Tag Archives: Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

Celebrating 20 Years!!

Wednesday, 20 July 2022 19:21
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Today is a day of celebration and reflection for me.  I celebrated 20 years in real estate as I received my real estate license on July 20th 2002.

Many people ask me why I got into real estate.  I got into real estate because a relative of mine told me I should consider real estate and I listened because she was older and wiser, and the bible tells us to listen to our elders and I’m glad I did.  I love real estate because it allows me to use my passion, which is helping people.

A lot has changed over the years, but I navigated the highs and the lows.  The mortgage interest rate in 2002 was 6.54%.  The highs in the last 20 years were the last two years when it was a TRUE Seller’s market.  It was great for my Sellers that could sell and take advantage of the craziness and had a place to go live.  The lows were in the 2007-2008 downturn when I was doing short sales as my clients were losing their homes.  I’m so glad I listened once again and got my CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert designation.  It gave me the ability to assist my Sellers by doing a short sale for them vs. them going into foreclosure.

Over the years I have learned how to do what I do better.  I have sought out training and certifications to further help me further my knowledge of the industry so I could help my clients. My certifications are listed in the ‘About‘ section.

What advice would I give someone considering a career in real estate?  The advice I would give to someone thinking about getting into real estate is, that if you are willing to work 24/7, 365 days a year, and you are passionate about helping people with the largest investment they will ever make, then get into real estate and treat your clients and agents like you want to be treated and you’ll be successful.

It’s my passion.  I love it.  Thank you to each and everyone who has given me the opportunity to help you buy or sell.  I am truly grateful.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Circle of Excellence 2021

Monday, 21 February 2022 07:38
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2021 was another challenging year both personally and for real estate.  With the pandemic still looming and low inventory of homes, etc., we were still able to help many clients with their real estate needs. We feel very grateful and blessed to be honored again and to be among those achieving the Circle of Excellence Award from the 400 North Board of Realtors for 2021.

While it’s an honor and I’m very grateful to receive these awards, it’s not necessarily my goal. My goal is to give my clients the best possible service possible, whether it is to help them sell their home or to find them their perfect new home. My passion is helping people. That is why I strive for a high level of service and as a result, I have many repeat clients as well as referrals of friends and family over my 20-year real estate career. For this, I am truly grateful for my client’s trust and confidence.

One of the other ways I service my clients is my knowledge of the market. I continue to make sure I am well versed in all matters of real estate. As a REALTOR, we are tasked each year to accomplish additional education units. I typically go beyond what is required. I am certified in negotiating, probate, distressed property, luxury home market, iRep Pro, etc. So, please know whatever someone’s real estate needs are, I will always do my very best to deliver the ultimate service experience.

For a list of certifications and awards, please see our ‘About’ page.

In Appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

RE/MAX Around Atlanta

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Six Pricing Mistakes Sellers Should Avoid

Friday, 14 November 2014 18:18
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house-for-sale1When attempting to sell your home, the goal is to garner as much money for your investment as possible; however, the catch-22 is that one of the key factors to actually encouraging interest on your property is to offer a fair price.  Therefore, if you are serious about finding the right buyer, establishing a solid pricing strategy is an absolute must.

With this in mind, it’s important to start by being aware of the six common pricing mistakes that all sellers should attempt to avoid.

1.) OVERPRICING FROM THE START: Sure, you obviously love your home and feel that it’s the best property on the block; however, while it may seem natural to start with a listing price that is relative to the value you see, making the mistake of overpricing your home at the outset could deter potential buyers—especially if recent sales and other neighborhood factors fail to justify your starting point.  In addition, since multiple price reductions tend to keep properties on the market for longer periods of time, you may be setting yourself up for avoidable frustration.

2.) LEAVING OUT POTENTIAL BUYERS IN ONLINE SEARCHES: When perusing through online listings, the first parameter that most buyers use to narrow their options is price.  For example, if a buyer’s target price range is $250,000 to $300,000, your home will never get seen if it’s listed at $305,000.  While that last $5000 may be important to you, it’s probably wise to settle upon $300,000 so changes are better that you’ll capture buyers in the ranges above and below your price.

Ultimately, what you decide upon is up to you and your agent, but if you’re already teetering on your price anyway, having a bit of flexibility might be worth considering.

3.) NOT TAKING RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES INTO ACCOUNT: While it may seem logical to base your starting price off of what other homes are listed for in your area, it’s important to understand that in order to generate buyer interest, you should consider final sale prices instead.  Having a solid understanding of the recent sales in your neighborhood will not only help you to see the bigger picture, but bring you some peace of mind as well.

4.) GETTING TOO CREATIVE WITH YOUR ASKING PRICE: When shopping retail, there’s a reason prices tend to include round, easy numbers—i.e. $15.99, $220.00, $6.50—instead of complex combinations like $15.26 or $219.82.  In order to generate interest, you’ll want to make things easy for potential buyers by selecting a price that’s memorable and inviting.  Listing your home for $512,477 instead of $512,000 may not only give potential buyers pause, but divert unnecessary attention from your property to you, the seller.

5.) NOT BEING OPEN TO NEGOTIATION: Plain and simple, negotiation is a two-way street, which means finding a bit of common ground is important.  The quickest way to kill a sale is to refuse to budge in regards to your asking price or the other conditions involved in the final agreement.  Instead of digging your heels in from the very beginning, ask yourself whether you’d rather wait a long time to get your full asking price, or whether you’d like to close as soon as possible.  By thinking in those terms, you’re more likely to see the benefit in making a few concessions.

6.) IGNORING YOUR AGENT’S INSIGHTS: The first step in selling your home for an acceptable price is to not only select an experienced agent, but to listen to their advice.  Helping you sell your home is about more than simply placing it online or putting signs in the yard—it’s about looking at your individual situation from all angles, to include your home’s features, the local market, recent sales, and more.  Therefore, if you want to make an informed decision, make a point to listen to the information being provided.

If you would like to know more or if you want to begin the selling process, please feel free to contact me.  I’d love to hear from you.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

 

Get Ready for Home Builder Year-End Sales

Wednesday, 29 October 2014 22:34
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cyrus-exteriorWhen it comes to big-ticket purchases such as cars and electronics, many people expect year-end sales and incentives; however, what they may not realize is that developers and builders are also willing to propose incentives as well.

By offering a variety of extras such as freebies, upgrades, reduced prices, and other enticements, many builders hope to boost sales during the typically slow winter months, especially since most buyers are too busy with holiday events to focus on relocation.  By sweetening the deal, builders create a win-win situation for themselves, as well as the buyer, which allows them to finish one division before embarking on newer projects.

Still, year-end incentives are not just about drawing potential home owners to close-out communities—in many ways, they help attract shoppers to start-up developments as well.  In these neighborhoods, once the first four or five homes have been sold, the early-bird pricing goes up, making it important to take advantage of low prices as they occur.

In regards to what types of year-end incentives are offered, it generally depends upon what the developer thinks local buyers will value the most.  Kitchen upgrades tend to garner a lot of attention; however, other builders offer everything from third garages and closing costs, to design options and flat screen TVs.

As we get further into fall, if you’re in the market for a new home, it’s wise to consider your options before the year is through.  Instead of waiting until spring when prices will have gone back up, you’ll save a lot of money by getting a head-start on the process in November or December.

If you need assistance or would simply like some advice on how to best utilize the next few months, I’d love to speak with you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789

Get Started on Your Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Friday, 26 September 2014 10:03
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fall-house-e1410287548221While the weather is still relatively warm in this part of the country, it’s hard to miss the whispers of fall that have begun to make their way into the rustling leaves and cool, crisp mornings.  While autumn is characterized by a sort of sleepy transition into the frosty winter months, it’s also the perfect time to put a bit of effort into some do-it-yourself tasks that will have a positive impact on both the state of your home, as well as your wallet.

1.) GUTTERS: It’s not uncommon for most of us to overlook the true impact that gutters have on our property.  Without a whole lot of aesthetic appeal, it’s easy to forget that they divert thousands of gallons of water from our homes on an annual basis.  Unless you make a point to keep them clean, clogged gutters can lead to water in your home and an abundance of rust, rot, and corrosion.  Therefore, before the foliage really begins to change, make a point to have your gutters thoroughly cleaned and covered with a mesh guard.

2.) STOP LEAKS: When it comes to energy costs, nothing can hurt your wallet like air leaks around windows and doors.  Generally speaking, gaps in your weather stripping and caulk may actually add about 10% to your heating bill, so it’s important to look for leaks.  For areas that appear to need your attention, replace any worn weather stripping or missing/damaged caulk and don’t forget to check around all electrical, cable, and phone entry points.

3.) DON’T NEGLECT YOUR ROOF: Instead of waiting until there’s water coming through your ceiling, it’s important to inspect your roof so that little annoyances are stopped before they become massive problems.

Start by inspecting your roof from top to bottom and looking for cracks and wind damage, as well as missing, broken, or curled shingles.  While you’re up there, take a look into your gutters—if you notice large accumulations of granules, your roof may be shedding its coating, which means further issues are just around the corner.

4.) INSPECT YOUR FURNACE: While it may seem a bit redundant, it’s important to have your furnace inspected by a professional once a year.  Again, while it may cost you a little bit of money, prevention will save you from having to shell out an abundance of money for large repairs and replacements.

On your own, pay attention to things such as noisy belts, erratic behavior, and general poor performance.  All of these things can be signs that your parts are faulty, worn, or damaged, or that your heating ducts are blocked.

5.) STAY ON TOP OF GAS PROBLEMS: If you have a gas heater, keeping it in working condition is not only a cost issue, but a safety issue as well.  Having a professional check it each year will not only save you money in operating costs, but help prevent poisonous gases from leeching into the air of your home.

6.) FIRE PROOFING: Sure, the likelihood of your home going up in flames is pretty slim; however, it happens and for anyone who has seen what a house fire looks like, the sight is truly horrific.  Therefore, as we head towards winter and things like Christmas lights and trees, it’s important to take some extra steps to protect your family in case of a fire.

The first step involves not only replacing the batteries in each of your smoke detectors (don’t neglect your carbon monoxide detectors as well!), but testing them and making sure one is installed on every floor of your home—including the basement.

Next consider drawing up a few fire escape plans and make sure there’s no furniture or large items blocking any potential exits (to include windows).  If you’ve found yourself accumulating things like old newspapers or leftover hazardous chemicals, be aware of the fact that they present an increased fire hazard, so getting rid of them will help keep your family safe.

CONCLUSION

In the end, keeping your home in working order throughout the winter doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money.  If you stay on top of the little things and diligently complete them on an annual basis, then the chances that you’ll have to deal with large issues goes down exponentially.

Marie Dinsmore | The Dinsmore Team | www.dinsmoreteam.com | 770-712-7789