

Take a look at the Weekly Market Report from Bright MLS. Buyers are more active, and sellers may be ready to adjust their prices. Call me if you are thinking of buying or selling a Baltimore Home. When you are thinking of buying or selling a Baltimore home, Call Margaret Rome 01/24/2023

Sunday, January 22, I invited a guest Joe Brandli of Pillar To Post.  Joe will give suggestions, discuss, and answer questions about all aspects of the home inspection.Since the inspection process is the most time-consuming activity that a Realtor® deals with, I am pleased to have a professional on the show. There are three ways to listen.One on your radio dial  WCBM 680 AMTwo Internet WCBM.com or the Three Use the app WCBM.Noon SundayIf you would like to ask a question or talk about home inspections, you can call 410-922-6680 or text me410-530-2400What questions would you like answered?Thinking of buying or selling a homeCall Margaret Rome   01/21/2023

Prepare Your Sellers For The Home Inspection Time to talk about home inspections and let the seller know what to expect.With a smile, I say it is simultaneously similar to a root canal and a colonoscopy. Here are a few things to help sellers get ready:First, have the sellers leave the house!Let them know it could be several hours. It could be 1-2 or 5-6 but let them know you will stay in touch. They need to be available by phone, especially if there are any questions. Suggest they have clothes in the washing machine and the dryer, dishes in the dishwasher, and the appliance set to "start."You've now made it easy for the inspector ...who does not have to "figure out" your appliances.Make sure all the windows and doors open and close and are not blocked.Ensure access to the attic, the ele... 01/19/2023

My marketing targets buyer needs. As a listing agent, I have many potential buyers waiting for the right house. So if I find them a home, I can put theirs on the market.  If you are thinking about buying or selling a homeCall Margaret Rome 01/18/2023

 My day was made when I checked my email and found this lovely note from one of my most recent sellers.   ''My experience working with Margaret Rome was amazing.  I’ve moved many times over the years due to work transfers, and know it’s a process of choosing a realtor. Margaret was the first realtor I called.  As soon as she walked into the house, all she saw was the positives and potential.  Her knowledge and passion for real estate and the local market was impressive.  She also understood how difficult it was for me to sell my late brother’s house and was very patient, kind and helpful as I prepared it to go on the market.  She was always available if I had a question and never failed to contact me before a showing and after to share any comments made.  Her various marketing tools gav... 01/17/2023

It All Depends on Who You Talk To I've been talking with people about the current real estate market in the past week. Ask the man who just sold his house, and he'll say the market is excellent. Ask the woman whose house has been listed for several months, and she'll tell you the market is terrible. The truth is they're both right. I talked with a man who bought his house two years ago and wants to ask for several hundred thousand more. I thought, "Terrific! He must have made some great improvements. Maybe there's an addition, a new kitchen, or a pool with a hot tub." But he hadn't - all he had done was paint. I had to tell him that the market would not support that price bump these days.But a house priced right with a fair profit for the seller and a good value for the buyer will sell.... 01/16/2023

With interest rates doubling recently from the low threes to seven percent, it has reduced the buying power by 30-40%. That means as the rate, hopefully, drops, buyers can afford more house. They can also refinance if that happens.As John Meussner  in California states: " if rate increases put potential buyers on the sidelines, it would reason that reduced rates would bring buyers back to the market." Don't stop looking! As more homes come on the market, there should be more room to negotiate. Maybe you don't have to go to your maximum loan limit. Perhaps you can get a home more reasonably now. Many buyers have quit looking, and many sellers are in a position where they are ready to sell fast. The good thing is the feeding frenzy has calmed down. The multiple offers have slowed down, an... 01/15/2023