(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.

Congratulations to the ninety-four RE/MAX Realty Group Agents who will be recognized during the SMAR Awards Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

The ceremony, which will be held at 6:00 pm at the Greater Waldorf Jaycee’s, recognizes agents and teams who have accomplished a specific volume of business throughout the year.

Below is our full list of the RE/MAX Realty Group 2016 SMAR Award Winners.

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

(RE/MAX Blog) - Thinking of selling your home on your own? Online listing sites may lure you into thinking that the process is simple. Take a few photos, buy a "For Sale" sign and wait for buyers, right? But the process is much more complicated than that. If you're considering selling your home on your own, here are a few sure signs you should call a professional real estate agent.

1. You're not sure what your home is worth

Calculating the right price for your home is an art and a science. Price your home too high, and it can grow stale, sitting on the market. Price it too low, and you could leave money on the table. Agents have the most current information about how much comparable homes in your neighborhood sold for and how long they were on the market. Agents use their deep knowledge of local and national market factors and the nuances of your particular home to calculate the right price.

2. You're losing sleep because this sale will be the biggest financial transaction of your life

Rest easier with an agent - research finds you'll make more money. According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical FSBO (for sale by owner) home sold for $185,000 in 2015, compared to $240,000 for agent-assisted home sales.

3. You can't decide whether or not to renovate your 1980's-era chrome and mirrored dining room before listing

Your favorite HGTV host may say buyers love the 80s, but is that what home shoppers in your area are looking for? An agent knows which features and design styles are selling now in your area, the details of competing homes in your neighborhood and the relative value of different renovation projects.

4. You think "staging" refers only to Broadway musicals

An agent knows how to best show off your home's features. He or she can provide tips for basic de-cluttering and furniture rearranging. Your agent may also have a great referral for a staging pro.

Begin the process of finding out what your home is worth.

Congratulations to the ninety-four RE/MAX Realty Group Agents who will be recognized during the SMAR Awards Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

The ceremony, which will be held at 6:00 pm at the Greater Waldorf Jaycee’s, recognizes agents and teams who have accomplished a specific volume of business throughout the year.

Below is our full list of the RE/MAX Realty Group 2016 SMAR Award Winners.

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

Have you ever missed out on a training class, seminar or workshop you really wanted to attend? Maybe you thought the seminar or class could help give you the knowledge to advance in your career and build a successful business. Even worse, you will never know if the information presented during that class or seminar would have been of any help because there isn't any record of it!

Here at RE/MAX Realty Group/100, we understand the challenges real estate agents encounter. In fact, our Broker/Owner was an agent before he purchased his first RE/MAX franchise with his former partner. He understands that finding time to attend a class in office may be difficult, especially when working with unpredictable clients, title companies and lenders. This is why our Broker/Owner, Ken Crowley, insisted on the importance of offering our agents a way for them to join in on training without the travel. 

Since this January, our agents have had the ability to join in on training classes, meetings and events from the comfort of their own home through an online video and streaming platform. We also understand that the best time for some of us may not be the best time for all of us. Therefore, a recording of those classes are kept for a week and made available to agents to watch at their convenience.

RE/MAX Realty Group White Plains Manager Trish Nicely, who teaches the RE/MAX Trainee Program, hosted the first training class streamed live for agents and believes the new service is extremely beneficial.

“Being a Real Estate Agent is not a nine to five job. Real Estate Agents need to make themselves available for their clients 24/7,” said Nicely. “It can be difficult for agents to make it to far flung offices for class in a timely manner and this service eliminates that challenge."

The RE/MAX Trainee Program is an eight week training program that teaches brand new agents how to set goals, build their business, and set up systems to be able to maintain and expand their business to meet those goals. It covers the basics from start to finish-from showing homes to writing contracts.

Other training courses offered to agents with RE/MAX Realty Group/100 include the RE/ACT (Real Estate Agent Career Training) Program. This program consists of various courses that focus on lead generation, lead conversion, entrepreneurship, electronic marketing and more.

Want to learn more about joining our team? Contact your local RE/MAX Realty Group/100 office today. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Is the chaos on your countertop out of control? Here are a few tips to conquer the clutter.

1. Use it or move it
If you don't use a mixer, food processor, or other tool more than once a week, stash it in a cupboard. Counter space is precious real estate.

2. Wall-to-wall organization
Mount a rack on your wall for storing all those things that tend to pile up on your kitchen table and counters ­– like mail, to-do lists and receipts.

3. Look up
The space on top of your wall cabinets and fridge are great places for wire baskets that let you see the contents, or fabric bins that hide things from view.

4. What's behind Door #1?
Place over-the-door storage racks inside pantry doors to free up counter space.

5. Hang ten
Or even a dozen. Keep lightweight items such as aprons, oven mitts, large utensils and towels off counters by mounting wall hooks.

If all the organization in the world won't make you love your kitchen, it may be time to explore your options in a new home. Start your search today with RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Buying a new home is exciting – and a big deal. If you're searching for the perfect place, or you've already found it and are under contract, the next step in the process can feel more tedious: moving.

Moving can be stressful, a bit expensive and plenty chaotic. But with some planning, help from friends and a little organization, it doesn't have to be as hectic as you imagine. Here are some tips to take the stress out of your move:

1. Make a plan of attack – Whether you're moving across town or across the state lines, you'll probably want to rent a truck. Do you have willing helpers to assist in the move, or will you need to hire some help? If you're moving farther away, you'll probably want professional help. Figure out what your moving needs are, and ask friends or your real estate agent for references to a trusted mover. Also, stock up on boxes, packing tape, permanent markers and packing peanuts/bubble wrap.

2. Prioritize your packing – As you start packing your current home up, designate a few boxes for each room that you'll need quick access to. For example, you'll want to keep personal toiletries, shower curtains and liners, a first-aid kit and other necessities easily accessible for the bathroom. Label these boxes "Open Now" so you know which boxes are filled with the essentials – and which ones can wait until later.

3. Don't go it alone – Packing is a monumental task. Invite some friends or relatives over, buy some pizza and make it a packing party! Delegate the tasks you feel most comfortable entrusting others with, like packing up DVDs, books and other non-fragile items. A little help goes a long way to saving you some time – and sanity.

4. Don't take it all – If you realize you have 10 boxes of clothes and you haven't worn half of them in a few years, it's time to part ways. Create three piles: a "keep" pile, a "sell" pile and a "donate" pile. If time permits, hold a moving sale to unload some of the items you don't want anymore. Bonus: Selling items before you move gives you extra money that you can put toward moving expenses. Added bonus: You reduce the clutter.

5. Forward your mail – Believe it or not, people forget to do this all the time! It's easy to change your address with the U.S. Postal Service. Simply visit the USPS website, and in a few steps you're done!

6. Turn off your utilities – Check with your local utility providers, as well as other services (trash pickup, newspaper delivery, cable/Internet, phone), to inform them that you're moving. They'll need to know an exact date for your move so they can transition or cut off service. You don't want to be billed for charges after you move!

7. Change your address everywhere else – Contact your bank, credit card companies, healthcare providers, schools, etc. to give them your new address. Although your mail will be forwarded, you still want to update your contact information as soon as possible to avoid missing important bills or letters.

8. Be flexible – Closing day can be unpredictable, and sometimes there are delays. If you're scheduling movers or arranging for help, you might want to pick a day or two after closing to avoid a moving-day headache.

9. Consider hiring a professional house cleaner – Sellers don't necessarily leave their homes in sparkling condition when they leave. If time and budget permit, hire a house cleaner to make your new home move-in ready. It's one less thing for you to worry about!

Start the search for your new home.

GAITHERSBURG, MD–The 2017 housing market will present an array of new challenges to homebuyers and sellers currently looking to buy a new home or sell a home. Mortgage rates, which have increased over the last few months, are expected to continue to rise and the number of homes for sale in the Washington Metropolitan Area is expected to decrease, according to Ken Crowley, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group. Crowley said this will lead to a unique situation. While homebuyers may need to settle for a home due to the lack of inventory in the housing market, sellers will face their own set of challenges. They will need to place extra emphasis on their home’s appearance, condition and selling price.

“The rising mortgage rates and low inventory will be a major obstacle for homebuyers, especially those who start their search expecting to find their move-in ready dream home,” said Crowley. “Since homebuyers may not have the luxury of finding and purchasing their dream home, sellers will want to focus on the state of their home and asking price. A home in good condition and priced appropriately will sell in any housing market.”

For homebuyers concerned with the rising mortgage rates, there are options that may help offset the higher borrowing costs. For example, Crowley expects adjustable-rate mortgages to become more popular as rates increase.

Learn more about your options when buying or selling a home.

RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with offices located throughout Maryland and Northern Virginia. The brokerage has over 400 Realtors® and specializes in Residential and Commercial real estate. RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group is a proud supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® and other charities.