Oh, no, Zillow...

I love the Internet. I really do. 
And in my many years as a licensed Realtor, there has been no better tool to come about for everyone involved in buying or selling a home or a piece of property.

It can help market properties at an extremely reasonable cost, works to generate business, speeds up the closing of a transaction, and overall, it produces a much more informed and prepared consumer. But the Internet can also be a source of confusion for the general public. Unfortunately, all of the wonderful value calculating widgets and apps developed by software gurus and marketing geniuses often fail at one thing: Recognizing the "soft" criteria that contribute to determining true value of a subject property--What you will have to pay to get it, and what you will really be able to sell it for.

When it comes to the valuation process, many of these generators swing and miss because soft information is simply not database consumable. Price setting and valuation is a gray area to begin with, but these sites can't pick up on improvements, renovations, and proper accounting for local comparables that are foreclosures or short sales. They also can't take into account true square footage--Ever looked at public records? They are often incorrect, both ways. All of this and more is taken into account with adjustments by a Realtor or experienced Appraiser, and of course, matters quite a bit to a Buyer that sees value in the complete package. Curb appeal, for example, which is proven time and time again to yield higher offers by Buyers who just "get that feeling this is the one," can't be easily calculated to begin with, let alone by a formula. These tools also do not trend as effectively as the real world does. For example, in a Spring market, (traditionally) values tend to increase based upon an influx of buyers and transactions--And the fact that people buy emotionally and tend to descend upon a marketplace in greater numbers at that time, year after year. Everyone knows demand drives values up, and those swings can happen pretty quickly in a local setting (for example, in a "prime" neighborhood without any other available inventory, or on a certain street)--The price fluctuation will have happened well before the aged closing data from the past few weeks catches up to the database. The bottom line is that arriving at the true market value of a property is a far more complex process than a few clicks would suggest (and any appraiser can attest to that fact, as their job is extremely technical and time consuming when done correctly). These instant gratification tools are based on algorithms and data sets that simply cannot interpret the three-dimensional reality of value. 

The outcome of hard data only generators often leads consumers blazing into my world with figures and estimates that are often way out of line with the realities of the marketplace--Again, what someone would (and will) actually pay for a property. I want all of my Buyers to feel like they paid a fair price for a property (even got a great deal whenever possible, if there are no competing offers), and were not taken advantage of. And I want my Sellers to have a realistic picture of what their home will really sell for and not feel as if I took them to market too low, or counseled them to accept an offer that was lower than what the market should really bear. It goes without saying, but I always have the best of intentions when it comes to my clients. I do the great majority of my business from referrals--and you can't continue to receive those important nods unless folks are left with an overall feeling that you know what you are doing and that they would use you again themselves. 

But at the end of the day, when the results of my data collection efforts and educated market interpretations are not exactly in line with something like Zillow or Trulia, if my clients do not trust my judgment and expertise as someone who has additional soft data to put in play, it can work to erode the trust factor. It puts a subtle (or not so subtle) question mark in the mind of a client. In a digital world like ours where there are so many readily accessible real estate (and Realtor) horror stories and messages of caution, it is difficult to set a client's mind at ease that your figures are likely more correct than what pops up in seconds on a valuation site.

So the moral of the story is that the Internet-powered valuation engines are great to get a general ballpark idea of what a home might be worth, or what you may be able to sell your home for. But take the results with a grain of salt--Your best bet to determine value is still going to be with a qualified Realtor or Appraiser, not a machine. Have a property you would like me to take a look at, and put Zillow or Trulia to the test? Reach out to me anytime at kristi@frederickareahomes.com.

13 Years of Real Estate = Non-Profit Money to be Had

I am so excited to share with you that this is officially my 13th year of Real Estate licensure. I can't believe how quickly the years have flown by, and how much has changed in my life since I first took the plunge and enrolled in the initial licensing course after graduating from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 1997. Thirteen has always been my lucky number, so I wanted to celebrate this special year of achievement in a meaningful way - something that was bigger than myself.

If you know me, you know that I have always been into volunteering. This need to give my time means that I tend to be intensely scheduled across all of my worlds...I enjoy that fulfilled feeling, and don't know how else to live. But, that means my better half (gotta love him!) becomes Mr. Mom, holding down the homefront more often than not. So during this special year, I have decided to try something new, and give of my piggybank (I would like to say that this will be "instead" of giving my time, but something tells me that I probably wont be able to resist the next opportunity to volunteer...!).

That said, here is how the promotion will work:

• If you have a house to sell or are thinking of buying, allow me to represent you and I will make a donation to the non-profit of your choice after settlement.
• The donation amount will be based on the final sales price: I will earmark $100.00 for every $100,000 of value. Example: A $420,000 property will equate to a $400 donation.
• If you directly refer someone to me as a new client (buyer or seller), I will kick in an additional $50 per $100K on your behalf. For example, if the closed sale price is $300,000, an additional donation amount of $150 will be generated, for you as the referring individual to determine the recipient.

The fine print on this is pretty simple and straightforward:

1. It has to be a recognized non-profit organization in the United States. I will not discriminate along the lines of what charity or organization it is - this is truly your choice to make. Some examples might include community organizations, animal shelters, youth sports leagues, etc.
2. I will get to keep the tax deduction - a necessary evil of being self-employed!
3. The donation will be made in your name (or, if you prefer, in the name of someone else).
4. The donation will be made within 30 days of the closing of escrow, and you will be notified via email when the donation takes place.

That's it! I ask that you take the time to pass this along to folks you know who are considering buying or selling. The more clients I get under this promotion, the more money I can spread around. There is NO LIMIT to the dollars to charity that this will generate, nor is there any limit to the number of times you can refer a client to me. Though it obviously benefits me as a professional Realtor, it also legitimately works as a great way to get some extra money for your chosen organizations, especially when people are seeking an experienced, quality agent to work with in the first place. I am good at what I do, and have no doubt s to the service level I can provide. :D  I intend to run this promotion throughout the duration of my 13th year, so it will go through at least April 2012 - And I may continue it on into the foreseeable future if things go well!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

As I was unloading groceries in the pouring rain last night, I began thinking about all of the Noah’s Ark style precipitation we have been subject to lately in the mid-Atlantic area, stuck in an apparent low pressure weather pattern. Always one to both consider the positives and negatives of a situation, here are some things I came up with for “what’s good” and “what’s not” about all of this precipt…

Things that are pretty great about all this rain….

·      No need to wash the car (or if you must wash, wait for the next rainband to come through, get out there with a bucket and a sponge and save some cha-ching that you would normally have spent at the car wash!!!).

·      Pollen levels tend to get washed out, so grass and tree allergy sufferers have a bit of a get out of jail free card (exception: see mold allergy sufferers below).

·      Nobody is going to tell you to stop watering your lawn or garden, and a lessened chance of the water table falling to drought conditions this summer.

·      It is super-easy to pull weeds from gardens and flowerbeds.

·      Too cold to put out our seasonal pool just yet, so no pool maintenance or pool pump electric bump.

·      I get to wear my sweet plaid rain boots pretty much every day… SCORE!

·      Morning’s first light is pretty dull, and allows me to sleep in a bit later as compared to streaming bright sunshine.

·      No unexpected spring sunburn from being caught unprepared without sunscreen on.

·      Random outdoor cats that are usually screeching and pooping about my yard have not been seen lately.

Things that are not so great…

·      The ground is literally saturated and that means trees of all sizes could fall fairly easily if faced with even less-than-severe straight-line winds. It would NOT take a tornado to topple a tree with such loose soil, so keep an eye on any trees close to your home.

·      I have not been able to find a good time to mow the lawn/weedwack because it is just too wet – grass and weeds are starting to look pretty shaggy. Dislike.

·      Mold allergies are flaring up (I am among these sufferers - <sniff>).

·      Farmers are being delayed in planting crops for summer/fall yields. This could have major impact, especially with all of the impending stinkbug damage to navigate as well.

·      Roads are being damaged by flash flooding (one in Thurmont – 550North of town – has been shut down for weeks already).

·      Sinkholes may begin to open in the coming weeks at an unusually high frequency as the water tables shift and soils settle. This area is prone to sinkholes after weeks of heavy rains, so keep your eyes open!  

·      Basements and already humid rooms in your home will be even wetter than normal – Be sure to keep a dehumidifier running!

·      Nuisance pests are likely thriving (ants and termites especially—and when it starts to warm up a bit expect a ton of mosquitoes).

·      The thunderstorms freak out my dogs, and make them shake, pace nervously, and try to smash themselves up against me for security. Cute, but annoying.

·      You are definitely not getting enough critical Vitamin D on a daily basis, as there has been little to no sun exposure (though average Americans do not get anywhere near the suggested intake even if they work outdoors – consider a supplement!).

·      Many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, which has been tied to a lack of UV light exposure. Cloudy weather patterns like this can find SAD sufferers to fall into a winter-like funk (and from a less scientific standpoint, gloomy weather makes people cranky!).

·      Car washes, ice cream shops, and other seasonal/weather sensitive small businesses are not exactly making a killing.

·      Children’s outdoor athletic events and outdoor recess opportunities are being cancelled week after week (my some is none too pleased about the recess situation).

·      Construction projects (commercial, residential, road improvements, etc) are being delayed and many hourly workers are basically on furlough and without income until a clear weather pattern returns.

·      It is still too cold to put out our seasonal pool …ALSO listed in what’s GOOD about this rain!  :D

Wait a second… I think I just might see the sun trying to peek through a tiny break in the clouds! Could it be? The weather forecast is looking fairly nice for this weekend, so be sure to get out and enjoy it!

So what do you hate about all of the rain? Anything you think is great about it? Any fun rainy day activities you enjoy?

What's Buggin' Me... !

I was driving down the road the other day, when I happened to glance over to my passenger side window. At the very bottom, barely sticking up from the crack in the door, I noticed a single antenna wiggling around. A few seconds later, a second antenna appeared. It was a stinkbug. Living in the door of my car. Gah. I was about to go into a day of meetings and there was NO WAY I was going to leave a stinkbug emitting his acrid cilantroesque funk in my car all day. (And can someone please tell me, which end does that smell come from? Curious. Is it coming from the mouth or the behind? Not that it matters, but ... Anyone know?) Anyway, I parked my car and waited patiently. I put the window down just enough to be able to flick him out when he emerged. I waited 20 minutes... TWENTY. He finally crawled out enough that I thought I could shoo him out the window, but he crawled back in the crack as I advanced <le sigh>. This game of peek-a-boo continued for about 15 more minutes (!) when I finally got frustrated, yanked him out forcibly by his creepy antenna the second he appeared again, and went inside to go about my day. Let's just say that I have become desensitized to these disgusting creatures. But I have also been studying them. Testing methods for disposing of them. Ways to repel them. The natural and not-so-natural enemies and weapons of the stinkbug. And I would like to share some of my knowledge...

• Peppermint oil: Repels, seems to disable (often kills), and makes your house smell minty-fresh! I have been looking for large affordable quantities of the oil, but still somewhat expensive thus far. I am preparing a spray bottle mix of peppermint oil and white vinegar later this week, to see what madness that might yield. Both are enemies of Mr. Stinkbug, though be careful about staining walls with oils. I am hoping this works, as it would be a perfect solution to keep handy in a supersoaker squirtgun for sweet outdoor killing sprees. I tried soapy water in a supersoaker last year, but while it annoyed the stinkers, it was not an effective kill... and I had soap residue all over the exterior of my home :D
• Some citrus oils: Several of these seem to kill, but need to use fairly large quantities per bug/apply directly to the bug. Caldrea's line of essential oil countertop sprays work wonders on ants (only the ones with citrus oil, like ginger pomelo) and are safe for kids/pets. Alas, the spray only seems to repel stinkers, boo. But still yay for the ant killing properties.
• Wet papertowels: When you pluck up the nasties (should you choose to use something other than your bare hand), they can't seem to stink at you through the already wet papertowel.
• Behold... the "Death Jar:"  Take a screw top mason jar and fill about halfway with soapy water (we like citrus scented soaps as they tend to hide the stinkbug smell most effectively). Simply pluck stinkbugs from around the house and drop into the jar, replace the lid and swirl to be sure they have been immersed. The soap solution keeps them from escaping and they eventually drown. I keep our Death Jar going for about a week at a time (let's play a game! ...how many stinkbugs can YOU collect in a week???), then flush the contents down the throne and restart with fresh soapy water for the next round of fun.
• Put out the bat signal: Each night, put a single lamp on the floor of a room and turn off all other light sources. Leave the room and come back in about 30 minutes, and a stinkbug house party will have gathered around the lamp. Grab your "death jar" and start harvesting. Funny enough, many times a stinkbug crawling up a wall will simply fall to his peril if you put the jar under him. Weirdorama.
• Suck up the suckers: Try a wet/dry shop vac, filled with soapy water. Suck those bad boys to their death. Be sure to talk trash to each one you destroy, and break out in fits of manic evil laughter now and again.

I know all of carnage and killing may sound cruel to some of you, but ever hear the sound of a shrieking 6 year old boy with a stinkbug in his bed? Ever had one of these guys drop from your visor into your lap while driving on a highway? Had a chance to actually taste the delicious smell of one of these when they have unknowingly dropped into your food (true story of an unfortunate friend--chili--<shudder>)? Read lately about all of the local crop damage these undesirable transplants are doing, and the sad choice farmers are having to make between otherwise unnecessary pesticides and going out of business (the impact on organic is growing especially fierce)? Yeah. I am definitely on the "by any means necessary" side of the debate, in case you can't tell :D


"Where would you put an injured insect? In an antbulance!"

"How do you spot a modern spider? He doesn't have a web--he has a website." 


And one more kindergarten level funny before I close this out...
"What kind of bees are clumsy, always dropping things ? A fumble bee!"

So what are your best ways to get rid of critters? Especially stinkbuggers and ants. Would love to hear about your successes!  Or even your hilarious failures. :D

I've Got the Fever! ...And it has NOTHING to do with Cowbell!

Spring is in the air, people! 

Ok, maybe I am jumping the gun a little bit here... but I have seen more stinkbugs creeping around lately, and did see a tiny little ant crawl across my brick pathway yesterday morning. Those two irritating critters are one of the first signs that I personally hone in on when it starts to smell like Spring to me. And once the seed is planted, my mind quickly wanders to things like opening windows, fresh breezes, planting my garden, setting up my patio, and other springesque home tasks.

But what to tackle first... Hmmm... Indoor chores? Outdoor projects? There is always so much to choose from after a long, cold winter. I do confess that last year, I was one of the first out of the gates when it came to getting into spring fever mode. Literally on the first day over 80 degrees (near the end of April, I think?) I burned Jeep rubber right on over to my nearest Wal-Mart, purchased one of those 18 foot $300 soup-bowl style "instant gratification" pools, and had it filled and sparkling before the end of the day. I proudly floated the good float on my trusty pool raft for at least a day or two (literally, floating only, because that water was C-O-L-D), totally basking in others' clear pool envy (at least in my mind). And my brilliant forward-thinking Springtastic move was just in time for the weather pattern to go back to normal: For the next few weeks it was only in the 70's in the day and 40's at night. Total Spring buzzkill. Needless to say my bright Spring fever idea turned into an early and unrewarding pool maintenance routine, complete with the bonus pool pump electric bill <ouch>. Perhaps the government should insist upon a cooling off period law for pools, much like the handgun laws, forcing me to wait several days before allowing me to take my pool purchase home - Clearly I need saving from myself.

Even if you are not nearly as uncontrollably impulsive to jumpstart Spring as I have been, there certainly are more appropriate (though often less exciting!) things you can and more importantly, should do when the seasons begin to change - both inside and outside of the home. Here are seven of my personal top picks for both homeowners and renters alike to consider:

1. Change those air filters: Be it a central air system, or several window units that have (or have not been) winterized, it is a good idea to have those babies ready for the first hotter days to come. There is nothing worse than going to fire up the good old AC and having moldy, mildewy funky smells ruin your plans to cool off. And in the most recent few years, my new favorite olfactory favorite has become stinkbug stowaways, who have wintered in any/all cracks and crevices possible and smell absolutely pungent when disturbed. Awful business. Filters are easy to change and/or sanitize, and well worth the effort considering that whole breathable air supply requirement thing we humans have to address. Your AC should be odor free, and noticeably drier in comparison to humid outdoor air. And of course, well maintained units function more efficiently than dirty abused ones, keeping more $ in your pocket - And that is by far the most refreshing concept of all!
2. Beat back the bushes: Trim any vegetation, be it bush, tree or otherwise, that has crept close to your home to ensure that growth is at least a foot away from your siding or roof lines. We got out and did ours a week or two ago, when we had the first tolerable day (and by tolerable, we are not talking tropical - there were still sweatpants and jackets involved). In past years we have waited far too long into the spring, and by the time we acknowledged that it was time to play Edward Scissorhands we were greeted by angry twisted vines and new spring growth that had actually attempted to forcibly strangle our HVAC unit. Worse, throughout our task we were creeped out by a myriad of spiders, wasps, hornets and other unpleasant little friends that made our task take twice as long. Not to mention, those with really bad spring allergies start to suffer with the first flowering of trees and grasses, something not yet in peak if you get out there early.
3. Get your mulch on: There is nothing worse than trying to mulch when it is too late... the weeds will have already taken over and again, creepy crawlies will be there to make it a much less pleasant task. And anyone who has had the pleasure knows all too well that mulch smells much worse in the hotter months. As a bonus, having properly mulched flower beds will encourage earlier appearances of annuals because of the higher thermal mass it brings to the table. Super-secret Realtor Tip: If you are photographing your house in order to list it or for some other purpose, wet the mulched areas right before you shoot - the water will darken the mulch and make the beds appear fresher, with more contrast and make your beds pop in photos.
4. Start your garden - It's an inside job: With the rising prices of food and the unknown effects of hundreds of commercial pesticides, growing a garden - no matter how small - is always a good idea. Buy one of those seed starter trays and start your seedlings indoors. There is nothing more satisfying than harvesting your own veggies, fruits and herbs - It can be a totally Zen experience, as long as you don't bite off more than you can chew for your individual green thumb level. I am a big fan of box gardens, framing up four 2x12's into a square bed (do NOT use pressure treated lumber as the chemicals that will leech into your garden soil are dangerous!), and adding good soil and natural fertilizers a few weeks/months before I plant anything there. And what an amazing, hands-on way to teach children about botany!
5. Become a fan of the ceiling fan: Switch your ceiling fan directional switches to the summer setting to get the full intended function - In summer, the leading edge should be the higher edge. If your fans are properly calibrated, using them (and their lovely breezes) in lieu of AC on more temperate days, or even using them to help circulate the AC on hotter days may just save you a few bucks on cooling. And while you are at it, clean the blades with a swiffer or furniture wipes. It is amazing the amount of dust and debris that sticks to fan blades over time.
6. Get your mind in the gutter: Over the years I have seen many folks with curious springtime wet basements-we tend to get more rain in the spring, of course. A good 40% of the time, the biggest problem is that a downspout is improperly adjusted to the splashblock and the water is spilling over and running down the foundation wall versus being directed away from the home. Simple solution? #1 - Make sure the splashblock is properly sized, is less than 3" from the end of the downspout end, and is at a grade that forces water to drain away, and #2 - Attach a two foot long section of corrugated pipe (the kind without weep holes) to the end of the downspout (it is actually most often a perfect fit!), directing water away from the home. And be sure to splash on out in your rainboots during a downpour to ensure it is working as intended. Just might work for you. If it does, take care to and address any small foundation separations or cracks with masonry epoxy, and be sure to backfill the eroded soil that the water pushed away over time. But if it doesn't work to end the water infiltration, be sure to retain a professional to investigate and remedy it. Wet basements are a very serious issue with resales and condition disclosure, and will be an obstacle if you ever go to sell.
7. Enter Sandman: Get a bag or two of masonry sand and brush it back and forth in every direction into any walkways, patios, or brickwork that do not have mortar. Any outdoor push broom or traditional broom will get the job done. This simple filler will help keep a good number of weeds from taking root (and pushing edges even further apart), creating additional maintenance in the warmer months (ew! weeding!), and keep the stones or bricks from excessive shifting with the extreme temperature changes resulting in contraction or expansion. 

Of course there are many, many more HoneyDo's I could mention, but who wants to spend all day reading me go on and on about all the things you could be doing instead? :D

Have some of your own favorite tips? Please share them via post below - I would love to hear them!