(RE/MAX Blog)- March (hopefully) means the weather is warming up. If you don't have a trip planned to an exotic locale, take some time to get ahead on home maintenance projects. Here are a few projects you can complete during a spring fling of home repair.

1. Fun with water
Power washing your home's exterior not only adds to its sparkle factor, but also blasts away any potentially damaging mold and mildew. Rent a machine at your local home improvement store and tackle your siding, deck and driveway.

2. Check your AC
Scheduling a tune-up for your cooling system can save you bucks in the long term. Change your AC filter and schedule a pro to come check your system now, before contractors get busy.

3. Go with the flow
Pull out a ladder and unclog gutters and check that they're connected securely.

4. Bask in the sun
Catch some rays – and brighten your home – by cleaning the interior and exterior of your windows. Try a squeegee and skip the paper towels, to avoid looking out through a filter of lint.

5. Hit the fridge
Dust and grime on your refrigerator's coils causes the machine to use more energy to cool. Cleaning coils is easy with your vacuum's hose attachment. Then, enjoy efficiently-made ice cubes in a cocktail after all your hard work.

And add a paper drink umbrella. After all, it is spring break.

Thinking about selling your home? Contact us today. 

Charles County, MD– Ninety-Four RE/MAX Realty Group REALTORS were recognized on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 by the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS during their 2016 Awards Recognition Ceremony for attaining high levels of career success.

A total of sixty-six awards were received by RE/MAX Realty Group individual residential agents. Of those agents, nine received the Diamond Award for being in the top ten percent or top forty producers. Meanwhile, twenty-eight awards were received my RE/MAX Realty Group team members. Among the RE/MAX 100 teams to receive an award, two teams received the Diamond Award for being in the top twenty percent or in the top five teams.

The SMAR Awards Recognition Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of local top producing professionals in the real estate industry. The ceremony, which was held at the Greater Waldorf Jaycee's, kicked-off at 6:00 pm and included a buffet dinner, music and dancing. Award applicants were required to hold primary membership in the Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS (SMAR) and be in good standing with the association.

Below is the full list of RE/MAX Realty Group SMAR award winners.

Learn more about the SMAR Awards Recognition Ceremony at southernmarylandrealtors.org.

(RE/MAX Blog)- As you compose your list of "must-haves" for your next home, make sure you're up for the work and added maintenance expense each item may require. Here are a few things to think over.

1. Wood-burning fireplace
Snuggling by a cozy fire can be sublime, but beware of the splinters that come with maintaining a wood-burning fireplace. There's the bill from the annual chimney sweep, the cost of wood and the hassle of keeping critters from camping out in the pile. Plus, a fireplace can raise your energy bill. A chimney sucks up most of the warmth from a fire, along with some of the room's heated air, according to the EPA.

2. Extensive landscaping
A beautiful garden may draw you to a home, but keep in mind how much work it will be to maintain once you move in. Perhaps you find trimming topiaries a soothing form of meditation. If not, a home with less landscaping may be a better fit.

3. More square footage
Vast rooms with cathedral ceilings come come with soaring energy bills. Unused rooms leech heating and cooling energy from the rest of the house. Keep this in mind if you're considering purchasing a home to grow into.

As you think about what you really must have to make you happy in your next home, talk to a Realtor. He or she will be able to help you understand the cost of different features as well as evaluating them for potential resale value. 

Begin the search for your new home today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- In some hot housing markets, including a letter with your formal offer to buy a home is all but required. Unfortunately, Hallmark doesn't make a card for the occasion (yet). Here are a few tips:

1. Get emotional
Take advantage of this opportunity to sail beyond the facts and figures to convey a personal connection to the home. Pick one or two features and talk about how they fit into your vision of the perfect home. For example, “Holiday meals are important to my family. Your large kitchen has everything I need to re-create my grandmother's recipes, and would fit all of my relatives who like to gossip while cooking." Or, “During our showing my children escaped to climb trees in your back yard. They fell in love with the home as much as I did."

2. Connect with the seller
Find one or two similarities between your family and the seller's, based on what you can discern from the home. Show you have something in common, but be careful not too dig too deep (nobody wants to sell to a stalker). For example: “We're so excited that your home not only has a beautiful, fenced yard, but also a dog door. Our lives revolve around our two rescue pups, Sonny and Cher, who would literally leap for joy in a yard of their own."

3. Don't be afraid to flatter
Tell the seller why you adore specific features that have been upgraded: “We love those colorful tiles you used on the kitchen back splash. They remind us so much of our honeymoon in Portugal."

4. Don't whine
This is not the place to play the sympathy card. No sob stories about why you sold your last place, or how many deals have fallen through. You want the seller to feel good reading your letter.

5. Grammar matters
Check spelling and grammar. Have a grammar-nerd friend triple check it for you. You want the seller to know you put time and care into your honest appeal.

Still searching for the dream home? Begin the process of finding your perfect home with us today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Is this winter's bout of cabin fever got you dreaming of more space in your home? Do you find yourself fantasizing about a separate room where you can cloister the kids when it's too cold for them to play outside? Your solution may be right beneath your feet. Here are few things to keep in mind if you're considering refinishing your basement.

1. Water, water, anywhere?
Have a pro come in and investigate any evidence of water damage in your basement. You'll need to resolve any moisture issues before you begin remodeling.

2. Know the code
Before you design your dream basement, check the municipal code for any restrictions that may impact your project, such as the number of exits required or regulations about adding bathrooms and kitchens below the main floor of your home.

3. Kill the chill
Check with a contractor to find out if there are ways to adjust your home's current ventilation and heating configuration to efficiently heat your basement. Installing quality flooring can help with insulation.

4. Light up your (underground) life
Avoid creating a well-decorated dungeon by installing adequate lighting, especially if there are no windows.

5. The right steps
Don't skimp on the stairway. Carpeting on the stairs, bright lights and handrails make access safer and more inviting.

6. Turn down the volume
If you have plans for an entertainment center, consider installing sound insulation in the ceiling to help tone things down.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Demolishing your seventies kitchen and upgrading to stainless steel and granite can produce all kinds of happy feelings. It can also produce piles of materials you might not be sure what to do with. Here are a few ways to remove all those building by products.

1. Donate

If your stuff's in half-decent condition, there's probably a drop-off donation center willing to take it. Habitat for Humanity has a national network of home improvement stores stocked by donations. They take everything from light fixtures and appliances to counter tops and windows.

2. Reclaim, reuse, recycle

Roll up old carpet and use the Carpet America Recovery Effort website to find a company near you that will reclaim, recycle or reuse it. Check with your municipality to find out if they recycle any other types of construction material. The Construction and Demolition Recycling Association can help you locate local companies that will take materials such as asphalt shingles, gypsum drywall and concrete.

3. Options for paint

PaintCare is an organization that works on behalf of paint manufacturers in states with paint stewardship laws to set up places to safely recycle and dispose of unwanted paint. Many municipalities have drop-off days for oil-based paint, which is considered household hazardous waste.

Is your home remodeled and ready to sell? Find out your home's worth today.

(RE/MAX Blog)-  You may not think "real estate" when you think about modern technology, but several advances are making the lives of homebuyers, home sellers, and agents a lot easier – not to mention adding peace of mind with added security measures. Here are a few.

1. Drones

Fitting a small camera onto a helicopter drone lets agents capture aerial images of homes, properties and neighborhoods to feature in sales listings. Drones can also be useful for checking out things like roof damage without a ladder. The Federal Aviation Administration loosened its guidelines on commercial uses for drones in June, making it easier for more agents to adopt the technology.

2. Digital signature platforms

Years ago, an agent could spend hours driving back and forth to collect buyer and seller signatures on forms. Today, they can toss their pens and manage everything from the office – or wherever they may be – thanks to digital signing platforms. The government passed laws that make electronic signatures as valid as physical signatures. Platforms like DocuSign let agents securely send documents for clients to authorize with a simple click on a computer – or a phone.

3. Electronic lockboxes

Smart lockboxes on homes have several features that can make showing a home more secure. These new boxes allow smart phones to work as keys, which means they also can track who enters and leaves the home. Some boxes can also be programmed to host real-time information about the home and the neighborhood which visitors can access using their smart phones.

4. Wireless video monitors

Security cams help agents (and homeowners) keep an eye on vacant properties without having to physically stop by to check things out. Cameras can provide interior and exterior views, allowing agents and homeowners to monitor everything from maintenance issues, like whether leaves or mail deliveries are piling up on the porch, to basic security, like seeing if someone is parked outside.