We are proud to announce the names of the real estate agents and teams with RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group who were ranked among America’s Best Real Estate Agents by REAL Trends.

Lisa Wills, Ross Simone, Trish Nicely and Klaus Breitsameter were ranked among the best individual agents. Team Connie Fitzgerald, the McKnew Team, Andy Werner Team and the Prigal Brother’s Team were ranked among the best teams. 

The REAL Trends rankings, which were released in July 2017, featured nearly 12,600 U.S. real estate associates from every state. The ranking of both the individual agents and real estate teams were based on their closed transactions and sales volume in 2016.

America's Best Real Estate Agents ranking by REAL Trends represents all 50 states and all major cities. It includes over 250 Major Areas and nearly 600 major cities. Search for the Best Agents in your area or view the REAL Trends ranking.

Learn more about RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group.

(RE/MAX Blog) - Backyard trampolines can be a great way to keep your kids active and away from their screens. Just don't let an injury end the fun. Follow these tips to help keep your young – and old – trampoline fans safe this season.

1. Put it in a safe place
Don't set up your trampoline below power lines, trees with low-hanging branches or clothes-drying lines.

2. Keep it clean
Leaves and dirt can erode the trampoline's mat and springs. Hose it down when it starts collecting yard debris, or wipe it off with a wet rag. Don't use any strong solvents to clean your trampoline as these can also erode the materials.

3. Give it a once-over more than once
Regularly check the trampoline for warped or damaged springs, damaged frames, tears or fraying in the mat and deteriorating stitching.

4. Cover the metal
Invest in shock-absorbing pads that cover the trampoline's springs, hooks and frame.

5. Avoid the asphalt
Even with a safety net or crash mats, setting your trampoline on concrete is too risky.

6. Create a safety zone
Keep at least eight feet of ground surrounding the trampoline clear.

7. Slippery when wet
Make sure the mat is dry before using after a rainstorm or morning sprinkler rotation.

8. Avoid overloading
Your trampoline's instructions will include a weight limit – do not exceed it. It could damage the equipment and increase the chance of parts breaking and causing injury.

9. Only kids 6 years and older
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises against kids younger than 6 using trampolines.

10. One at a time
More than one jumper at a time creates more tension, which means kids could lose control of how high and how far they bounce.

11. Exit strategy
Don't let kids bounce off the trampoline onto the ground. Those exciting dismounts cause lots of accidents.

12. Save your grass
Move your trampoline around your yard (using two people to avoid damaging the frame) throughout the year to avoid creating a giant circle of dead grass.

Ready to bounce on over to a new neighborhood? Start the search for your new home today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Cranking up the AC can also crank up your electric bill. Here are a few alternative ways to keep your home cool this summer.

1. Swap bulbs
If you still haven't switched to CFLs for environmental or economic reasons, do it to be cool. Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their energy through the heat they emit.

2. Keep a cool head
Try out a buckwheat pillow for bedtime. They don't absorb and retain heat like cotton and down pillows.

3. DIY AC
Place a big bowl of ice water in front of a fan for a cheap alternative to central air.

4. Mind the blinds
Close your window blinds or curtains when you leave to prevent your home from heating up like a greenhouse while you're gone.

5. Grill and chill
Cooking outside on the barbecue keeps you from heating up your home with a stove or oven. It also minimizes the time you have to sweat over the dishes.

6. Don't block your breeze
Open internal doors at night to maximize any fresh, cool air that makes its way inside.

7. Change direction
For the summer, set your ceiling fan to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to create a cooling, downward airflow. In winter, turn the setting back to clockwise to recirculate warm air.

8. Suck it up
Use your bathroom fan when you shower and your exhaust fan when you use your stovetop. They'll help draw the hot air up and out of the room.

9. Unplug
Electronics emit heat when they're plugged in, even if they're turned off. Unplug them, or use a smart power strip, when you're not using them.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Busting clutter is almost always the first recommendation from professional stagers. Why not have a yard sale to clear out the things you no longer use while earning some cash for your move? Follow these tips to help things go smoothly and maximize your profits.

1. Get the online word out
List your sale on the "Garage Sale" section of Craigslist and on any neighborhood Facebook page groups. Include photos of your more interesting items to attract shoppers.

2. Sign up
Hit the dollar store for some neon poster board and thick markers. Then make big, legible signs to post at intersections near your home.

3. The more the merrier
Ask neighbors and friends if they want to sell their things too. Everybody has things they need to get rid of. People are more likely to stop and shop if they see a variety of items for sale.

4. Sell drinks
Enlist your cute kid (or your neighbor's) to learn about economics with a lemonade or coffee stand. A hot or cold drink for a few cents can help lure people to stop and shop while they sip.

5. Plug in
If you're selling appliances, have access to an outlet or an extension cord so people can test them out. Make sure to have some batteries on hand so shoppers can see if battery-operated items work as well.

6. Make it easy to find prices
The bigger the item, the bigger the price tag. Don't make shoppers hunt around for tiny stickers on your couch or lawn mower.

7. Prep for checkout
Have lots of change and small bills on hand, as well as plastic bags shoppers can use to carry home their new treasures.

(RE/MAX Blog) - Just as hygge becomes mainstream, a new Scandinavian trend is hitting lifestyle blogs, websites and even the world's largest furniture retailer. Have you heard? 2017 is the year of lagom.

Loosely translated from Swedish, lagom means "not too little, not too much, just right." This applies to finding balance in all aspects of your life, including your dwellings.

Are you looking to achieve a 'just right' home in 2017? Here are three easy steps.

1. The Right Amount of Space

The first step in creating a lagom home is finding the right amount of space. Whether it's a single family home, condo or a home with a much smaller footprint, more American homebuyers are choosing to live in less square feet. In fact, the lagom lifestyle is in line with many of the amenities that millennial home buyers are looking for. Gone is the desire for a formal dining room that may only be used on holidays and large outdoor spaces that take time and money to maintain.

2. The Right Amount of Furniture

Now that you have found your 'just right' space, it's time to furnish it. Take a note from professional home stagers on this one, the size of the furniture is just as important as the amount of furniture in a lagom home. While shopping, look for useful and comfortable pieces that don't overpower your space.

3. The Right Amount of Décor

Millennials seeking out minimalism will gravitate to lagom home décor. The focus is clearing clutter and keeping only items that you need.

(RE/MAX Blog)- You’ve decided you’re ready to buy your own home– now what? Start with these initial steps:

1. Get your financial ducks in a row.
Calculate how much money you have in savings and assets, your total annual income and your expenses. Know how much of it you can allocate toward a down payment and other expenses. Check your credit report and fix any errors. This will help you determine what type of loan you qualify for, and the price range of homes you want to look at.

2. Determine how much house you can afford.
A common rule is that your monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 28 percent of your pre-tax income. You can plug your information into an online mortgage calculator to get a starting idea of exactly how much you’ll pay each month with different interest rates and terms.

3. Find a real estate agent.
Interview several agents to find one that specializes in the communities you're interested in and has experience representing buyers with the type of home you’re looking for. 

4. Shop!
It’s important that you keep an open mind and look at a wide range of properties. Go to open houses. Cruise the Internet. Peruse different neighborhoods. Your agent will also help by finding properties that match as many of your "wants" and "needs" as possible. When you fall in love with a house and are ready to make it official, your agent can help you navigate the process from putting in an offer to the closing table.

Buying or selling a home? Contact us for assistance. 

(RE/MAX Blog) - A yard with a beautiful landscape is one of the few home investments with a value that increases over the years. Buyers love mature plants and trees, so giving your yard some love even if you're not planning on selling for a few years is a smart way to go. What's even smarter? Employing these money-saving tips:

1. Free mulch.
Many municipalities recycle the yard waste they pick up curbside throughout the year into mulch, which is then made available to residents for free or a very low price. Surrounding your shrubs and trees with a layer of the stuff not only makes them stand out visually, it also helps conserve moisture and stave off bugs.

2. Look to the list.
Craigslist's “farm and garden" section can be a treasure trove of outdoor planters, border stones and even “used" trees and shrubs. Check here first before heading to the nursery.

3. Go big with your neighbors.
Bedding plants are often less expensive when you buy them in bulk.

4. Compost.
Instead of buying bags of fertilizer, generate your own black gold for gardens by composting your kitchen waste. It's not as hard – or smelly – as you'd think.

5. Chat with a master.
Master gardeners often hold free Q&A sessions at garden centers or local libraries. Before investing in new plants, seeds or shrubs, check with an expert to find which options will thrive without expensive maintenance.

6. Rein it in.
Trim back any trees, shrubs or vines that hide or overwhelm your windows, porch or patio. Sometimes the most effective landscaping upgrade can come from removing greenery, not adding it.

7. Pull your weeds.
It's the outdoor equivalent of de-cluttering your home, an inexpensive way to boost your yard's visual appeal.

8. Powerwash fences and patios.
It can take years off your fence and patio in just minutes. You'll be amazed at how much brighter they'll look with just a bit of effort that requires little more skill than running a vacuum. Rent a machine at your local home improvement box store for about $30.

(RE/MAX Blog)- An attractive outdoor space, even if it’s just big enough to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or evening cocktail, can be a major selling point for potential buyers. Here are a few suggestions for maximizing your outdoor living space.

1. Floor it.
If you have a small outdoor area, it won’t break the bank to invest in higher quality tiles or stones. Snap-in deck tiles are another option for adding a touch of class.

2. Envision clarity.
When it comes to tables, go for glass-topped: It will help create the illusion of a larger space.

4. Watch your back.
Chairs and benches with more open backs don’t interrupt sight lines as much. They’ll keep your space feeling open, and looking larger.

5. Focus.
Creating a focal point in a small space adds visual interest. A simple piece of garden art, a small flowering tree or a tiny water feature in a corner can add style and distract buyers from focusing on square footage.

6. Scale down.
The world’s largest outdoor chaise lounge may be a napper’s dream, but it won’t do much to help your patio or deck. Choose outdoor furniture scaled to set off your space, not smother it. You can even find fire pits in smaller sizes.

7. Get vertical.
Wall gardens help add green without sacrificing space. Wall art made from succulent plants is another low-maintenance option for adding foliage, and drawing attention to the edges of your space, which helps visually enlarge it.

8. Don’t hide the grill.
A clean barbecue can help buyers imagine their own outdoor meals. Unless you have a grill or smoker large enough to hold the entire pig, or if your grill is in disrepair, keep it out.

Looking for a home with a nice backyard where you can gather with family and friends? Start your search today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- When you hire a real estate agent to help buy or sell a home, they can help free up time you would otherwise spend on sorting through listings, scheduling showings, or trying to figure out paperwork. You might even have time to focus on the fun parts of moving, such as:

1. Building a Pinterest board of décor inspiration

Don't have a particular design style in mind? No problem. Check out the RE/MAX Pinterest page for ideas.

2. Clearing out the clutter with a yard sale

Remember, each thing you sell is one less thing you'll have to pack – and unpack. Here are some top yard sale tips.

3. Planning your housewarming party

You'll want to show off the new place – especially after you've made it Pinterest perfect. Put together a Facebook event and start thinking about party favors to thank friends who helped you move in.

4. Bargain shopping for furniture

There are plenty of options for you to furnish your new nest without breaking the bank. Here are six places to find furniture within your budget.

Looking for a new home? Start your search today.