Does the antenna boost the satellite signal, or does the satellite boost the antenna signal? Or - is this how you get HDTV in the country? This is just one of the many bizzarre things I see on a daily basis when I secure homes under foreclosure.  Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrath TeamColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/20/2007

We have a listing. A GREAT LISTING. 4 BR. Almost 2 acres, yet close to shopping, schools, minutes from the highway for commuters (we are just outside of DC). It is truly unique in that it is such a large wooded lot so close to town, and we have marketed it that way.We have advertised this thing everywhere. Print. Internet. Local Paper. Magazines. The photos are great. Had an open house. Had a brokers open. Got feedback and the client immediately reacted positvely to the feedback and made some changes. The house is super clean and not cluttered. Retired couple, no kids at home.Everything about this house says it should sell, but we got nothin'.It was, however, built in 1976, so it is a little long in the tooth. It has been completelly refurbished inside and out. Original owner.How much d... 11/20/2007

I list the property. Do all the marketing. It gets shown. A lot. I get a contract. I immediately present it to my client. They immediately make a counter-offer - a fair one. I immediately deliver it to the buyers agent.During the period between when I get the counter-offer from my client, and when I deliver it to the buyers agent - I get another offer. I immediately present it to my client.Yes - I am multi-tasking here. Who among us does not. For me, immediately means immediately. Not 2-3 hours later.Anyway - When I deliver the counter-offer to the buyers agent, I disclose, as agreed upon both in the listing agreement and verbally (as a back up) with my client, that there is another offer, and it might be a good idea to not sit on this.And suddenly, nothing happens. No call. No email. S... 11/19/2007

I'm not a big shopper...in fact, I pretty much hate it.  I don't mind window shopping but the idea of having to actually buy anything makes me cringe.  I do it reluctantly, at best.  But last Friday, I called my friend (and Stager, Margie Keller) to come out with me for lunch and a day of window shopping in Fredericksburg.   One of Margie's favorite little shops is Moore Unique Designs on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg.  The store is going to be moving to a new location down on William Street in February and have much of their merchandise discounted.  If you happen to find yourself shopping in the "Burg" during the holidays, don't forget to stop in to this lovely shop.  It offers just about anything you'd need to for the hard to shop for recipient.      BEWARE OF THE KILLER WATC... 11/19/2007

I'm interested in the winterization process. I know we get houses wintererized, but what is the de-winterization process? Is it necessary, or is it merely a matter of turning on the water and checking for leaks?If anyone out there is familiar with this process, some info would be greatly appreciated.Thanks Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/18/2007

The article titled "Huge waterpark resort planned for Celebrate Va. in Fredericksburg"  in the Free Lance Star today really caught my attention. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/112007/11162007/334105 This is supposed to bring 1000 jobs to the area.  Yes, that will be good but what will the pay scale for these jobs be?What about traffic?  Route 3 traffic is horrendous already...I know I live there.What about the new conference center already in Central Park?  The developers have already asked the city to help bail them out.  I am sure som good may come of this and will help revenue...But is the small city of Fredericksburg ready for this?Will the city residents even be able to enjoy the waterpark, or will it be like others in the state where you have to be a guest of the resort t... 11/16/2007

Truthfully, there are not too many people involved in the real estate industry here in Fredericksburg VA that have been around much longer than I.  However, one of them is William M. Scaife, Jr.  I say involved but that is not quite true.  Bill Scaife retired from the law this year.  In so doing he sold the building in which he had practiced (for more than 50 years) to my new landlord.  Yes, I had rented office space (for Ed DeChristopher, Inc.) from Bill Scaife for many years.This morning he came up to my office and asked me to walk over to the window in my office that overlooks a small parking lot.  On my way over I asked "What have you done, bought a new car?"  That was really a shot in the dark.  Bill and Sylvia Scaife have been driving the same cars for at least 20 years.  "Just lo... 11/16/2007

This Thanksgiving when you are concentrating on what you are thankful for think outside the box.  Most of us are thankful for our family, friends, clients, teachers etc.  What about those who never get much thanks...How about the cart pushers at the local shopping center, the custodians who keep our buildings clean, the trash collectors?  There are so many more...Please post a comment of who you think deserves some thanks.  It will be a reminder to all of us as we "Give Thanks this Thanksgiving".  Now is a great time to "Pay it Forward" Now is a great time to get involved in your community.Now is a great time to Thank all of those who "serve" our Wonderful Country.Now is a great time to "Think Outside the Box"There are many people in Fredericksburg Va, who deserve "Thanks".  How about i... 11/16/2007

With so many foreclosures out there now, selling for so much less than some comps out there, my question is this.Do appraisers look any differently at foreclosures when doing appraisals? For instance, in my neighborhood of 400-550k homes, there is a new foreclosure listing for $299k. It is in really nice shape, no damage that a good cleaning would not take care of.I assume that when it sells for $275k, it will be a comp, and will affect the values of other homes in my neighborhood. I have had a couple of people say otherise, but a sale is a sale, and if it is comparable to other properties, then it is a comp, right? Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrath TeamColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"http://www.fredva.com/ 11/15/2007

When I began my real estate career here in the Fredericksburg VA area in 1989, it took me only a short time to realize that I had never seen so many split foyer homes in my life as I did after only a few months here. In particular, there were many of them in Spotsylvania County; more in fact than in the City of Fredericksburg or Stafford County. These are the three most densely populated areas in the region.Our family lived in different parts of the country and world prior to our moving here. New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Germany, Georgia, Panama. My mother's family was from New Brunswick Canada and we visited there many times.One of the very intersting parts of living in such geographically diverse locations is realizing that architectural style of homes varies between those reg... 11/15/2007

The Hugh Mercer Elementary School, in Fredericksburg VA second grade classes had a concert on Veterans Day.  My son, Benjamin DeGroff, was one of the wonderful singers.  The children did a wonderful job.  I can't say  the same for the camera woman.  Ben has been walking around the house for several days singing.  I must admit I YouTubed the Louis Armstrong version of What a Wonderful World  and have been singing right along with him.  I have never posted from You Tube so I hope this works! 11/15/2007

In a sales meeting today I heard a comment that I am still trying to get my mind around. I heard that banks will grade agents on BPO's. Basically - if you do a BPO and get the listing, you are graded on the percentage that it sells for in reference to your BPO price. But if the market is in a free fall, and the banks are dumping (see Stacy Magids very interesting blog from earlier this evening) then how can they grade the agent? Does anybody have any experience with this?Thanks The Wallace & McGrath TeamKevin McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/14/2007

With so many foreclosures out there now, selling for so much less than some comps out there, my question is this.Do appraisers look any differently at foreclosures when doing appraisals? For instance, in my neighborhood of 400-550k homes, there is a new foreclosure listing for $299k. It is in really nice shape, no damage that a good cleaning would not take care of.I assume that when it sells for $275k, it will be a comp, and will affect the values of other homes in my neighborhood. I have had a couple of people say otherise, but a sale is a sale, and if it is comparable to other properties, then it is a comp, right? Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrath TeamColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/14/2007

In a sales meeting today I heard a comment that I am still trying to get my mind around. I heard that banks will grade agents on BPO's. Basically - if you do a BPO and get the listing, you are graded on the percentage that it sells for in reference to your BPO price. But if the market is in a free fall, and the banks are dumping (see Stacy Magids very interesting blog from earlier this evening) then how can they grade the agent? Does anybody have any experience with this?Thanks The Wallace & McGrath TeamKevin McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/14/2007

So you are a brand new real estate agent. You got your license, you got your cape, you signed up with the broker of your choice, and you hit the street.But now what? How do you keep youself motivated in todays market? As you plod along, day after day, trying this, testing that, trying to build a sphere of influence in a market where buyers can often be few and far between, hiding in the shadows like ghosts, ready to dissapear in an instant once you spy them.As I sat in a sales meeting this morning, and I looked around the room, I was reminded how fortunate I was to land at Coldwell Banker Elite. Sure it is a great brokerage, but as anywhere, it is the people that make the difference. After spending a number of years working for a builder, I dove into real estate full time about a year a... 11/14/2007

RELO - A chance to make money - or a chance to spend money.Recently we got a client through a personal referral. During the listing presentation, the seller presented us with a RELO addendum from one of the big RELO companies. I won't name names for obvious reasons, but you know who you are, and your mother would be very ashamed of you. We put the listing on the MRIS, contact the RELO company and submitted to their littany of paperwork and reports that somewhat resemble a prostate exam. We aggressively marketed the home. 2 open houses. A brokers open. Lots of pictures on the internet. Color brochures. You name it, we did it. Unfortunately, it was just not a home that was bringing a lot of traffic or offers. Mostly price.Fast forward to the beginning of October. It is time for the client... 11/14/2007

I recently was fourtunate to get a fairly big block of REO business that is working out rather well so far. A very nice suppliment to our regualr business. One afternoon I was having a conversation with my broker about business in general, and when I described my good fortune, I happened to use the term "luck" in describing my good fortune.Without missing a beat, he said "But you have to put yourself in a position to be lucly."I have been thinking about this a lot lately, especially when I am in our office, which is sort of like a ghost town on some days. There are some agents in there, working it hard every day (my good friend Vince McKamy is a fine example), and then there are agents you rarely see. When you do see them, the tend to whine and groan about how "nothing is happening" or ... 11/14/2007

RELO - A chance to make money - or a chance to spend money.Recently we got a client through a personal referral. During the listing presentation, the seller presented us with a RELO addendum from one of the big RELO companies. I won't name names for obvious reasons, but you know who you are, and your mother would be very ashamed of you. We put the listing on the MRIS, contact the RELO company and submitted to their littany of paperwork and reports that somewhat resemble a prostate exam. We aggressively marketed the home. 2 open houses. A brokers open. Lots of pictures on the internet. Color brochures. You name it, we did it. Unfortunately, it was just not a home that was bringing a lot of traffic or offers. Mostly price.Fast forward to the beginning of October. It is time for the client... 11/13/2007

I recently was fourtunate to get a fairly big block of REO business that is working out rather well so far. A very nice suppliment to our regualr business. One afternoon I was having a conversation with my broker about business in general, and when I described my good fortune, I happened to use the term "luck" in describing my good fortune.Without missing a beat, he said "But you have to put yourself in a position to be lucly."I have been thinking about this a lot lately, especially when I am in our office, which is sort of like a ghost town on some days. There are some agents in there, working it hard every day (my good friend Vince McKamy is a fine example), and then there are agents you rarely see. When you do see them, the tend to whine and groan about how "nothing is happening" or ... 11/13/2007

Yes - It felt like I traveled back in time - back to those crazy days of 2004 & 2005. I listed a property on Friday night - it was shown 8-10 times over the weekend - and by Tuesday afternoon I had competing contracts.I also noticed a definite uptick in showings on many of my properties in the 250k to 350k range.This is a great business ! I hope many of you are have the same good fortune. The Wallace & McGrath TeamKevin McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/13/2007