Burning Up Your Home's Equity, One Cigarette At A Time Besides the healthy risks to smoking, lighting up can be hazardous your home's equity as well. Got a home to sell in Pineville La that has been smoked in? Here are some steps to help reduce the damage. Stop smoking inside ASAP-- This means RIGHT NOW, 100% of the time. Even when it is cold outside, go outside to enjoy that smooth tobacco flavor. "Containing" the smoke in one room is about as effective as "low-Tar" cigarettes. Remember them? Replace or Remove All drapes and bedding-- That fabric has served as a "smoke sponge" the last twenty years. And grandma's couch? Better put it to the curb as well... Allow the house to breathe-- Weather permitting, open all windows and doors every day. Paint interior walls--Ever removed a paintin... 04/12/2013

The Lender Pre-Approval Letter is the Ticket To Your Dream Home-- "Hi Doug, we would like to look at your listing on Hill Street. Can You meet us there are 3pm?" If I only had a penny for every consumer call that started this way... Such a call is only natural, considering that agents advertise houses to the public, not procedure. Let's take a minute to learn why it is important to speak with a lender before searching for your new home. Buying a house has changed greatly in the last few years-- Buying a home 5-10 years ago meant well, finding a home to purchase. Financing was far more relaxed. These days lenders take a close look at your purchasing power. It's good practice to speak with a lender early on, just in case there are some "credit wrinkles" that require ironing... Online Mort... 04/05/2013

Purchasing A Home in Alexandria La--The Buyer Consultation Ready to buy a home in Alexandria La? If so, jump on my local website Alexandria Homes and explore what properties are available in our market. Find a few that you like? Then it is time for the buyer consultation. Let's examine what happens at this "meeting of the minds". We will go over your bank financing. Not approved for a loan? I will reccomend a few LOCAL lenders. I will help you develope your "Must"--things that are deal breakers, and "Want" features that would be nice lists. Regardless of price range, compromise is usually necessary. There is no perfect house. I will share my "top three" properties in your given price range! We will examine recent "Sold" properties in your area/ price range. This helps the buyer understa... 03/24/2013

Advice For AR Newbies-Avoid Post Feature Paralysis --  My last ActiveRain post has received 137 comments, 21 re-blogs, and 8,450 clicks. People who I don't know are providing a virtual pat on the back and congratulating me on a job well done. Sounds nice, right? But how does one follow a gold star laced featured post? In my early days in the rain a featured post would have been a mixed blessing. Sure, the recognition is great, but how to follow such success? Won't my next sub-par post allow the readers to "see right through me"? If my next post is NOT featured doesn't this prove I am a fraud? In a word, no.  How do you follow a featured post? Simple, just write another post. My follow-up post concerned a piece of land I put under contract. If the stars align, it will reach 50 clicks jus... 03/14/2013

West Pointe Subdivision Homes In Alexandria LA 6422 Bayou Crossing Alexandria LA 71303 - Custom built 3BR/2.5BA French Provincial home in one of Alexandria's premier areas called West Pointe Subdivision located at the end of Jackson St Extension. Superb open floor plan for entertaining, high ceilings,granite counter tops,wood and ceramic flooring plus many more custom features. West Pointe Subdivision Homes In Alexandria Louisiana                                         03/10/2013

We Countered Our Way Out Of A Deal A while back I was blessed with a "hot" listing. Great location, popular schools zones, and smart updates. All this while priced smack in the middle of Alexandria's hottest price range. What could possibly go wrong? Sure enough, an offer came in within days of the listing. The offer was strong (in fact, better than the owner's desired net) and so I was confident when presenting the deal. Good thing I didn't spend that commission check on the way over... It seems my clients had discussed the deal with their friend in Wyoming. "Never take the first offer unless it's full price, you have to give the house time to sell". With a straight face and firm eye contact I explained to them the error in that logic. But wouldn't you know it, they listened to their f... 03/06/2013

Updated 3 Bedroom Home For Sale in Alexandria La--2316 Orange Street    Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994, your Alexandria, La real estate authority. What to see how 2316 Orange Street compares to the competition? Click 3 Bedroom Homes For Sale in Alexandria La to search similar properties. Why 2316 Orange Street Located in the Alexandria La Garden District, this home features all the charm that comes with an older home. Worried about the "drama" that can come with such a property? Relax, this home features newer appliances, Wiring, plumbing, and A/C in 2012. Enjoy the charms of yesterday with the conveniences of today! Historic District Home Overview Maps Photos $125,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 1,344 sqft Location 2316 Orange StreetAlexandria... 03/05/2013

A Home Inspection Is Like A Candy Store, You Can't Have Everything-- You can't blame the first time buyer for trying. After paying 300-400 bucks for a home inspection, they want to get their money back by way of repairs. But in hot real estate market, buyers need to be careful when it comes to repair demands. Here some things to consider when completing an inspection response. Did I know about the defect before the inspection-- The purpose of an inspection is to uncover hidden defects. That 30 year old carpet? Take it into consideration when submitting your offer. Can I fix this myself--Are you a plumber by trade? Then perhaps take one for the team and unclog the sink yourself. Is the item a repair or an upgrade-- Asking for GFI outlets in a 40 year old home would be an upgrade, not a r... 02/28/2013

Are you Still on Pace To Meet Your 2013 Goals? Please excuse the off-topic photo. I have boiled crawfish on the mind. We had a delightful batch last night. Somewhere between  pounds 3-4 I thought about how reliable crawfish season is.  Early on the crustations are small and HYPER expensive (think 6 bucks a pound). As the season progresses they get large and the price usually drops to under 3 dollars a pound. March and April are great months in Louisiana for this reason alone.  Real estate is the same. Though markets fluctuate, there is an ebb and flow to the year. Currently I am two closings behind my pace. While this does not put me behind the proverbial eight-ball, I do need to be mindful.  Spring should be strong, provided I have inventory to sell. My market has shifted squarely to t... 02/24/2013

ActiveRain Members Should Be Exempt From State CE Requirements-- In 2012 I had to take twelve hours of state approved continuing education courses. During that same time frame I also earned roughly 150,000 points on ActiveRain. Let's see which one advanced my professionalism the most... State CE Credit In this corner we have state mandated training. For 75 bucks I enrolled in  "12" hours of training. Of course for the training to take 12 full hours the student could be an extra on The Walking Dead. So what did I learn? Contracts need to be signed--Really? I have been doing "hand-shake" gentleman's agreements until now. Guess I better put those deals in writing. I cannot spend a client's escrow deposit--Those funds must go in an escrow account. Thankfully I keep client funds in my piggy ... 02/22/2013

Preparing Your Alexandria La Home for Inspection-- After what was (hopefully) a brief time on the market, your Alexandria La home is under contract. Time to dance your way to the closing table? Not so fast! Let's take a look at how to prepare your home for the professional inspection.   Make sure all utilities are on-- In Louisiana, it is the seller's responsibility to have ALL utilities turned on for inspections. Nothing is worse than having to bring the inspector back out because you "forgot" to turn the gas on. Keep the house clean and all areas accessible-- Once a seller stacked boxes in the carport, thereby blocking the attic entrance. The seller had to move the debris and pay the inspector to return to the home. Wouldn't you know it, there were all sorts of issues in the attic :) ... 02/22/2013

In This Market Beware The Low ball Offer 2009 it is not. Combine looooow interest rates and increased economic confidence means a brisk housing market. The lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Nonexistent. Cold weather giving the market the blues? Not in 2013!  Case in point...My "new listing" from Friday afternoon was under contract before Sunday brunch. The home my sellers wrote an offer on? Multiple showings, even as we were writing our offer. Frankly this market reminds me of peak late Spring/ early Summer season. Phone starts ringing at 745am and stops 13 hours later. And you still want to write a crazy- low ball offer? What makes you think it will even be entertained? No, the seller does not HAVE to counter your offer. Odds are your dream home is the target of another buyer's ... 02/17/2013

Homes For Sale in Alexandria La-104 Magnolia Ridge Drive Broker's Open Join me Wednesday February 12, 2013 from 11am-1pm to tour this great Alexandria La home. This event is for real estate agents only, but feel free to call for a private tour before or after. This home is being showcased with other fine properties in the area. Since four local brokerages are represented, we are expecting a strong turnout. Bring your appetite as there will be some great food! Large Home Near Kincaid Lake Overview Maps Photos $289,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms3 Bathrooms1 UnitInterior: 2,421 sqftLot: 0.75 acre(s) Location 104 Magnolia RidgeBoyce, LA 71409USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Doug Rogers Century 21 Millenni... 02/12/2013

Preparing Your Alexandria La Home For Appraisal Thanks to aggressive marketing and spot on pricing, you found a buyer in less than 90 days. With the exception of a few minor repairs, the home inspection was a non-event. Time to sip champagne on the way to closing? Not so fast, your home must still pass an appraisal. What is a home appraisal? The appraisal is designed to protect the LENDER'S interest in the transaction. Based on what has recently sold in your area, the appraiser will decide if 1) the negotiated price is at least as much as the transaction price and 2) The home is in acceptable condition (terms vary with loan type). How should the seller prepare his/her Alexandria La home for Appraisal? Clean from top to bottom--The home should be JUST as clean as the first day it was on ... 02/11/2013

Alexandria La Housing Report-Early 2013 The cold January weather has not put a damper on Alexandria La home buyers. Combine this with low interest rates, and it's no wonder that the housing market remains strong. Let's examine how the Alexandria La real estate market is performing. Homes For Sale in Alexandria La As of February 10, there are 180 homes for sale in the 65k-299k price range. Within this inventory there are starter homes, bungalows, ranch, and contemporary style homes. Homes in Alexandria La That Have Sold In the past 90 days, 68 homes have sold in Alexandria La. With an average sales price of 169,000 dollars these home remain affordable for most consumers. How long will it take my Alexandria La home to sell? Every home is unique, but on average home are finding buyers in 1... 02/10/2013

4 Bedroom Homes For Sale in Alexandria La--104 Magnolia Ridge Drive-- Searching for the perfect 4 bedroom home for sale in Alexandria La? If so 104 Magnolia Ridge Drive should be on your "must see right now" list. With large rooms, a gourmet kitchen, and MASSIVE bonus room, this home offers a lot for the price. Want to see how 104 Magnolia stacks up to the competition? Search 4 bedroom Alexandria La homes for sale to explore the competition. Are Four Bedroom Homes A Good Investment Think about it, when is the last time you heard someone complain about having too much space? According to the Central Louisiana MLS, in the past year 214 4 bedroom homes have been sold. With an average price of 219,821 these homes represent the higher end of our market. Of course no human can predict the fut... 02/06/2013

  Another Alexandria La Garden District Home closed-2308 Marye Street  Today my buyers closed on one of my Alexandria La Garden District listings. 2308 Marye Street had been recently updated inside and out. The buyers were drawn to the refinished hardwood floors, updated kitchen, and period charm. And don't expect landscaping this lush in new construction! What to see similar homes for sale? Search Alexandria Homes For Sale to research our local market. Take a video tour of 2308 Marye Street 02/06/2013

Single Story Homes For Sale in Alexandria La-- Call Doug Rogers (318) 613-1994, your Alexandria La real estate specialist. Ready to see what homes are available this moment? Search Single Story Homes For Sale to explore the Central Louisiana MLS. Ready to tour a single story home for sale in Alexandria Louisiana? 2337 Myrtle has been updated inside and out. As you can imagine, this home sold quickly. Contact me today to tour similar properties.   02/05/2013

Dear Century 21, Please Stop Wasting Money On Super Bowl Ads For the second year in a row, my beloved franchise has dumped a truckload of money into Super Bowl advertising. Why you ask? To create brand awareness and get more people to use C 21 agents of course! But just like any other form of advertising, we must ask if this medium provides a positive return on investment. Here are my concerns The enormous costs of the commercial-- While exact costs are not public, 3-4 MILLION dollars is seen as average. Too much competition-- Commercials occur in groups. You are one Betty White Tackle or cute Polar Bear away from getting lost in the crowd. An uncertain message-- According to the commercial, as a C21 agent I can 1) save marriages 2) improve in-law relations 3) perform the Heimlich-maneu... 02/03/2013

Introducing The Redneck Bidet-- Some days I love my job. Sure, there are days when I have to seek out the humor, but then there are times like this when the humor finds me! I found this beauty while previewing a home today in Pineville.  No, I am not stretching this from the faucet. This spray nozzle is installed where the toilet paper holder should be. My guess is the homeowner did this to help the environment. Why buy disposable toilet paper when you can install a kitchen sprayer? And a nozzle that big will cover a lot of ground. Sure it's not much for pinpoint accuracy, nor would I want to put my hands anywhere near that handle.  And checkout the size of that scented candle. Combine this with the GIANT BBQ PIT in the backyard, and this poor nozzle had his work cut out for him. Can't ... 02/01/2013