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Showing posts from December, 2006

What to look for in a real estate agent

There's a common saying in the real estate industry regarding the vast number of agents in the business: "If you don't have any friends who are agents, then you probably don't have any friends at all." With so many agent out there, how can you make an intelligent decision? Do you choose a friend, neighbor or coworker? Should you work with an agent at a large firm, a small firm, a franchise or an independent? While there's an exception to every rule, and every marketplace has its own nuances, here are some solid rules to apply when you want the best representation to protect your interests. Demand Experience Always look for an agent with at least two years of experience. Anyone still in the business after two years has probably learned at least the fundamentals of real estate. Look for Commitment Another problem we have in the industry is a large number of part-time and recreational salespeople. No matter how long they have been in real estate, their lack of f

MOLD!!!!

The word "mold"has become a household name. It seems that there is so much information out there about health and air quality in our immediate environment stems back to "mold". It is as big an issue as the dreaded Termite problem. This is now so big that even home insurance companies may not issue new home owners coverage until they come to photograph key locations in your home to ensure that you do not have existing "mold". Insurance companies can go so far, as excluding coverage for any pre existing mold in your house. So what is the big issue with "mold" and why are we so cautious today? Well, recent studies show how sick it can make you and your loved ones in the home. It may well be the source of many allergies, and many other problems that we had not even noticed in the past years. Sometimes "mold" can be very obvious, and sometimes not If you are living in an old home, as many are in the US then chances are you may have mold in s