Why Does It Take An Agent Time To Make My Appointments !

One of the very first discussions I have with all my buyers after we have agreed that I will be representing them is the general rules for scheduling showings.  This blog will give you an idea of how and why it is not always that simple to get into listings and what you should be expecting !

Why Do I Have To Go To Open Houses Without My Agent ! 

• The first reason is because although we work for buyers, we also work for sellers and they are at the same time.  We must send our buyers to open houses, because we also need to hold our open houses for our listings.  The windows of time for open houses are often similar if not at the same time so do not take this personally, go armed with your Realtors cards and if you do like the home your agent should make a 2nd appointment to accompany you for another look ! 
• There are also times where if a listing is a bit difficult to show the listing Realtor may have more open houses rather than private showings.  This is something that neither the listing agent or your realtor has control over - it is decided by the homeowners and how/when they want their home shown.  

I Saw A Home Driving Home And I Want To See It Tonight ! 

• If the home is vacant this is rarely an issue, but try and be realistic their might be a conflict in schedule.  Often times our week is booked solid by Tuesday or Wednesday filled with buyer and appointment at our own listings.  Generally if your working with a good agent they will call you to see what day/time that week you would like to go and look at homes this way the time is booked for as many homes you would like to see including those that might come onto the market during that week ! 
• Homeowners & agents that need to be their to accompany also play a big part in that availability of seeing a home. Homeowners imparticular will normally ask that you give them a reasonable amount of time to "prepare" for their home to be shown.  Your agent will be able to see this if the listing agent has it noted on MLS simply by pulling the listing information.  

My Agent Says That Their Are No Interior Showings ! 

• This may seem a bit ridiculous, who would buy a house if they can't see the inside of it ! This is more common than you might think - income properties are the most common occurrence because the house is not owner occupied and is rented out - they will not want their tenants disturbed unless the buyer has a proven interest in the home.   
• Also sometimes in the case of short sale/foreclosure because the tenants are protected by law that if they have a lease that although the house can be sold their lease is still in affect.  Commonly with those cases once the lease is up and the tenant vacates the home will than be able to be shown.  
• This is also common when your agent is calling on a listing that is an exclusive listing from another company.  Ordinarily you would not be able to be get access to these listings but when their is a buyer broker contract in place it does open that inventory up to you.  Keep in mind many homes that are being held on exclusive will normally have a reason for this, such as work going on in the home or in the case of an estate sale they might be getting the executor in place.  

Keep in mind when you are out their looking for a home that there unfortunately are some homes that are just a bit more difficult than others to see.  The general rule to have successful showings is to give your agent notice, and in turn they will be able to make arrangements for each one of those homes and you will have a nice day of home shopping  ! 

Common Questions About Closing

Often times as agents we come across certain questions or situations that are quite common to us, the job of a real estate agent is not only to help you but to educate the public on all things real estate.    These next few blogs I want to address each situation and the common questions or fears that a buyer or seller may encounter.  Each week will be a different topic - if you have a specific question please feel free to comment and I will make sure to either answer you directly or write a blog specifically to answer your question !

How Is The Closing Date Determined ?
Your closing date is determined usually between 4 - 6 weeks from the time you go into contract.  Often times sellers will ask why the date on the sales agreement is different from the date in the contract.  This normally will take place because the date on the sales agreement is 4 - 6 weeks from the day the offer is presented.  If negotiations take a week, or there is a delay in order to perform a home inspection the attorneys will extend the closing date to give the buyer adequate time because of the delay.

What Is The Closing Date VS Commitment Date ?
In all real estate deals that involve a bank there will be a smaller window of time for the buyer to obtain their mortgage commitment - this is generally 30 - 45 days it is the most important part of the transaction.  After the commitment is received there are still additional steps left to be able to get to the closing table including the title report and information they may request.  These are the items that generally take a bit longer to pull together which is why they have 2 dates for these items to be completed.

Why Does The Kind Of Deal Effect Closing Date ? 
All Cash deals tend to move a bit quicker because their is no bank involved so you move straight to simply waiting for a clear title without having to wait for the bank.  Cash deals are still entitled to home inspections but typically the home will be sold as is so their will be no repair requests to be fulfilled.

Deals that involve the buyer obtaining a mortgage are at the mercy of the bank, unfortunately not even the buyer has any control on how quickly or slowly the wheels will go into motion.  The bank appraiser will also play a role, they are a hired 3rd party and also do not answer to the buyer.  The amount of time it takes for them to complete the appraisal and the bank to receive and approve it can take time.   The larger the bank does not always mean they will move quicker than a smaller bank because they will have many loans that need to be serviced.

How Much Time After The On Or About Date Do You Have ? 
There is a "grace period" from the on or about closing date, the reason why is because sometimes the timing of a move can be tricky.  If the seller is moving into another home it may or may not be available, or buyers could be moving from another state or area.  Because the timing is something that might need to be finessed a bit you are given 30 days from your on or about date to get to the closing table.

Can Either Party Require Closing Before The Closing Date ?
Typically no one can "force" a buyer or seller to close before the on or about date.  Even if buyer and seller agree they want to move quickly getting it on paper involves a few other important parties.  The attorneys of course will need to be available, but the schedule of the bank attorney as well as the title closer need to be available as well.  This can sometime push a closing to a later than one may want - if you need to close quickly giving your agent a realistic date for them to help you navigate if the buyer or the home is right for you is very important.

Can A Seller Simply "Change Their Mind" About Selling ? 
The seller can always change their mind, but often financially it is not recommend.  If the seller defaults you can sue for specific performance forcing them to sell the home.  They will also become responsible for the costs that you had from appraisal/mortgage fees, inspections, and even agents commission.  Once you have hit the "On Or About Closing Date" if they seem to be a bit hesitant on the sale you can & should request a time of the essence letter to be sent out regarding your closing.

Can A Buyer Simply "Change Their Mind" About Buying ? 
Just as a seller can back out with repercussions that same goes for the buyer.  There are a few circumstances though for a buyer where they will not be in breach of the contract.  If they are unable to obtain a mortgage, this is not something that they can just say.  Their must be a letter from the bank which proves that they applied for the mortgage and it was denied.  The buyer also has the right to re-negotiate if the home does not appraise for the sales price - if a new price is not agreed upon they have the right to not purchase.

Tips For Staging Your Home In The Spring Season !

Spring has finally sprung, and gives sellers the opportunity to showcase your home.   Whether your home is new to the market or has already been listed, it is always important to update your home and your listing with the new season ! Here is a list of quick and inexpensive tips to make your home stand out from the rest !

Update Your Pictures

• For new listings I always recommend professional photography, they are able to do a bit of editing to make your grass greener, or even add a bit of light to a room to really showcase the space.
• If your home was listed in the winter your will want to update the pictures with the season.  This is not only important to keep your listing from looking outdated but to let buyers see your outdoor living space as well as your indoor space ! 

Create Your Outdoor Space 

• Outdoor space can be anything from a large or small area in your yard that you can use for entertaining.  Updating your outdoor furniture, if your moving into your new home is a win win because it helps showcase your space and you can take it with you to your new home. 
• Lighting can be a great way to create a feel in your yard, and simple solar lighting sold at your local store are inexpensive and very easy to install.  This is great to show small entertainment areas or gardens, also great for walkway lighting ! 
• If your like me you may not have the time or the talent for gardening, but purchasing some colorful colorful plants are easy to maintain and can brighten up any space ! 
• For those who currently have a space than a good power washing or coat of paint come the warmer weather will give your area a fresh and clean look.  

Lighten Things Up: 

• Sheer curtains will allow the extra daylight to stream into your home, which also makes your room look larger and more inviting.  Sheer curtains are also a great alternative for those who have large sliding doors, it allows your buyers to see the combined indoor and outdoor living space without losing any privacy.  
• Also changing out darker color curtains or blankets, with lighter fabrics.  Even your accessories can play a part in how someone may perceive your homes feeling to buyers.  You also may want to consider moving some of the extra items your accumulate during the winter to storage facilities or into boxes out of the way of buyers view.  

Give Your Home A Spring Cleaning

• Small touch-ups are often what makes the largest difference in a home.  Things like re-painting moldings and doors with a high gloss white can help give a room a fresh clean feel.  
• The best part of spring is obviously the fresh air and flowers, but you want to be careful because of allergies this time of year.  Burning a light scented candle before you home is always a nice idea especially if you have pets ! 
• The front of your home is your first impression so a fresh coat of paint on the front door, new house numbers, or even a good pruning of your trees or shrubs can work wonders ! 

If your unsure of what you should be doing to prepare your home for the spring season, I 

always suggest speaking with your agent.  Many times small changes or re-arranging 

some furniture can give a room an entire new look and feel !  

How Long Should I List My Home For ?

As you will see the way to determine how long to list your home for is according to the market.  So really although it is up to you to choose, you should be sure you are basing your decision on solid facts! In today's market it takes more than listing your home on MLS get it to the closing table.  You need an agent that is actively marketing your home in all venues internet presence, direct mail and open houses are just some of what needs to be done.  For today's market you should be listing your home with an agent for atleast 180 days, with the option to be released if they are not doing all that they agreed to do to market your home.  
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage does offer you this gurantee, if we are not doing everything we agreed to do, we will release you from the contract with us at anytime! 

Reasons for a 30-Day Listing 

• If your market is steaming hot and homes are flying into pending status within days, your agent might be agreeable to a 30-day listing.
• This way, if every other home on your street is selling within three weeks and yours is still sitting without an offer on day 29, you can easily get rid of your agent and hire somebody else.
• Before you refuse to relist with your agent, though, first look at the price. If your price is too high, no agent is going to sell it.

Reasons for a 90-Day Listing 

• In normal markets, 90-day listings are more common.
• During the first 30 days, you should get a lot of showings if you are priced right.
• Ask your agent for buyer feedback and follow up on suggestions to improve the condition of your home and / or price.

Reasons for a 180-Day Listing 

• If the average DOM exceeds two months, you're probably trying to sell in a buyer's market and will need a longer listing term.
• If you go into contract on a 90-day listing, your listing might expire while in escrow. In that event, your agent may require that you extend the listing, so it makes more sense to start out with a 180-day listing.
• Ask your agent when you initially sign the six-month listing if the agent will give you a personal guarantee that you can cancel at the end of 90 days if you are unhappy. If the agent won't give you that guarantee, then list with an agent who has more confidence to make you that offer.

Reasons for a One-Year Listing 

• If you live out in the boondocks where nothing ever sells under one year, then a 360-day listing might be the norm in your area.
• Unique properties, large parcels and expensive estates might take longer to sell because they may appeal to a limited number of buyers.
• Private islands and lavish vacation homes require a longer marketing time, and agents might not be willing to shell out the big marketing bucks for a short-term listing.

What A Buyers Market Really Means !

The spring selling season is coming upon us and it is coming sooner than most homeowners may think, we have already had a rush of new buyers begin their search!  There are some very important things you should know as a homeowner to sell your home in this market, and buyers should be aware of the realities of what it means to purchase a home in today's market! 

Let's start of by explaining exactly what causes a buyers market. 

• Large Inventory Of Homes On The Market
• Homes Taking Longer To Sell 
• Smaller Pool Of Buyers  

Important Information For Buyers 

You can get a “steal” on every home on the market

Let’s me just take a minute and clarify what I mean by “steal”.

If a home is listed for $250,000, is in move in condition with no liens, offering the homeowner $180,000 will do nothing but insult them.   Always be realistic when you put in your offer, pick your Realtors brain find out what the value of the home actually is, and put in an offer based on that information.   

Now if the home is a short sale, than a low offer may still get you the home, but remember the current homeowner has the “right of first refusal”, they will be trusting their agent to guide them that the offer reasonable.    

There are times where you can get a home for a “steal”, and that is with a foreclosure. Many of these homes have been sitting, and require work before they can even be moved into, in some cases they might be missing heating and plumbing. The banks have to recognize they can’t expect full market value.

A foreclosure sale is not for everyone, I usually find that it is easier to get my buyers into the ones that were already bought, renovated, and re-listed by investors. 

The buyer looking at the home decides what the value of the home is. 

A homes value is actually decided by the home buyers that have purchased in the previous 6 months.  You as the prospective buyer will actually be deciding the value of the neighboring homes for the next 6 months worth of buyers that buy a home AFTER you!

Another common misconception is that the house is worth the same as the neighbors!  This again is about the value of your home.  If your neighbors house is comparable to your home, than it might, but even than it will only be usable if it is sold in the time table that works to your advantage.


I can find a better home, and it will be cheaper prices are still dropping! 


I always tell my buyers, if you find a house and you fall in love with it don't miss out on it! I will tell you if the home is overpriced or not, but if the home is really a great value it will not last! Don't lose a home that you love, for a house that you aren't sure it exists!

Important Information For Buyers 

You can sell your house quicker without a Realtor or I can use a discount brokerage to sell my home.  

The most common answer I hear when I ask someone why they chose to sell their home without the assistance of a Realtor, is they think the buyers will see it as a "value" that they don't have to pay "extra" for a home.  Now I am not saying that it is never happened, but it is not very often that a home sells without the help of Realtors, especially here in Suffolk County.  

The very first thing a homeowner should take into consideration is that most buyers have a "Buyer Broker" which means they have a Realtor that they will need to pay, because they will still be doing their job if they buy your home.  Now what you thought would make your home seem like a value will now mean extra money they will need to pay to buy your home.  

Now I have written countless blogs on staging, photography, virtual tours, home warranty, and really usingtechnology to get your home sold. The reason I constantly reiterate this information is because it really is what will get your home sold.  

With the cost of not only doing these things, but spending the time to do them properly is usually a much harder undertaking than most homeowners expect it to be.  When you hire a Realtor, it is important to remember you are the boss! The other common reason I hear is they had a bad experience during a previous time they listed their house.  I reference this in another blog, about what you should be asking the potential Realtors who want to list your home.  

Always remember you want to list your home aggressively the first time it is on the market, that is what will set your house apart.  You need to be sure your home is priced right, it is advertised everywhere, it is easy to show, and you have a reputable company representing you! That is the way to sell your house in a buyers market! 

I am only going to list my home for 3 months, this way my Realtor works harder! 

Unfortunately this is the one misconception that is completely off base, the market does not allow for a home to be sold within 3 months when the average time to sell a home is 6 months to a year! The best analogy I can use is this: If I told you to go to Florida on 1 tank of gas, and you knew it would take 2 tanks, would you go? Market conditions is what you should be basing your decision on, again I wrote a blog specifically on how long you should list your home for.

I understand that as a homeowner you don't want to be "stuck" with a Realtor or a company that is not doing what you may want them to, but again remember YOUR ARE THE BOSS! My company has a sellers services guarantee that if we are not doing our job 110% you have the right to withdraw your listing from our company.

My home isn't getting offers, because banks just aren't lending! 


Banks are absolutely lending money! They didn't lower their interest rates because they wanted to prevent buyers from getting a mortgage! Coldwell Banker Mortgage Company can work with a credit score as low as 615, and I work with other mortgage companies that only require a 625 credit score! Down payment requirements are as low as 3.5%, compared to what many people may think is still 20%.  The key to knowing if someone is a qualified buyer is to make sure their pre-approval are thru a mortgage company who puts their pre-approvals thru underwriting!

If you are interested in seeing exactly how many homes were sold be sure to take a look at some wonderful charts provided by my managing broker on his website The Real Estate Guru.


I hope this helps clears up some of the myths & questions that go along with a "Buyers Market", if you have any questions feel free to email me! 

Blog Recap For First Time Home Buyers

I have written quite a few blogs in the passed few weeks for my readers about the buying process.  I am a big believer in keeping things as simple as possible, so I wanted to write a quick overview of all of these blogs so that you can easily see which blog has the information that you are looking for.  

The blogs  Tips On Finding Your Dream Home or The First Steps To Finding Your New Home  are helpful for those buyers who are just starting out, they have not been looking for very long and may still be unsure of what kind of home they are looking for and what steps they need to take to get things rolling.

The key points of this blog are:

• Buyer Brokerage 
• Mortgage Pre-Approvals 
• Your Wants VS Your Need 
• Organization Tips 

All of these blogs are very important, but this blog on Relocating & Choosing The Neighborhood That Is Right For Youis not necessarily important for every buyer.  For someone who has lived in 1 specific community their entire life sometimes moving only 1 town over can lead to some uncertainty. 

The key points of this blog are: 

• South Shore Community Overview 
• Helping You Decide On Where & When To Limit Your Options
• How To Use Technology To Ease Relocation 
• Coldwell Banker Concierge Services 

Steps To Getting An Accepted Offer  is actually separated into 2 blogs, because of today's market their are many terms and processes that you need to be familiar with before you place an offer at all.   

Blog 1 of 2  outlines the many different kind of homes are for sale, and what you should be considering when placing an offer on a home.  

The kind of homes this reviews are:

• Short Sales 
• Foreclosure Sales 
• Estate Sales 
• Investment Sales 

Blog 2 outlines the 3 different categories a home falls into as far as pricing category, and what way of bidding will help get you an accepted offer quickly.  Knowing and understanding how the home is positioned in the market can be the difference between getting an offer accepted or losing your dream home.

• Overpriced 
• Market Value 
• Under Valued 

My most recent blog is about What Do You Offer For All That House, and this is a blog everyone whether you are a first time home-buyer or it is your 5th home you should take the time to read !! We were in such an inflated market that many homeowners are finding it very hard to take the loss on their homes, but nothing is more insulting to a home seller than a buyer not recognizing a value, or comparing them to homes that are not the same ! 

The key points here explain: 

• New Homes VS Updated Homes
• Features & Values 
• Main Roads VS Busy Residential Area 
• Pricing For Additional Rooms & Values 
• Legal Addition VS Illegal Additions 

I will begin writing additional blogs about what happens after your offer is accepted, and what you need to do to prepare for closing on your new home.  If you have any questions and they were not covered in one of my blog please feel free to email me directly or comment and I will be sure to answer your within 24 hours !! 

Cash Deals In Today's Market

I thought it was about time I took some time and wrote a blog about cash deals in today's market.  Interest rates are at a all time low still, but some buyers are still opting to buy their homes in cash figuring it will earn them interest quicker invested in a property than sitting in the bank.  If you are the buyer who has the ability to buy in cash you do have the upper hand on some other buyers, but not all.  This blog is for both the buyers, and for sellers to help both understand how a cash deal works, benefits of accepting a cash offer, but also how/why a seller may not be able to accept a cash offer.  

Presenting A Cash Offer

There are certain steps to presenting a cash offer that you may not ordinarily have to do, normally when you present an offer with a mortgage you would be presenting the offer with you mortgage pre-approval.  When you are doing a cash deal you will need to provide "Proof of Funds", this must be  recent, if your proof is 3 months or older you must get a new one.  Generally you can contact an agent at your bank and ask them to provide you with a letter, or even simply a copy of a recent bank statement with your bank account information hidden with only your name and available balance displayed.  

If you are purchasing your new home, with the cash from the sale of your current home than you must let this be known in the very beginning of negotiating.  Before you can place an offer, just like any other buyer you should be under contract on your current home.  

Benefits Of Cash Offers 

A seller may or may not prefer a cash offer because of the benefits it presents to them.  Not all homeowners are in a position to accept a lower cash offer because they may have a certain amount they need to "clear" on their home.  There are benefits that can make taking a lower cash offer vs a higher offer with a mortgage appealing to a homeowner.  

• No Bank Appraisals - This is pretty simple to understand, you do not need to worry at all about whether or not your home appraises because there is no bank involved which can sometimes be an obstacle.  

• No Loan Funding Contingencies - Whenever someone obtains a mortgage there are certain paperwork the bank will require from them, if they can't meet those requirements they will not be able to obtain the mortgage.  This can sometimes be avoided by using a good mortgage company but their are no guarantees, financial circumstances can change quickly and unexpectedly. 

• Home Inspections - Every buyer is entitled to a home inspection, but generally with cash deals the home is sold "as is", which means there will be no repairs or credits done to the home.   This is because generally homeowners are already accepting a lesser offer because of it being cash.  

• Faster Closing - It generally takes 60-90 days to go to closing on a home, the time frame is usually decided by how quickly a buyer can get the mortgage commitment, and close.  With no bank comes the benefit of being able to close at a time that is good for both the seller and the buyer.  

I have many homeowners ask me when is the best time to accept a cash offer vs waiting for a buyer with a mortgage pre-approval, unfortunately there is no set criteria but I can give you some pointers on when or why you should consider it.  

• If you need to move or relocate quickly, no one likes the idea of leaving there home vacant because of the risks and costs associated with it.  
• If you have your eye on another home that is on the market the benefit of having your home go to contract quickly will in turn mean you can put in a stronger offer for your new home.
• If the home is an estate sale it may need work, or you may not know the full history like the actually homeowner would.  Homes that need work will generally take longer to sell, which is why a cash offer allows you to move the home quickly reducing costs, as well as risks while giving you less responsibility after your home inspection report comes back.  

Always remember your Realtor should be advising you whether or not a cash deal is a good option for you, this goes for both buyers and sellers.  If you are the buyer placing a cash offer, my best advice is to make sure your Buyer Broker has helped you come up with a fair offer, remember there is a difference between a cash offer and a low offer ! For homeowners that have received a cash offer the process of deciding whether to accept it, or perhaps counter all depends on your home, situation, and the market for your immediate area. Your Realtor will be able to pull what cash sales have closed to help you make an educated decision about what is a fair offer for your home! 

What To Look For When Your Purchasing A Renovated Home

So I am sure those buyers who are out there looking have noticed the abundance of renovated homes that are currently on the market.  I am finding there are two very extreme opinions about these renovations, either the buyers absolutely refuse to even look at them, or they will look at nothing other than a renovated home. 

I would never tell anyone to not consider a renovated home, because there are some definite advantages to buying a home that has been renovated.  At the same time there are some very specific things you will want to take a look at when it comes to buying one of these homes. 

•  How long did the renovation take? Your buyers broker will be able to tell you when the home sold to the investor, from the day it closed to the day it came back onto the market is what you want to focus on.  If it was flipped within a short period of time (30-45 days) you will want to have a very thorough home inspection.  The reason for this is because in that short of a time period it was more than likely a cosmetic renovation.  
• What was done during the renovation? Certain things are quite obvious, but just because the home has new baseboards it does not mean that the heating was upgraded, you want to check the boiler/hot water heater/oil tank.  It could be that they did not require being replaced but the only way to know for sure is to let a home inspector look at it.  Don't ever assume that just because a light switch was replaced, that the electrical system was upgraded, most investors will upgrade the electric to 200-amp service, which is ideal for a remodeled home.  
• How many homes has the investor renovated? More and more people are choosing to take advantage of all of those short sales by buying them and re-selling them.  Many investors are well known in the Real Estate community, you may not know them but your buyers broker will be able to find that information out for you just by talking to the listing agent.  Do not attempt to find this information out on your own, call your broker! I personally have a investor who has been doing this for 15+ years, and I have investors who have been doing this for 2-3 years but I only work for those who do quality work.  
• What kind of warranty is provided? It is very common that new construction builds that they provide some sort of home warranty, but you always should ask if this exists on a remodeled home.  Some investors will simply give you the warranty paperwork that is provided by the manufacturer of the items the put in the home; others will offer you added warranties about the work that was done by their contractors.  It is not very common but you should still ask the question because it is a definite plus if they do! 

Those 4 questions on the most important questions you will want to know the answers to before you put in an offer on a renovated home.  Not every investor throws together remodels, but these homes are not for everyone.  If you are an avid to it yourself, or even have friends that are contractors many times you can do the same cosmetic work over the course of a season as the investor did.  I would like to think of myself as pretty handy, but I could never come close to what any of my investors do as far as quality of work.  So let's look at a few of the perks of buying a renovated home.  

The obvious perk is you are getting a turn-key home, that you will be the first to live in and will include some 

sort of warranties that you ordinarily would not have.  

 Investors now are smart and in order to move their investments instead of rushing through the renovation they

price the home a few thousand dollars UNDER market value that means your paying less for a better home.  

The reality is the renovated home came about because of an estate/short/foreclosure sale, which means the investor

has done all of the dirty work for you this is a very big perk for those areas that were really hit when the economy

went because the majority of the homes your looking at will be these renovations. 

A renovated home is not for everyone, take the time to talk with your Realtor about your wants/needs as well as your price range.  If your working with a buyers broker they will be able to guide you on what kind of home is best for you.  I always try to reinforce the importance of having a buyers broker working for you but it is a absolute must if you are planning on buying one of these homes.  Only a buyer broker will be able to do the kind of research this home will require, the listing agents are legally obligated to get the best possible deal for the investor, not for the buyer.  If you are planning on looking specifically at renovated homes I would suggest going one step farther and working with an agent who is knowledgeable on these kinds of homes, not only selling them but listing them and working with investors they will know right away what questions to ask, and what answers you want to hear !!