Southern Maryland Homes for Sale

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Friends and Fleas Kind of Day

It was a Friends and Fleas Kind of Day for a Sunday!

Okay, I call it Free Flea. I clean out my closets and drawers and cupboards this way. I invite friends over and I open up every storage area and point to what I have not used or no longer want.

It is a lot of fun to see the concept of what is one person's trash is another person's treasure live in action.

I have picked the extras and unused items that are in my home down to the bone.

Mosquito Gulch looks GREAT. My linen closets and clothes closets and kitchen cabinets and you name it all have law and order reestablished. Not to mention they are clean.

This sures helps with focus to have all the clutter gone. And I sure enjoy the squeals of delight when something I am not using at all will be very appreciated by one of my friends.

Riley Rover enjoyed all the guests. My guests enjoyed the homemade bread and the special Keurig coffee I served and I enjoyed lighting a fire under MOI to finish up the de clutter and Spring Clean Project. What a win on a COLD Sunday!

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

 

 

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You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

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One day you see NO product or store that is what you want, then the next day you SEE them all?

One day you see NO product or store that is what you want, then the next day you SEE them all????

This morning I was clueless where auto body shops are located in Southern Maryland. They were not on my radar.

I have a hinge that needs attention on my Jeep. Guess what? That means locate an Auto Body Shop.

I can now tell you where four are located within twenty minutes of my home.

I do not know which one I will select, but as you can guess, I called one of my clients in this business and got a referral.

I care about timeliness, price, transportation to and fro versus scheduled appointment, and all the what, when, how much and where type questions.

We are consumers, too, and it is interesting to watch ourselves select where and with whom to do business. Just like our prospective clients do every day.

Sometimes it is just about whom we are comfortable with doing business. It can be as simple at that. How about that?

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

How to get that crazy "live signature" !

I have been wondering how to do these live signatures on a blog and PRESTO here is a great post explaining it. These live signature catch my eye every time I see it so this goes on the to do list!

Via Kathy Schowe ~e-pro~ La Quinta, California (The Lori Bowers Group, La Quinta California):

 

 

I was lucky enough to be featured last week with a blog I wrote about 12 Awesome Ideas for your Real Estate Blog or Website. I received more comments than ever along with many questions about some of the gadgets and widgets on my blog.  So I wrote a blog about Let Me Google That for YOU! 

Another fun feature on my blog and I also use it as a signature for e-mails, is the "live signature".  It is very easy to create-- just visit:  mylivesignature.com and scroll through the different fonts to fine one that suits you.  You can create a "static" signature for free.  If you want the "animated" version like I have... you pay a one-time fee (about $20) to create the html code.  

Once you have created your live signature, you can copy and paste the html code into the signature setting in your blog or e-mail account.  Mylivesignature.com has FAQ's to answer your questions.  And I am happy to help if you need it!

      If you are looking for a great real estate agent in the Palm Springs area,  

  Let me GOOGLE one for you!

                                                              

 

                                               

Kathy Schowe   760.333.8886               

     Visit:          schoweproperties.com & livethedesertlife.com                 

                                                               

The Lori Bowers Group  La Quinta, California

 

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

Should You Rent Your DC Home That Just Won't Sell?

I often get this question as a Southern Maryland agent, but there are not quite as many hoops to go through as outlined here in the DC area. The main points would be wear and tear, showing problems, late payments, surplus inventory and the loss of use of the money to invest elsewhere.

Via Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors):

Should You Rent Your DC Home That Just Won't Sell? 

It's pretty common for sellers to respond to no or low offers by saying, "If we can't get what we want for our home, we'll just rent it out!"

Whoa!  Just a second!

It might sound like a good idea, but there are some issues to consider before you rent your Washington, DC home instead of selling it:

  • You must jump through a few hoops with the DC government to obtain a Businsess License, and then you must properly register your home with them as a rental property.  I have friends who have done this and said the process is daunting.
  • Our landlord tenant laws make it very, very difficult to evict tenants.  Even if they stopped paying rent months ago, you'll need a good "Kick 'Em Out" lawyer.  And if you get into landlord tenant court and your deadbeats actually show up with the rent, they get to stay.  So you can begin the process all over when they lapse into deadbeat status the next month.
  • Sometimes you have to actually give them back their rent deposit, even if you are successful at evicting them for non-payment of rent.
  • If you have not been impeccible about doing the proper filing paperwork with the DC government, they may find in favor of the deadbeat tenants, letting them stay until you straighten out the papers and re-file your eviction.
  • Tenants won't take care of the house the same way you would, and you might return to find your new kitchen cabinets banged up, your hardwoods showing signs of dog paws, and your gorgeous Jacuzzi full of scum.  I had one listing that had been rented by a group of "responsible" graduate students at a very prestigious university.  Their pet goat had actually eaten the antique stair railings.
  • When it does become time to sell, the tenants can delay the sale - I saw one guy hold up his condo's sale for over two years while prices dropped to the point that he could actually afford the place!  Tenants get the right of first refusal, and again, the paperwork is daunting.  And one flaw could cost you another six months of delay.
  • Tenants living in a home that is for sale can greatly complicate showing instructions, allowing agents and buyers in only during restricted hours, with tons of notice, and often with the tenants present to ensure the buyers don't steal their stuff.  If you think an owner can be a turn off showing the buyers every little improvement they've made, the tenant will gleefully point out every flaw in the house!
  • Because the sale of a tenant-owned property can be so complicated in The District, many agents try to avoid showing them at all.  This will reduce the size of your buyer pool pretty drastically.
  • Doing a credit check before you rent to a tenant is crucial, but keep in mind that landlord abuse does not often show up on a credit report, as landlords do not often report it to the credit monitoring agencies. 
  • Once the lease expires, you can't just ask them to move, as there are very few grounds for getting a tenant out.  Lease expiration isn't one of them.

Yes, it's true that if you get good tenants and the prices are higher when they decide to move out, you might be a bit ahead of the game.  And in that case, you can count your blessings.

But you really can't be certain that in the end, you will have any blessings to count!

If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help!  Call, email or text me at:

housepat@mac.com

202 549-5167

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

 

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

The Reasons I like my NEW AT&T Bluetooth Cordless Phone System

The Reasons I like my NEW AT&T Bluetooth Cordless Phone System are growing!

The main reason I got it was because it is Bluetooth. I saw it in Walmart, saw the word Bluetooth, and then grasped what this meant. My incoming cell phone calls can now be picked up on my home phone system. In other words, the cell can be on the counter and I can hear an pick up any of the handsets in the home to converse.

Shazam!

Since I am pre ordering the iphone through Verizon on Feb 3, this got my attention and how!

The second reason I like the new AR&T phones is because they are much lighter and smaller and manageable than my old cordless phones. More reasons? I can have up to twelve handsets in the house. It is dual line. It is easy to hear and the buttons are BIG. It is intuitive. The instructions are easy to understand. I can even toss the handset in my pocket with an earphone and do walk laps around the porch and listen while I walk and talk. I even like the easy to use mute control and volume control.

I am very pleased with this new upgrade and cannot wait to experiment with receiving iPHONE calls on this house system. This is one Realtor who is counting the days until I rreceive the Verizon iPHONE in Southern Maryland.

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

My K Cup Taste Test in lieu of Starbucks!

My K Cup Taste Test in lieu of Starbucks! Just in the nick of time, I bought a Keurig to experiment with different coffee this winter. There's snow and more snow in Southern Maryland with more to come, so this means the Jeep stays put and does not go anywhere during the inclement weather.

So what do I do about the Starbucks withdrawal? Experiment with the Keurig! I tried Caribou and Nantucket today. I love Butter Brickle or Butter something. I also picked up some flavored creamers for the storm. One has raspberry and chocolate. Another has caramel. It's been fun to do all this experimenting.

Next challenge for the Southern Maryland Realtor Barista? I have to read the directions for my frappe maker and the Mr. Coffee Latte maker. Not to mention read the instrcutions on the Tassimo. Yep, had to try that, too.

So, let it snow, let it snow, I have lots of fun beverages that will make me glow in all the Southern Maryland SNOW.

Did I mention I have a Starbucks mug that I leave on the Keurig? It makes me chuckle.

You'll Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100, for all your Southern Maryland Real Estate Services. Visit www.GoldenResults.com for more information.

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

The socks are sorted in Southern Maryland...

The socks are sorted in Southern Maryland... Okay, this is my way of saying I have restored some law and order around Mosquito Gulch. I have cleaned and straightened and de cluttered and moved and pitched and donated and just plain gotten control of the mess. It looks and feels great. Not to mention I can save time getting ready in the morning because all my footies are paired up.

There was a sock situation in Southern Maryland. The guilty party, who may look very innocent in this photo, likes to steal socks. If I set a pair down to put on my tootsies, by the time I look around to grab them one for sure is gone. If that is not bad enough, when I do get a pair installed, for lack of a better word, then Riley Rover considers it fun and games time and proceeds to play tug of war with my socks while they are still on my feet. I cannot win. So I have socks with holes, missing socks, mismatched socks, and a general sock mess. Until today. I had two pillowcases full of mismatched socks that have gone through a pairing worthy of Noah's Ark.

My next project is paperwork and more paperwork. Then it is get up and running on a new database system because of my switch in a few weeks to the iphone. You work on a databse and the next thing you know you get some sales. Funny how things all tie together.

You'll Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100, for all your Southern Maryland Real Estate Services. Visit www.GoldenResults.com for more information.

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

 

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

I was so flattered when Fernando Herboso from Active Rain called today....

I was so flattered when Fernando Herboso from Active Rain called today. Actually, I was floored. I was snow deep in Southern Maryland cleaning and straightening drawers so I could move onward to a huge paperwork project this weekend. That's a great snow project. I certainly didn't expect an interesting call from an Active Rain Blogger as the snow was falling!

Anyway, Fernando Herboso called to thank me for the extensive series I wrote about the iPAD and to also thank me for saving him lots of time getting up and rolling on his new iPAD. That is the exact reason I did the series. I figured by the time people started asking my what and how I did things on the PAD, I would have forgotten all the steps or have been too swamped with Spring Sales to explain it all properly. I was tickled pink the series I wrote before Christmas helped someone.

I was also amazed that a Maryland Active Rain ROCK STAR ( he's Number UNO in the state and I am an upcoming Number Seven due to EXTREME persistence) called me. I knew immediately who he was because he had left a couple of comments for me the last few months and I had seen him at Rain Camp this past Spring.

I like the saying about how your children are watching you, i.e. the parents,  and learning from you all along. It goes to say, you never know who you are helping or who is watching you and sometimes it ends up being one great big compliment. Thanks, Fernando, I must say that you made my day!

Retrieve Golden Results with Cheryl Ritchie, RE/MAX 100

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

What's Your Sleep At Night Price?

I call it the no tears price. I like this sleep at night price concept, too. There has to be no tears, no regrets, no looking back. Nada. You get this one chance. Follow your heart. If this is the home you really want, demonstrate it with a responsible offer based on the market price and stats.

Via Cece Blase (Paragon Real Estate Group):

We are back to multiple offers on the good stuff in San Francisco. Good news for sellers. Trickier news for buyers, who need to deal emotionally with a market that is (for the time being) tipping against their favor. They are also left in a dilemma over what to pay for a home where they may be competing against other offers.

I've generally represented buyers more often than sellers. This may be changing-- it looks like I have some sweet listings coming on this year in all shapes, sizes and prices. When working with buyers, I tend to offer my clients good odds when they need to figure out where to come in on a multiple offer situation. I also deliver peace of mind when they don't get it, because I always recommend the price where they will be comfortable whether they get it or not.

I call that price their 'sleep at night' price. This is the number where, if they get the home, they won't lose sleep with worry over whether they overpaid. It's also the number where if they don't get the home, they won't regret having not offered more.

Yesterday I had a second showing on a home that is likely to receive at least two other offers. We were there yesterday evening for an hour examining every nook and cranny. I gave them the disclosure package, explained the mechanics of an offer (including a thorough review of our local purchase contract) Then I sent them home to 'sleep on it.'

Today they decide whether they want the home. If they do, they will likely know in their hearts how high they are willing to jump. Stay tuned on how whether they decide to make a move, and if so, whether they get the home. One thing that is certain about the story, though, is that the concept of the 'sleep at night' price will win them peace of mind either way.

Dreaming of San Francisco? Cece Blase offers local Advice to San Francisco Buyers, Sellers and Owners-- and feeds the dreams of those who wish they could live in Tony Bennet's 'City by the Bay.' Call or email at 415-577-0809 or email at cblase@paragon-re.com. www.ceceblase.com

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults

Scent of your Blog

I love this post. It is so true. Riley Rover sniffs me from one end to the other when I get home. I figure he knows if I have stopped for a snack without him. Or if another dog has gotten near me. Or if I have been by Nana and Grandpops whom he adores.

Via Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL. FunCoast Realty, 386-405-4408:

Did you ever watch how a dog is sniffing every piece of turf? All concentration, all attention… The dog is getting information from this scent and we can only imagine how much information they are capable to get and digest…

When people (both professionals and customers) read our blog, it provides a lot of information to a curious mind, and not only from the content.

Sniffing DogYes, we will pay attention to visuals, font, colors, layout… But we will also derive information about the blogger. Even the same fonts, colors, layouts tell us something. We notice if it is a hastily put together quickie or a well thought and prepared post.

We can be drawn by passion, sincerity... appalled by sloppiness, poor grammar, careless typos. We can sense it as cheesy, or classy, intense, or just water…

We feel when someone is trying to impress us, and we sense when dealing with impersonators, even often we can't describe how we know that.

Writing exposes a lot. It is far beyond  just content. It exposes us, the bloggers. People derive a lot from reading our blogs. They are either drawn to them and become our followers, or just scroll to someone else. Deep in their heart they know that we all work with the same properties. Properties are given. What is not given? A personality of the agent, their traits that can either attract or push away.

They will eventually list a home. When they figure with whom.

They will eventually buy a home. When they figure with whom.

picture of Jon ZolskyDo you know the scent of your blog? 

* Image is courtesy of Leonid Mamchenkov via Flickr.com

_________________________________________________________________________________


You'll "Retrieve Golden Results" with my No Bones About It FREE and EASY Real Estate Tools!

Sign up for your Doggone Special Custom Real Estate Reports OR Custom Neighborhood Reports  

www.GoldenResults.net ORCall Direct 301-855-2010 OR Main 301-855-8600 X 2010

 
OR Visit my Digital Business Card at www.Follr.me/GoldenResults
 

When you've found Golden Results, go ahead and "Cher" (Share) your Golden (SOLD) Results

Or Visit my "Golden Results" Social Networking Sites

RSS Feed http://twitter.com/GoldenResults http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=23151495&trk=tab_pro http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/goldenresults/reviews/ http://www.facebook.com/goldenresults http://delicious.com/goldenresults http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenresults http://www.google.com/profiles/RetrieveGoldenResults