by CHRIS CARRAGHER on APRIL 22, 2013
Bean Group Supports Military Personnel through Real Estate Rebate Program
Bean Group, one of the fastest growing real estate firms in New England and a proud member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), is now providing financial incentives to military personnel buying or selling a home.
As a partner of LeadingRE’s Military on the Move™ program, Bean Group is offering qualified active duty, retired, and wounded service members a cash rebate based on the actual sales price of the home, or credit at closing, in states where allowed by law.
“We’re honored to support our servicemen and women through the Military on the Move program, and look forward to providing them with the attention and support they deserve.” said Michael Bean, CEO of Bean Group.
With more than 300 Realtors and 15 office locations throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, Bean Group currently serves the following military bases through the Military on the Move program:
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Hanscom Air Force Base
Natick Soldier Systems Command
Cape Cod Air Force Base
Cape Cod Air Station
To learn more about Bean Group, or the Military on the Move program contact Sharon Campbell, Director of Relocation at 800.450.7784 ext. 7377 or [email protected].
Five Habits of Highly Productive Real Estate Agents
I’ll let you in on a little secret. You could take the title of this blog and replace “Real Estate Agents” with your profession and you would increase your productivity! But Real Estate is my business and time management is a real challenge that I want to address from the perspective of being a Real Estate Agent.
With so many distractions, it is a wonder that real estate agents are productive at all. Working to become a highly productive real estate agent is an ongoing process. Creating habits that produce consistent results allows you to achieve your maximum potential. Between phone calls, emails, listing presentations, prospecting calls and buyer appointments, how do I stay productive?
I keep myself focused, alert and on tract with these five habits:
- Focus on the Most Important Tasks. Be mindful to focus on income generating tasks and tasks that produce results. Schedule time on your calendar and list out everything you will work on. Number each item and work through your list. Complete what you can during your scheduled time without any interruptions or distractions (see #2). Do this every day.
- Remove Distractions. The day can quickly get away from you between the phone, email, Internet and any other interruption. Turn it all off and stay focused on your task at hand. Don’t allow yourself a quick vacation on Facebook or getting off track by answering emails. Cut yourself off from all distractions, work down your list and take a break once you are complete.
- Use Positive Affirmations. Crazy, I know but they actually do work! They can take a negative attitude and turn it around just by repeating a few constructive, upbeat words.
- Take a Cat Nap. Making time and grabbing a few z‘s might seem like an odd productivity tip, but studies have shown that feeling refreshed after a nap can significantly improve concentration and performance. 30 minutes is all it takes.
- Set Daily Goals. Wake up each morning with your goals outlined. These should be incorporated into your daily tasks. Setting your sites on a goal each day offers clarity and promotes a more sustained drive.
Here’s a bonus. Break out of the norm. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try something that makes you a little uncomfortable. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be an amazing place that offers growth potential you never believed possible. Whatever your profession, these habits will contribute to your productivity.
Until next time, Irene
Pricing your house to sell – The Basic Six!
Why does one house sell quickly for a stellar price while another has a “For Sale” sign in the yard for months? Is it luck? Probably not. The sales price and length of marketing time are determined by six basic factors. And you, as the seller, control four of them.
Location – Your neighborhood and your home’s location within the subdivision are important. Does your lot border a golf course or a busy street?
Condition of Property – Is your home updated and well-maintained or does it need redecorating and repair? Is it “staged” to show at its best?
Terms – Can you carry a second mortgage? Is your loan assumable? Can you be flexible with closing and occupancy dates?
Market Conditions – How does the number of available homes (new and resale) compare with the number of buyers? Interest rates always affect the number of qualified, motivated buyers.
Price – Is your property priced correctly? A new listing receives the most activity during the first 3-4 weeks, so be sure to price your home correctly right from the beginning. Price is a very important factor that can offset other deficiencies.
Your real estate professional – The agent you select will make a difference. As an experienced, knowledgeable real estate professional, I will price your home correctly, market it extensively, and negotiate effectively on your behalf. If you’re thinking of selling, please call me.
6 Reasons to Reduce Your Home Price
If you don’t receive any offers for a few weeks, check out other comparable houses on the market and what they’re going for. Image: Liz Foreman
Holiday Lighting Safety Checklist
By: Pat Curry
Published: November 18, 2009
Before you plug in and light up for the holidays, run your decorations through this quick safety check.
Inspect light strings. Discard any that are damaged. Frayed or cracked electrical cords or broken sockets are leading fire hazards.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting multiple strings. The general limit is three strings. Light strings with stacked plugs can usually accommodate greater lengths than end-to-end connections.
Replace burned-out bulbs promptly. Empty sockets can cause the entire string to overheat.
Make sure outdoor lighting is UL-rated for exterior use. Exterior lights, unlike those used inside the house, need to be weather-resistant. The same goes for any extension cords used outdoors.
Don’t use outdoor lights indoors. They’re too hot for interior use. For the coolest bulbs and greatest energy efficiency, try LED lights, which come in a wide range of styles and colors.
Don’t attach light strings with nails or staples. They can cut through the wire insulation and create a fire hazard. Only use UL-approved hangers.
Take exterior lights down within 90 days. The longer they stay up, the more likely they are to suffer damage from weather and critters chewing on them.
Store lights safely. Tangled lights can lead to damaged cords and broken sockets. After the holidays, coil each string loosely around a stiff piece of cardboard, wrap it in paper or fabric to protect the bulbs, and store in a sturdy container until next year.
Pat Curry is a former senior editor at BUILDER, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.
Tips For Seniors Considering Selling South Central Vermont Real Estate
To Sell or Not to Sell?
That is a question with which many seniors are wrestling these days. One the one hand, older homeowners are faced with rising maintenance costs, personal physical constraints, a desire to live a more carefree and less complicated lifestyle, a realistic look at future needs, such as being near public transportation and/or quality health care, and living in a “too-large” home. On the other hand, they are reluctant to leave a neighborhood where they are known and respected, move further from friends and family, consider downsizing and parting 
with treasured items, and undertaking the seemingly overwhelming job of emptying one home and setting up another. In addition, they don’t want to give up the security or the memories tied to their current home.
A knowledgeable and understanding real estate agent who is familiar with the needs and desires of the 55+ set, combined with the services of an attorney who specializes in both real estate and estate planning and an accountant who deals with senior tax implications, can be invaluable to you in looking at all aspects of selling you South Central Vermont real estate and helping you determine what is best for you.
If you do decide to sell, BankRate.com cautions you to first get a written market analysis and a financial evaluation which will help you and your team of advisors address the realities of the market, your investments, and tax objectives.
Selling Your Home
Tips for Seniors Selling South Central Vermont Real Estate
To sell or not to sell? That is a question with which many seniors are wrestling these days. One the one hand, older homeowners are faced with rising maintenance costs, personal physical constraints, a desire to live a more carefree and less complicated lifestyle, a realistic look at future needs, such as being near public transportation and/or quality health care, and living in a “too-large” home. On the other hand, they are reluctant to leave a neighborhood where they are known and respected, move further from friends and family, consider downsizing and parting with treasured items, 
and undertaking the seemingly overwhelming job of emptying one home and setting up another. In addition, they don’t want to give up the security or the memories tied to their current home.
Finding Real Estate Agent
A knowledgeable and understanding real estate agent who is familiar with the needs and desires of the 55+ set, combined with the services of an attorney who specializes in both real estate and estate planning and an accountant who deals with senior tax implications, can be invaluable to you in looking at all aspects of selling your South Central Vermont real estate and helping you determine what is best for you. Senior Expert Margie Behr also advises that you think about taking out a home equity loan before you put your house on the market and that you involve your whole family in the decision-making process.
If you do decide to sell, BankRate.com cautions you to first get a written market analysis and a financial evaluation which will help you and your team of advisors address the realities of the market, your investments, and tax objectives.
Staging Your South Central Vermont Home For An Open House
You are selling your South Central Vermont home and the first Open House only a week away. The house is filled with clutter and things you don’t want to throw away. But the clutter is not appealing to potential South Central Vermont home buyers. What do you? Here are staging tips for an Open House.
8 Staging Tips For An Open House
1. Remove the clutter.
Having a garage sale is out when removing clutter because the Open House is only a week away. You don’t want to stuff the garage or closets to the gills either. One solution is to rent an off-site storage facility or stack boxes neatly in a basement or crawlspace.
2. Stage each room.
The first thing to do is clean from top to bottom. Make sure windows and light fixtures shine and are in working order. If the room is crowded, put some furniture in the storage facility. Finally, pick a focal point that will attract buyers when they see the room. For example, the focal point of a bedroom is usually the bed, and for a music room, it’s the piano.
3. Use the rule of three.
First, remove everything from counters and table tops, including coffee tables and side tables. Then re-accessorize using the rule of three…using 3 items of varying heights. For example, on an end table you can place a lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).
Staging Tips For A South Central Vermont Open House
You are selling your South Central Vermont home and the first Open House only a week away. The house is filled with clutter and things you don’t want to throw away. But the clutter is not appealing to potential home buyers. What do you? Here are staging tips for an Open House.
8 Staging Tips For A South Central Vermont Open House
1. Remove the clutter.
Having a garage sale is out when removing clutter because the Open House is only a week away. You don’t want to stuff the garage or closets to the gills either. One solution is to rent an off-site storage facility or stack boxes neatly in a basement or crawlspace.
2. Stage each room.
The first thing to do is clean from top to bottom. Make sure windows and light fixtures shine and are in working order. If the room is crowded, put some furniture in the storage facility. Finally, pick a focal point that will attract buyers when they see the room. For example, the focal point of a bedroom is usually the bed, and for a music room, it’s the piano.
3. Use the rule of three.
First, remove everything from counters and table tops, including coffee tables and side tables. Then re-accessorize using the rule of three…using 3 items of varying heights. For example, on an end table you can place a lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).
Why Not Sell Your South Central Vermont Home In Winter?
Are the winter blahs setting in? How can you keep them at bay and infuse your life with a new found purpose? That’s easy–put your South Central Vermont home on the market. Although spring is traditionally considered the optimum time to sell a home, there are positive aspects to selling in the winter.
Buyer time constraints: A majority of corporate moves take place around January, and transferees need to find a home quickly. Parents are also anxious to get their children settled in a new school as soon as possible. By the way, some experts believe it is better for a child to move during the school year as opposed to the summer months. Starting a new school immediately upon arriving in a new location allows for an easier time of making friends and establishing new routines.
Tax credit extension: Now that the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act deadline has been extended to April 30th, many first-time buyers and “repeat buyers” are seriously looking to purchase a South Central Vermont home–and soon!
Motivated buyers: In addition to those mentioned above, other potential buyers are also out there looking. Those who have recently sold their own home or renters whose lease is ending are desperately in need of a new home. Remember, too, that house shoppers who brave cold temperatures, hard rains, and possible flooding can surely be considered serious buyers.
Availability of professionals: Because the winter season is not a particularly busy one in the field of real estate transactions, agents, mortgage brokers, and settlement attorneys will be more accessible to you and your buyer. Questions may well be answered more quickly, problems anticipated in advance or solved more calmly, and settlement times more flexible and accommodating.