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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD- RE/MAX Realty Group Real Estate Agents Danielle Mannix and Melissa Bernstein both served as guest Real Estate Experts in October on the channel 9 segment "The Real Deal in Real Estate."

Mannix, who made her appearance on Thursday, October 20, 2016 on Great Day Washington, shared her expert advice for first-time homebuyers. She suggested they keep in mind their long term goals and consider the neighborhood, school district, neighborhood amenities and resale value when purchasing a home. Bernstein, who appeared on the show on Thursday, October 6, 2016, shared guidance on how to navigate the bidding process.

"The most important thing is picking the right agent," said Real Estate Agent Melissa Bernstein. "As a buyer, you want a buyer's agent who has experience in listings because they are going to know what a listings agent is looking for in an offer. Many home sellers are now pricing to attract competing offers."

"The Real Deal in Real Estate" airs every two weeks and features a Lender Expert, Title Expert and Real Estate Expert.

For more information on RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group, visit www.ournexthouse.com.

RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group have been in business for over 30 years and have the reputation of providing quality service to customers and a quality experience to their realtors by providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Negotiating your deal is one of the most critical aspects of your real estate journey. It's also one of the parts of the process where your agent's experience can make the most dramatic difference. Your home purchase or sale, probably one of the biggest financial transactions you'll make in your life, is not the time to test rookie negotiation skills. Here are just a few things agents, as professional negotiators, know that help them reach the best closing agreement for you.

1. That knowledge is power
In addition to their in-depth knowledge of the market and valuing a home, your agent will have dug into public records about the property and the neighborhood. Your agent will also look into the seller's motivation. Knowing things like whether the seller is under pressure to move quickly can help shape negotiating strategy.

2. How to time it
Sometimes a quick response to an offer is critical. Other times, it's best to keep the other party on the hook. Knowing which strategy to employ is crucial in negotiations.

3. Objectivity is a must
As a professional negotiator, your agent is able to control the process without being affected by the emotions that swirl around real estate transactions for buyers and sellers. Among other potentially expensive missteps, inexperienced negotiators can reveal too much info to the other party, especially during intense, fast-moving negotiations.

4. What to ask for
If you don't ask for something, you won't get it. As your advocate, your agent will know how to ask for things like concessions and repairs in a manner that's most appealing to the other party.

Selling your bike online? Go forth and make a killer deal on that two-wheeler. But when it comes to buying or selling your home, stick with a professional. Real estate negotiation is no place for training wheels.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Halloween decorations can be a fantastic way to express your creativity, but don't forget common sense. A few reminders to keep the peace with neighbors:

1. Decorations can be scary for kids

Remember, on Halloween night and during the weeks leading up to the fun, young children will see your decorations. Skip the carnivorous bunny rabbits and too-realistic skeletons.

2. Be mindful with volume (and song selection)

Be respectful if you play scary music on Halloween night or use display motion-activated decorations with soundtracks. Trick-or-treaters in the next county do not need to hear “Monster Mash" on repeat. And your neighbors certainly don't want to hear it past midnight, at the latest.

3. Check the HOA policy on Halloween decorations

Before you invest in constructing the best zombie apocalypse your neighborhood has ever witnessed, make sure your HOA doesn't have any restrictions around decorations, lights or sound effects.
 

4. Choose family-friendly themes

Have fun but don't offend the neighbors. Avoid things like fake tombstones with real politicians' names or decorations featuring religious icons.

5. The witching hour ends at midnight

Please try to take down Halloween decorations shortly after the holiday. Don't despair, it will soon be time for winter holidays.

Start your search today for a home with a porch that's perfect for trick-or-treaters. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Keeping your home looking like a furniture showroom for long stretches isn't easy. Here are a few tips to keep your house ready for showings while you're still living in it.

1. Attack the clutter
As you prepare your home for showing, start with a major decluttering. Throw out, recycle or give away things you don't use. Getting rid of junk will make your home more appealing to prospective buyers and free up space for you to neatly store things when it's time to tidy up for a showing.

2. Rent storage space
Keeping things neat is easier when you have less things. An off-site storage unit can help (and you can keep it as messy as you like).

3. Start packing
Packing most of your dishes and large baking and cooking items frees up cabinet space that you can use to stash items you use on a regular basis. It also gives you a head start on packing for your move.

4. Rope off a room – or two
If you can, temporarily rope off rooms or areas from the kids, pets or spouses to contain your mess in a smaller space while your house is listed. But remember to make those rooms look nice, too, before the showing!

5. Buy hiding spots
The home sections of discount stores are filled with attractive fabric boxes and fashionable bins that can simultaneously hide junk and match your décor.

6. If all else fails, stash it under the bed
Invest in a couple of under-the-bed bins that you can use to store everything from socks to kids' toys in when faced with a last-minute showing.

Begin the home selling process today with the number one RE/MAX brokerage in Maryland and Northern Virginia. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Is the cost of furniture causing to you to debate if a kitchen table is a “want” or a “need”? Don’t worry! There are plenty of options for you to furnish your nest without breaking the bank. Here are some good places to start:

1. Check with Craig
Craigslist.org: the 24-hour garage sale where you never need to worry about parking! Not just for used items, many furniture warehouses use the site to move merchandise. Search by style, like “modern” or “shabby chic,” or by brand, such as “IKEA” or “Pottery Barn.” Don’t forget to compare prices on the original sale site to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

2. Give fleas a chance
If you’re patient (and lucky) you can find all sorts of treasures at flea market. Many feature vendors who focus on refurbished pieces, providing a unique way to go green.

3. Antique stores
Just because an item is an antique doesn’t mean it’s not functional. Many stores pride themselves on refurbishing old appliances and vintage pieces for everyday use, so you’re not buying a sofa that’s too fancy to actually sit on. You’ll also discover that the term “antique” is used loosely. A vintage looking chair from 2005 may be hidden among furniture from the 1970s.

4. Estate sales
You can score amazing deals when an owner needs to clear out an entire house. Arrive early and don’t hesitate to haggle.

5. Help clear the floor
Have a favorite furniture or home décor store that’s a bit over your budget? Ask if they ever sell floor models for a reduced price.

6. Online options
Wayfair.com and Overstock.com offer free shipping on purchases over $50. Both have a wide assortment of styles and price ranges on everything from headboards for your kid to cushion beds for your dog.

Wherever you shop, try to avoid the temptation to buy poor quality furniture that may end up costing you more in the long run. That sofa on super-closeout-clearance? It may seem like a steal, but if the material wears out quickly and the style isn’t timeless, you may find yourself on the market for another couch sooner than you would like.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD- Nearly two hundred real estate professionals gathered together at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on Thursday, October 20, 2016 for the RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group Real Estate Team Summit.

The Summit, which took place from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, addressed how to build the right team with the right agents, the strengths of the team model, how to increase transactions and so much more. Attendees registered for the event included real estate agents, sponsors and locals looking to begin their career in the real estate industry.

Presenters included Real Estate Recruiting Coach and Speaker, Judy LaDeur; the number one RE/MAX Residential Team Leader in the U.S., Marti Hampton; and Mount Pleasant Magazine’s voted best Realtor and Real Estate Team, Caleb Pearson.  RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group Broker/Owner Ken Crowley also presented to attendees before serving as the moderator of a panel discussion with Marti Hampton, Caleb Pearson and The Prigal Brothers and Associates, the top team with RE/MAX Realty Group in Gaithersburg.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our first Real Estate Team Summit,” said Broker/Owner Ken Crowley. “It was truly a success. Our goal was to host an incredible event filled with beneficial information for agents in the community. As a Broker/Owner, agent success is a priority and I truly believe we reached our goal.”

RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group is the seventh largest real estate company in the Washington Metropolitan area, the number one brokerage in Maryland and Northern Virginia, and one of 120 largest brokerages in the United States.

(RE/MAX Blog)- A home inspection can be a nerve-racking part of the home-buying process – but it is also a vital step. Here are a few things an inspector may find that could add to the cost of a home – or save you from buying a lemon altogether.

1. Lurking charges

Even though a home's electrical system may seem to function adequately, inspections can reveal safety issues. This frequently happens with old wiring that's corroded or outdated, or with new wiring that was improperly installed.

2. A failing grade

Poor grading, or a slope that drains water toward your house instead of away from it, can cause all kinds of problems such as flooded crawl spaces or basements, rotting walls and framing, and mold and foundation damage.

3. Trouble on top

Roofing materials don't last forever, and inspectors often find problems with aging materials that will soon cause problems. The scale of necessary repairs can range from needing to replace a few shingles to needing an entirely new roof.

4. Mold

Especially in humid regions, mold can sprout anywhere moisture collects, like attics, basements and drywall around leaky pipes. If the inspector finds mold, a separate mold inspection may be required.

5. Foundation flaws

As a home settles over the years, the foundation can shift. Symptoms include cracks in the drywall, uneven floors, and doors and windows that won't shut. While home inspectors can identify basic foundation issues, if they see something that seems structurally suspicious, they'll often recommend you call a foundation engineer to assess the situation.

6. Not going with the flow

Inspectors often find clogged or bent gutters, or gutters that channel water too close to the house, where it can cause damage.

(RE/MAX Blog)- James Johnson has been trying to sell his Colorado ghost town – a café, motel, gas station and two homes (just $350,000!) – for months without success. And it's not just because it's in the middle of nowhere that the property isn't selling. While offloading your sofa or lawnmower on your own doesn't take a lot of sales skill, working with a professional real estate agent is one of the best ways to make the most money in the shortest time when selling your home – or ghost town. Here are the top reasons why.

1. An agent may increase your profit
Many people think they'll make more money if they avoid paying an agent a commission and instead handle their own home sale, but the statistics show otherwise. According to the National Association of Realtors, selling with an agent brings in a higher profit, enough to cover the commission and then some. For one thing, a Realtor has the experience and tools to price your home appropriately. Studies show that homes priced correctly when they first hit the market sell faster, and for a better price, than those that linger with a decreasing price tag.

2. An agent can save you time
While it may take just moments to upload a Craigslist ad, handling prospective buyers, inspectors and appraisers can suck up your time. From screening out unqualified buyers to helping you prepare your home for inspections, agents drive the process more efficiently.

3. An agent often makes a better deal
You might be proud of your poker face, but are you really a savvy enough negotiator to put one of the biggest deals of your life on the line? As most buyers use a buyers' agent, you'll probably be going toe-to-toe with a professional negotiator. When you list your house through an agent, you not only get their marketing power and connections, you get a pro negotiator advocating for you during the initial offer, the counter offer and the post-offer period, which includes inspections and requests for concessions.

4. An agent can lower your risk
The potential for making mistakes (with potential legal ramifications) among the reams of paperwork involved in a home sale is huge. Agents know how to do things exactly right.

Thinking of selling your home and moving to Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington, D.C.? Start the search for your new home.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD- RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group, the number one brokerage in Maryland and Northern Virginia, is hosting a Real Estate Team Summit for agents in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The event, which has already attracted nearly two-hundred professionals in the real estate industry, will address topics such as how to build a successful real estate team and how to make an already existing team more successful.

Team Summit presenters will include some of the most prestigious and successful professionals in the industry such as Real Estate Recruiting Coach and Speaker, Judy LaDeur; number one RE/MAX Realty Residential Team Leader in the United States, Marti Hampton; and Caleb Pearson, Mount Pleasant Magazine's voted best Realtor and Real Estate Team.

Event: Real Estate Team Summit

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016

Time: 9:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Where: College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

3501 University Blvd E · Hyattsville, MD 20783

All agents are invited to attend this free event and may register at Eventbrite, regardless of affiliation. Lunch will be provided.

RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group have been in business for over 30 years and have the reputation of providing quality service to customers and a quality experience to their realtors by providing them with the tools they need to succeed.