Tag Archives: Dinsmore Team

What’s the Difference Between a Buyer’s and Seller’s Market?

realtor-4As the spring real estate season starts to get underway, it appears that the market is showing favor to home sellers. However, while the terms “buyer’s market” or “seller’s market” may be something we regularly hear about, especially in regards to the state of the economy, truly understanding what each expression means is important.

Generally speaking, the above terms signify what you can expect when moving ahead with a real estate transaction.

A buyer’s market occurs when you have more supply than demand, which is what occurred after the housing bubble collapsed in 2007. When this happens, since there are more people looking to sell houses than people looking to buy them, many homeowners wind up accepting less money than their homes are worth and in some cases, may even find themselves offering incentives just to secure an interested buyer.

While this obviously presents a problem for sellers, this type of market is fantastic for buyers who—if they have the money—can find themselves in possession of a fantastic home for thousands below the asking price.

On the other hand, a seller’s market is just the opposite because it indicates that the demand is larger than the supply. In healthy economies, people have more money to spend, which means sellers may see several buyers competing for their property. When this happens, prices tend to go up since people are willing to pay more for what they want.

In this case, sellers are definitely the faction that comes out on top because they are more likely to see a great return on their home investment.

Even so, when considering the buying or selling process in your particular location, it’s important to remember that there may be fluctuation within the same state—or even the same county—which is worth thinking about if you’re considering a relocation. In other words, while your current home may be listed in a so-called “buyer’s market,” the area where you’d like to move may be considered a “seller’s market.” When this happens, you may wind up paying more money than if you were to sell your home at an advantage and buy in a location where you’d also buy at an advantage.

As with anything in life, real estate tends to have a natural ebb and flow so market’s never last forever. While experts try, it’s often difficult to predict what a market will do with 100% accuracy, so when deciding when to buy or sell, it’s worth speaking to an experienced real estate agent who can offer some insight into the local area.

At the current time, North Georgia (particularly the Cumming, Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, and Gainesville) appears to be a seller’s market, so if you’ve been thinking about selling your home, now is the time to do it!

If you’d like more information or would like to obtain a free estimate of what your home is worth, please contact me.

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

What Exactly Do Real Estate Agents Do?

bigstock_Female_Real_Estate_Agent_Handi_6207483“You hire them to help you sell or buy a home, right?”

While defining the role of a real estate agent may seem somewhat cut and dry, the truth of the matter is that many people lack a true understanding of what agents actually do during the buying or selling process.

In short, yes, a real estate agent is someone who helps you either sell or purchase a property (which may or may not include an actual structure).  However, their actual job involves everything from property valuation and the use of successful marketing techniques to negotiation and home organization.

With this, a truly great agent is someone who not only knows the immediate area, but who keeps up with local and regional market activity, as well as industry news.  In addition, they continually research active, pending, and sold listings in an effort to understand pricing trends so that their clients are better equipped to remain competitive within the market.

Furthermore, while it’s one thing to simply list a home and hope it sells, successful agents are able to assist with everything from staging advice to making recommendations for professional cleaners, painters, and contractors.  Generally speaking, most house hunters are looking for certain things when they tour available properties, so real estate agents come armed with an understanding of buyer behavior and the types of home attributes that will garner positive attention.

Therefore, even if you’re not looking to buy or sell at the current moment, real estate agents are a fantastic resource when looking to understand current housing trends, what your home is worth, or what you can do to prepare for the market.

With that being said, if you have questions, don’t be afraid to make contact with an agent who can share a bit of their knowledge with you.  Yes, they assist with the buying or selling process, but more than anything, real estate agents comprise a wide network of individuals who have an abundance of professional connections to assist you with anything you may need.

To learn more about what an agent can do for you, please contact me.  I’d love to help you along the way.

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

Marie Dinsmore Receives Highest Trulia Honor for 2014

j2014 was truly a great year for The Dinsmore Team and I am thrilled to announce that I was recently recognized in Trulia’s first annual “Best of Trulia” list.

As the leading online marketplace for home buyers, sellers, renters, and real estate professionals, Trulia has opened up this new program to recognize agents who consistently garner the highest ratings from past clients in an effort to help consumers find and connect with the top agents in their area.

These awards, which are based upon the number of customer reviews an individual agent receives, as well as their client ratings and the number of buy-side or sell-side transactions that were completed in 2014, represents less than 2% of the agents with Trulia profiles in the country.

For consumers, this list offers the opportunity for buyers and sellers to browse top local agents and to see their experience listed in one place, while also allowing potential homeowners to view each agent’s past sales history and customer reviews.

As an agent who has successfully utilized Trulia to market my listings, I am beyond honored to have received so many glowing reviews from my past customers.  At the end of the day, personal recommendations are truly the heartbeat of my business and I am so thankful to have earned your trust.

—here’s to making 2015 just as successful!

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

Improve Your Home for Less Than $100

traditional-home-officeWhen most people hear the words “home improvement” or “remodel,” they envision expensive updates and upgrades; however, when it comes to improving the look of your home, it’s important to remember that adding a bit of functionality or beauty doesn’t have to break the bank.
To help you along the way, I’ve created a list of home improvement projects that can be completed for less than $100.

IN NEED OF OFFICE SPACE? USE A CLOSET! – Simple and budget-friendly, this project is as simple as unhinging the closet door and nixing the hanging rods for shelves.  One deep shelf can be used for the actual desktop which 2 shallow shelves can be used for overhead storage.  Add a chair, some boxes for organization, and voila!—a new home office!

SPRING FOR MOUNTED LIGHTING UPGRADES – If you’re dealing with a small space, consider adding a few matching pendant lamps that can either be purchased new or through a furniture consignment or antique store.

4505426383_e53d4fece1DOORWAY DISPLAYS – If you’re looking to create something truly unique, install a shelf above the doorway and paint it to match the trim.  By using the space to display beautiful pieces of décor like pottery or framed antique photos, you’ll add another dimension to your room.

MAXIMIZE YOUR WINDOW SPACE – If you’re someone who loves the look and feel of large windows, install floor length hanging drapes at ceiling height to make smaller windows look longer.

UTILIZE STAINED GLASS – If you’re looking to add a bit of elegance to your bathroom, stained glass is always a popular and beautiful choice; however, it can be challenging to find pieces that will fit your window perfectly.  Therefore, in lieu of spending the money to have a section of stained glass made, try hanging one from chains in front of your existing window for the same effect.

original_Michelle-Hinckley-decorative-shelf-as-bedside-table-in-bedroom_h_lgWALL-MOUNT BEDSIDE TABLE – Another great space-saver is the wall-mount bedside table, which can be easily installed using wood corbels and your choice of material on top.  If you’re looking to get a bit creative, think about using something like a slate roof shingle or a section of antique wood.

ADD A CHAIR RAIL – If you’re looking to bring a bit of color into your bedroom or living room, consider adding a chair rail and painting the wall below a soothing color while adding a bolder hue up top.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or are simply looking to find further ways to enjoy your space, I’d love to help you with additional tips and tricks to make your home spectacular.

Call or email me.  We’ll talk!

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

 

 

Marie Dinsmore Earns RE/MAX Platinum Club Award

1394632456When it comes to doing your job and doing it well, there’s nothing like the feeling of receiving an award which truly recognizes all of your hard work and dedication.  Therefore, as we gear up for the spring real estate season, it is with abounding joy that I announce my inclusion into the RE/MAX Platinum Club for Realtors©.

RE/MAX Club Awards are individual awards that are based on levels of annual commission from January 1st through December 31st and are distributed based upon single year commission reports.  As one of the highest designations within the company, the Platinum Club recognizes those agents who have earned anywhere from $250,000-$499,999 in gross commissions.

While I’ve taken great pride in winning the Million Dollar Club every year since 2003—meaning I have consistently sold more than $1 million dollars-worth of property—this designation, which I previously earned in 2005, truly pushes me to continue on my quest to raise the bar for the real estate industry, my clients, and the community.

At the end of the day, I offer my customers a level of experienced understanding and keen attention to detail that are truly second-to-none. If you are looking for the services of a seasoned agent, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I’m looking forward to making 2015 another successful year and I cannot wait to help make your dreams come true along the way.

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