Real Estate The Woda Way

What's Wrong With This Ad?

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 10:57:19 -0700

You can't take 45 years of real estate experience out of this girl, even though I'm more or less retired.I still work with former clients to sell their current homes, receive daily listing updates and scroll through the real estate ads in a free local paper while enjoying a bagel sandwich. This one jumped out at me today, and I'm sure that most Activerainers will see what caught my eye: WINTER RENTAL - move in TODAY at the xxxxxx apartments. Small Apt. at 57th St. Oceanside View. 2 BR, 1BA, furnished & all util. included. Job required, no pets, no smoking inside, & must be a low key single person who wants the apt by himself or herself so it will be a drama free winter for everyone involved. $700 a month, & sec. dep is $350. What's wrong with this ad? After decades of writing real estate ads, I have my own ideas of how to attract buyers or renters through print advertising. But I'll refrain from commenting based on that perspective. Here's the phrase that jumped out at me: "Must be a low key single person who wants the apt by himself or herself..." It doesn't appear that this ad was posted by a licensed real estate agent, but that does NOT excuse the author from following Federal Fair Housing Laws. A little devil on my shoulder said to cut it out and send it anonymously to the local HUD office, but the little voice on my other shoulder shouted, "BLOG POST TOPIC!" Many thanks to Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland and others that have continued to comment on some of my old blog posts from months and years ago. I may be tempted to make a comeback to blogging, if not to real estate. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

It's all about family

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 05:47:21 -0700

My goal on Wednesday: Prepare for a family gathering at my house over the weekend, including children, grandchildren, brothers, nephews, daughters and sisters-in-law. As bedtime approached, however, I realized that I was thinking more about my Activerain family. Activerain.com is still the screen that pops up in front of my face every time I turn on my computer, even though I've rarely posted lately. I do read a few posts every day and comment occasionally, and last week I was specifically looking for storm updates from my Activerain friends who were threatened by Hurricane Matthew. The first post that grabbed my eye on Thursday, however, was one by Steve Shatsky announcing that Karen Anne Stone had passed away. Karen Anne and I made it a point to get together for dinner when I was in the Dallas-Fort Worth area a few years ago. She was looking forward to her 65th birthday so that she would be eligible for Medicare, because she was uninsured and had health problems that she couldn't afford to address. After that conversation, I never took my health care for granted again and I've literally thought about her every single time I've gone to the doctor since that day. Then I scrolled down to see Margaret Rome's announcement of posting 3,000 blogs to Activerain. She puts me to shame, since I was ahead of her in Maryland rankings at one point, and she long ago left me far behind. For most of our friendship, we shared the title "Margaret in Maryland" - but that doesn't fit me any more, as I am now "Margaret in Delaware but still working with former clients and referrals in Maryland." LOL. TOM (The Other Margaret) and I do talk from time to time, but not often enough. The family gathering at my house over the weekend was a huge success, but I'm also glad that I stopped in to Activerain for a visit. It reminded me of how much I treasure the Activerain friendships formed over the past ten years. You taught me how to use technology in my business, you introduced me to many different areas of the country through posts about your markets, you shared with me your opinions, knowledge, and even personal lives. Thank you! The Activerain community truly is a second family.This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

To List or Not to List? That is the Question.

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 02:20:26 -0700

Have you ever walked out of a listing appointment with doubts? Doubts about the property? Perhaps those doubts are grounded in concerns about the property condition, location, or just general salability. Or maybe the property is outside your normal market and you're uncomfortable about your knowledge of the area. Doubts about the seller? Did you get the feeling from countless lengthy emails that this seller is going to be a real time-zapper? Or maybe you experienced bad vibes from the seller - and your instinct is to get out of there and never go back. I experienced a little bit of both yesterday - a property in the midst of renovations that may or may not be completed and a time-zapping seller with an inflated view of his property value. "Im sorry, I'm not the right agent for you" just doesn't come naturally to me. In fact, I don't remember any time in my long career when I actually turned down a listing. How about you? If you have walked away from a potential listing, what was your reason for doing so?~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ironically, I saved this blog to "draft" on Tuesday until I had time to upload an appropriate image. In the meantime, the seller emailed me to say they had chosen another agent. I have never been so relieved to NOT get a listing! But my time was not wasted... this experience did provide a blog topic and hopefully opened the door to some interesting stories about how YOU handled doubts about taking a listing. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

How to present six offers in two hours

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 01:15:56 -0700

How to present multiple offers and not risk a Fair Housing complaint. You probably thought I was planning to tell you how I presented six offers on one property yesterday in a 2-hour appointment, and walked away with a signed contract.Well, that too - but the Fair Housing element definitely comes into play.Crofton Real EstateIt all begins at the listing appointment...when you tell your sellers what to expect when an offer comes in on their property. I simply leave behind a little one-page flier that I created titled Anatomy of a Contract Presentation. One of things outlined in this flier is THE BIG SEVEN: Price Selling Subsidy (closing help) Net Proceeds (your bottom line) Financing (including the buyer's qualifications) Timing (settlement and occupancy dates) Inclusions/exclusions Contingencies, if any. Of course, there are other details to consider, but these are the bare bones of any offer - the factors that are most likely to impact the seller's decision on whether to accept, reject, or counter the offer.Selling a Crofton Home.Back to the topic at hand... presenting multiple offersOne of my listings went Active on MLS Thursday afternoon and had three offers by Friday night. Each of the buyer-agents made an emotional plea to me based on their clients' back story - military transferees living with 2 kids and a dog in one-room temporary quarters at their new duty station, is just one example. Each buyer loved the home and had their own compelling back story.Even the appearance that the sellers accepted, rejected, or countered an offer based on an emotional connection with one of the buyers could result in a Fair Housing claim down the road from one of the other buyers. I needed to protect them and myself from that possibility.That was achieved by using a different color folder for each offer and labeling a summary of THE BIG SEVEN for each contract with the color of folder rather than the name of the buyers or their agent/broker. By noon the next day, we had three more. Faced now with a dilemma of six contracts to present at one time, I decided to email the first three contract summaries to my sellers in advance and began to fill out three more for the additional offers. Multiple offersThe contract presentationBy the time we met on Sunday morning, the sellers had already reviewed the summaries for all six offers and they were able to provide their feedback to me on each offer. Based only on THE BIG SEVEN - objective criteria that did not involve the race, religion, nationality, etc. of the buyers - they quickly and easily designated two that they wanted to discuss.After a few minutes of conversation, it became clear that the deciding factors for these sellers were timing and the financing terms, not price - something they could clearly see in the six summary sheets. That decision made, five of the folders could be set aside in favor of the blue one, which contained the offer with terms most acceptable to my clients.It really was only necessary to go page by page through the contract they selected because nearly everything except THE BIG SEVEN is boilerplate. That, my friends, is how to present six offers on one property and walk away with a signed contract in two hours or less. P.S. The offers did not get better, as the later ones came in. I guess there is truth to #10 of my Common sense rules for home sellers - don't overlook the first offer because there is no guarantee of a better offer in the future.This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Baltimore Hits The Real Estate Lottery With Re8 Expo January 25th

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 23:46:29 -0800

Wow, I can't wait! Who else is going?Thanks for posting this, Margaret Rome. Baltimore Hits The Real Estate Lottery with Re8 Expo Monday January 25th We in Maryland hit the lottery, or so it seems, with Re8 Expo taking place January 25th. We are getting a group together to attend. Please let me know through this post, email, snail mail, phone call or smoke signal. Who remembers RainCamp when Lenn Harley hit One Million Points? I will be promoting the Re8Expo for next two Sundays on All About Real Estate. Call in and let me know if you will be joining us at the BWI Marriott on January 25th. Baltimore Hits The Real Estate Lottery with Re8 Expo Monday January 25th Search All Active Listings Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome Broker-Owner HomeRome Realty Author of Real Estate the Rome Way mrome@HomeRome.com 410.530.2400 See My Baltimore Homes for saleThis information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

What do real estate agents and gardeners have in common?

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 00:10:01 -0700

What do real estate agents and gardeners have in common? In Crofton, Maryland, the agents and staff at Long & Foster Real Estate and the members of Crofton Village Garden Club come together to build holiday gift bags for deployed troops. We call this joint effort Operation Christmas.It all began when I read about Operation Give, a non-profit organization that sends overseas everything from Christmas stockings for the troops to soccer balls for kids. Thanks to the generosity of FedEx, donors could send items to Operation Give without any shipping cost and that organization, in turn, would distribute donated items around the world. The first carton of holiday gift bags was done in 2006 with help from agents in my small RE/MAX office. When I switched to Long & Foster two years later, agents and staff at the larger office enthusiastically embraced my project and we sent five cartons (100 gift bags) to Operation Give. Then I mentioned Operation Christmas at a garden club meeting and members started dropping off bags of goodies at my front door and handing me checks... enough to send double the number of gift bags the following year. (However, that was such a storage and logistical nightmare that now we're back to 100 per year with any extra donated items or money sent directly to Operation Give.)Operation Christmas, Crofton, MDAfter ten years of doing this project, it runs like a smooth military operation, with gift items and financial donations coming from both organizations, Long & Foster providing the facilities for storing and assembling everything, and garden club members filling the bags. No two bags are exactly alike, although each has something from each of the following categories: Socks Candy (bags of individually wrapped assorted candies or bubble gum) Healthy Snacks (Nature Valley Granola bars or nuts or fruit snacks) Toiletries (We fill small cellophane bags with 2-packs of aspirin, lip balm, safety pins, band-aid packs, and a travel-size of either mouth wash or hand sanitizer or Gold Bond powder) Tissues and/or wipes Puzzle books with mechanical pencils taped to the back Unique gifts (paperback books donated by Crofton Library or flashlight or manicure kit or reading light) Toys or gag gifts (beach ball or deck of cards or puzzle or magic trick or whoopi cushion or harmonica) Hand-signed greeting cards from Long & Foster and the Crofton Village Garden Club Operation Christmas, Crofton, MDA few of us count and sort everything in advance, and our assembly line operation around a large conference table takes only about an hour. The contents of each bag are secured with a layer of folded tissue paper and jingle bells hang from ribbon which ties together the handles. FedEx no longer covers the shipping cost to send our holiday gift bags to Operation Give, so we'll have to pay for that ourselves this year. I sure hope that FedEx reconsiders in the future because their generosity is the primary reason I was able to get this project off the ground ten years ago and sustain it for a decade. We love doing Operation Christmas for our troops, and we love hearing from a few recipients each year. Hi! My name is xxxx xxxxxx and I am stationed in Afghanistan, working with the U.S. Army in Kabul. On Christmas morning I was going to the gym, when I passed by some soldiers passing out gift bags. I gratefully took one and opened it just a short time later. I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for the generous donations you made to the men and women who are serving in the U.S. military. Your gifts made so many people smile today. Although we cannot be home with our families and friends during the holiday season, your kind thoughts definitely made our day a little bit brighter. We will surely remember you all as we put those items to good use. Please share our gratitude with everyone who made this possible. Thanks again, and we hope you had a Merry Christmas!This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Let's talk about guest rooms

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 09:37:25 -0700

Let's talk about guest rooms... Lots of folks are reclaiming their home offices, these days, as they move from bulky desktop computers to laptops and tablets. Are you?In many cases, the former home office can easily and inexpensively be repurposed as a guest room by using a little imagination and perhaps some furnishings and decorator items you already own. How to make a GREAT Guest Room:Your likely guest(s). A guest room for adults will probably look very different from a room prepared for your grandchildren to sleep over several times a month. Start by identifying your likely guest(s) because that will influence everything from your room color to your choice of furnishings and accessories. An empty room. Empty the room and closet of clutter and existing furniture so you can clean thoroughly and update as needed: fresh paint, new (or at least cleaned) carpet or flooring, new (or freshly cleaned) windows and window coverings, adequate lighting, etc.Furnishings and home decor - Repurpose existing furniture and/or accessories to minimize the expense of creating a guest room in your home. Furniture in the guest room pictured above was previously used in the master bedroom but a few new decorator touches reflect the local area, which is just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean beaches.Dedicated bedding and towels. Go ahead and splurge by purchasing new bed and bath linens for the exclusive use of your guests. While you're at it, get some basic toiletries to have on hand for your guests: toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, soap, mouth wash, sun screen and anything else you think they may need while staying at your home.Details, details, details. Your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness if you make room for a comfy chair in the guest room and pay attention to other details such as good lighting, coasters on the bedside tables, alarm clock, an iHome or charger for electronic devices, a trash can, coat hangers and hanging space in the closet, even reading material and bottled water. If you no longer use your home office, imagine how nice it would be convert that space into to a guest room. It just might be an ideal place for you to hide out with that new laptop or tablet to work in a clean, uncluttered quiet space!This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Ask an Ambassador: How to choose a blog topic

Sat, 05 Sep 2015 05:53:41 -0700

New Activerain member Sam Bruck, of Baltimore, MD, must have seen my AMBASSADOR badge, because he emailed me to ask "How do you go about finding information to blog about?"As I finished typing my reply, it occurred to me " Here's my blog post for today!" Guess what, folks, it really is that easy to choose a new blog topic! -----------The more you blog, the more you will find a topic in nearly everything you do...Go to a restaurant and write a review. Answer a question for a client, prospect or another agent and it's your next blog post. Snap a photo of a beautiful sunset or garden or local view and write about it. Your kid says something funny, so now write about it - and tie it in to real estate or a life lesson, if you can. Other ideas... Subscribe to monthly emails from your state department of natural resources, state and local schools, local historical society, etc. you'll inevitably find something to write about. Did you just figure out how to insert a photo into blog posts or change your font? Blog about it and post it in the group Activerain Newbies - someone out there is still trying to figure it out. Create a schedule This will help narrow down your topic for the day and keep you on track with your blogging plan (topic for another day). That's what I did when I was blogging every day:Monday: Market StudyTuesday: Your niche market, whether that's relocation, beach properties, golfers, etc.Wednesday: Real Estate Mailbag or Q & AThursday: Just for fun - anything from a photo of the sunset to a home decorating idea to "a funny thing happened when showing property today"Friday: Feature a local community organization or businessWeekends: Things to do in your local area.If all else fails, Google a list of holidaysJust insert the current month and year -and you will find everything from national asparagus day to national nurses day. This surely will often inspire something, if only a photo and suggestions on how you might celebrate that holiday. This list should provide enough ideas to last a while, Sam! Thanks for asking. Contact me any time. Hey, I think this should be a blog post. Watch for it. See how easy it is to choose a blog topic? This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Why do non-golfers buy in a golf course community?

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 13:19:13 -0700

Why buy in a golf course community if you don't play golf?Have you ever noticed that most golf course communities seem to have a lot of residents with little or no interest in playing golf? In fact, that describes us when we purchased our first home - a townhome in Crofton, Maryland, just blocks from the fairways of Crofton Country Club.Thinking back to that home-buying experience, I have to admit that my husband and I were seduced by the professionally furnished builder's model home, rather than the golf course or even the manicured open space in the community. Our second home was in the same neighborhood but, again, Crofton's golf course did not factor into our home-buying decision - that move was motivated by our desire to have a yard for our growing sons, without leaving the community where we had begun to establish roots. Then I became a real estate agent, and things changed. I quickly realized that many Crofton home buyers were, in fact, motivated to buy in the community because of the golf course - golfers and non-golfers alike. Homes backing to the golf course had premium prices because they were in high demand. In fact, I recently asked in a Facebook post "Why do non-golfers buy in a golf course community?" and nearly everyone who commented said "green space." (Others said it's so pretty... it was hard to find a nice planned community without a golf course... there are a lot of other things to do.)When we purchased our third home, near Charleston, S.C., we chose a lot overlooking the 9th fairway of the golf course at Kings Grant, and beyond that another fairway, the Ashley River, and rice paddies in the distance. Talk about green space... What a view! That green space was our motive for choosing that home and community. It was here that our boys, ages four and six, were introduced to golf by riding in the golf cart with us when Larry decided to try out those golf clubs he had received as a graduation gift a few years earlier and I dusted off the clubs my grandfather bought for me when I was nine years old. That experience was another life-changer because our boys became avid junior golfers when we returned to Maryland, literally running home from school to get their golf clubs and go to practice at Crofton Country Club. They traveled across the country as teenagers to compete in national level junior golf tournaments against the nation's top juniors, some of them now playing on the PGA Tour, on famous golf courses that most people only see on television. And they both received golf scholarships to college. It was almost a lucky accident that we lived in golf course communities for over forty years, but it was a very intentional decision when we recently purchased a home in Millsboro, Delaware. In fact, we are very excited about the option to purchase a deeded interest in the golf course at Plantation Lakes, for several reasons - with these three topping our list:1. If community residents have a vested interest in the golf course, it is more likely to remain financially viable. 2. A deeded interest in the golf course will likely come with some privileges that won't be available to daily or even annual users of the golf course. And there's no up-front investment required!3. A deeded interest will convey with the property, potentially enhancing the value (or at least the salability) of this home over another similar home in the community without this option.To be perfectly fair, however, this third item could just as easily be a negative in future resale if the deeded interest comes with any ongoing fee that obligates a future owner to pay more for owning this home than another similar home in the community. If you're a non-golfer living in a golf course community...Don't take that manicured open space for granted!If we still lived in our South Carolina home, our view of the 9th fairway and beyond would now be a view of overgrown brush because that golf course - along with the club house, swimming pool, and tennis courts - closed in 2005. Efforts by an investor to develop some of the property failed in 2008 and the lender decided in 2012 to foreclose. Home values in the community plummeted and many went to foreclosure. Nearly every street had multiple boarded up homes when my daughter drove around the community about 2 years ago.The golfers simply moved on to play at other golf courses in the area. The homeowners who purchased in Kings Grant for the green space, however, suffered immensely from the closing of this golf course. They lost the manicured open space, other amenities became eyesores, and many of them lost their homes and good credit. Even if you're a non-golfer, you don't want that beautiful manicured open space in your community to become abandoned and overgrown or developed with streets and additional housing or even commercial facilities. In fact, I read about one golf course in Florida that was turned into a cemetery. Golf course closings have outpaced golf course openings by more than 10-1 in the past 10 years, so please do whatever you can to support community leaders or the developer if they ask for your support.The beautiful green space that initially attracted you to your home may depend on it!Photos: Crofton Country Club. By Margaret Woda. All rights reservedThis information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Don't fire those difficult sellers, refer them!

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:48:51 -0700

Don't fire those difficult sellers, refer them! Former clients contacted me in the fall of 2014 to list the beautiful home that I had sold them two decades earlier. We talked many times over the years, and I had performed many CMA's for them as they considered home improvement and re-financing options. They didn't even consider any other agent for listing their home when a fabulous job opportunity required their move to California. I was thrilled to work with them again! I didn't take their business for granted, however...They received my usual listing presentation, complete with an explanation of my pricing strategy, a competitive market analysis, market trends report, and marketing plan. As a gesture of appreciation for their loyalty I paid for a staging consultation for their home and a mega-package of professional photos that included photos of their nearby deeded dock and the community marina. Marketing including blogging and Facebook ads (including boosted ads to target markets in Arlington, Virginia, and Annapolis and Bethesda, Maryland), email blasts to targeted agents, several What's Up Annapolis ads prepared with the hands-on assistance of the publication's own marketing department to maximize results, ads on military home search websites, open houses and two agent open houses, as well as the standard corporate and multiple list marketing. All this marketing produced a lot of showings, especially when you consider the price range and season. The sellers wanted a full resume of every agent who showed the property: how long in the business... what company... how many homes did they sell in the past year... were the sold homes priced in the upper brackets?This was time consuming for me, at a time when my assistant was on maternity leave and I was preparing my own home for sale. And, of course, the sellers wanted feedback from the showings - only to argue why the feedback wasn't fair and issue new demands to change the wording on the listing or include some detail in the MLS that wasn't an option in the pull-down menu. Remember the staging consultation I mentioned? They did refinish their hardwood floors and paint most rooms a neutral color but they didn't agree with the stager on some things. In fact, they returned furniture back to its original placement in some rooms. As a result, the open view to the two story-fireplace, which the stager had created, was now obstructed by the back of a leather sofa in the listing photo. A heavy velvet fabric panel divided the kitchen and informal eating area and they simply wouldn't remove it so buyers could see the openness of this area... Christmas came and went, but their holiday decorations didn't.There was one small price drop, but not close enough to the likely selling price that I had initially predicted.This listing was a real drain on my time, finances and morale... I can't count how many times I was on the verge of firing them as clients, in spite of our past history. Rather than firing my clients or letting the listing expire, however, I called them to suggest we refer their listing to another office of my company - one that is closer to the property. With their permission, I asked the manager of that office to suggest an agent and then negotiated a 30% referral fee with her. The sellers were happy, I was happy, and last week I deposited a referral fee in excess of $4,000. This referral decision truly was a win-win because the referral freed me to help several other home sellers and buyers and resulted in a sale for my client's home. The next time you're thinking about firing your clients or letting their listing expire, consider referring them!This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Donuts, donuts, and more donuts in Crofton, MD

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 22:14:21 -0700

Two new donut shops in Crofton, MarylandMore donuts than you could possibly eat... You can pick up your favorite pastry treat this morning at your choice of two Dunkin Donuts locations in Crofton - On Md. Rt. 3, across from the main gate for Old Crofton, or at the intersection of Md. Routes 424 and 450. And, of course, many residents choose to pick up their donuts and other pastries at local grocery stores: Giant, Shopper's Food Warehouse, or Safeway. This is about to change, as Krispy Kreme opens a 3,700 store in Crofton Station, at the intersection of Md. Routes 3 and 424. Of the current options, we prefer the glazed yeast-raised donuts at Shopper's Food Warehouse, but I do love Krispy Kreme donuts, too, and look forward to their convenient drive-in location and their variety of other pastries.Fractured Prune, a favorite destination for donut lovers at the beach in Ocean City, MD, is also coming to Crofton in the fall. Their new location in Crofton Centre, on the opposite corner from Crofton Station, will feature hot cake-like donuts with multiple toppings and glazes that can be dipped to order. Crofton residents who haven't previously visited Fractured Prune are in for a special treat! On a related note, local gyms are gearing up for more business as residents mysteriously pack on extra pounds...Photo: IstockThis information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

5 ways that HGTV can make my job easier.

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 03:26:34 -0700

5 ways that HGTV sometimes makes my job easier -There are just as many opinions on this topic as there are belly buttons... no two agents work with the exact same clients, in the exact same market, or have the exact same experiences. From my point of view, however, HGTV makes my job easier. Buyers are more willing to make a buying decision after seeing three homes, because that's what they've been trained to do by HGTV.Buyers are more comfortable relying on me to negotiate their offer with the listing agent, because that's what they've seen on HGTV.Buyers are more likely to consider a less-than-perfect home, because they've seen on HGTV how easy it is to re-do a home completely in just 30 minutes. (Tongue in cheek, of course.)Sellers are more willing to make repairs and updates prior to putting their homes on the market, because that's what home sellers do on HGTV.Sellers are more likely to invest in staging, because they've seen the before and after difference of staging on HGTV. HGTV isn't going away any time soon, so we might as well focus on the ways their shows can help us. That makes it easier for us to dismiss the things that may be different in our own market, such as the crowds that always visit that first open house (which rarely happens in my market). We can learn a lot by asking buyers which show is their favorite. If it's Property Brothers, for example, I ask if they have anyone to transform a "handyman special" for them. If their answer is "No," then I would ask if they'd prefer to buy one in "before" or "after" condition. If they prefer Love It or List It, I now ask if they want to stay in their own neighborhood when they move, the way many home owners do on that show. If not, I ask every potential home buyer what they like or dislike about their current neighborhood, because neighborhood does seem to trump home features on Love It or List It. In fact, most Crofton area home sellers really do want to stay in the area - perhaps a bigger or smaller home - unless they're relocating out of the area. I suggest you tune into HGTV while you're working at the computer and keep one eye on it while you're going down your to-do list... It's a good way to become familiar with what your next home buyer or seller is watching. Chances are it will impact your next home sale!This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

A Resale Home in Beautiful Beechtree, Upper Marlboro, MD

Sat, 18 Jul 2015 02:38:16 -0700

2718 Lake Forest Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 The community of Beechtree really catches the eye of home buyers relocating to Prince George's County, especially personnel attached to Joint Base Andrews, home to Air Force One.Convenience to Andrews may be the thing that attracts you to Beechtree, or perhaps it's Lake Presidential golf course, which weaves through the community. Or it could be the marketing by several home builders who are active in the community. Whatever takes you here, you'll want to check out this home while you're nearby.2718 Lake Forest Drive is sandwiched between community property in back and a park area across the street, so it's hard to beat that location. The home features a gorgeous stone fireplace, to-die-for- master bedroom and bath (I've seen condos that aren't this big!), and a fully finished basement with a 5th large bedroom and 3rd full bath - not to mention all the details such as custom wall tile in the kitchen and master bath, decorator colors, a walk-out basement plus a deck off the main level, and so much more.Click on all the pictures for 2718 Lake Forest Drive and scenes throughout the community of Beechtree. You'll see why I'm so excited about the opportunity to offer this listing to you for quick move-in.The details:Price: $515,000Style: Detached ColonialSize: 2839 square feet PLUS 1442 square feet in the daylight walk-out finished basementYear Built: 2009Bedrooms: Five (4 on the upper level, 1 in the lower level)Bathrooms: Three full baths (2 on the upper level, 1 in the lower level), one half-bath (main level)Lot Size: 7100 square feet (overlooking community open space)Distance to Joint Base Andrews: 13.5 Miles (Beechtree is convenient also to the Coast Guard Headquarters, National Weather Service (NOAA), and the federal facilities in Washington, D.C.)For more information or to see the inside for yourself, contact your agent or Margaret Woda (see below).This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

If someone finds your iPad...

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 05:25:44 -0700

If someone finds your iPad, will (or can) they return it?Have you ever lost your iPad? That's never happened to me, but I've had some close calls. My iPad usually turns out to be in my car or brief case, rather than the first place I look. No harm, no foul, but a long sigh of relief on those occasions!My good fortune continued recently when a near loss was averted by a good samaritan at another branch office of my company who ran out to the parking lot to catch me, just as I was about to drive away. This near-miss motivated some serious what-if thinking, on my part, because I realized how close I came to losing my iPad for real this time.Yes, of course, I could have used the "Find my iPad" app once I realized the iPad was not among my belongings... but what if my contact information had been visible on the case or iPad... That good Samaritan could have called me if he missed me in the parking lot.The next time this happens to me - and it probably will - my name and contact information WILL be the first thing anyone sees when they look at my iPad screen. That's because I didn't let another hour pass with the photo of my two little cocker spaniels on the iPad's lock screen. If this seems like a good idea to you, here's how you create a lock screen that features your name and contact information instead of the default screen that came with your iPad, or even your family or pets:(1) Scroll through the photos and images on your iPad and select one that has your name and contact information.(2) Click on the little icon that you use to forward photos from your iPad or iPhone. You've probably done that many times but, after clicking on that icon, you chose Mail, Twitter, Facebook, Message, or Flickr. (3) Instead, go to the second row of icons and click on Use as Wallpaper.(4) When the photo comes up on your screen, select Set Lock Screen. It's that simple to protect your iPad (or iPhone) with your name and contact information, if you're lucky enough that the person who finds it wants to return it to you. P.S. If you don't have a photo available that includes this information, NOW might be a good time for you to go take one, even if you simply take a photo of your business card. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

New Zoning Category in Ocean City, Maryland

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:52:07 -0700

New Zoning Category in Ocean City, MarylandAs a Maryland REALTOR® and frequent visitor to Ocean City, Maryland, a local political issue has caught my eye: R-1A, a new zoning code designation approved by the Ocean City Planning & Zoning Commission last week, will restrict existing single-family properties currently zoned R-1 from being rented for any shorter period than 12 months. This zoning category is too new to have been implemented yet, but its passage does raise some questions for me. The local Association of REALTORS® opposed this new zoning category, but its approval was driven by outspoken and relentless residents of one Ocean City neighborhood, Mallard Island. These residents indicate that their established, tranquil community is being disturbed by occupants of two properties in the community that are rented on a weekly basis during the beach season. Needless to say, the owners of these rental properties are outnumbered, but what about their rights? It's highly likely that they purchased these properties as investments, intending to rent them during the summer, as many other properties are in this and other beach communities up and down the coast. Buying a house in a beach community and then complaining that your neighbor rents to summer beach-goers is similar, in my opinion, to someone buying a home near an airport and then complaining about airplane noise. If owner occupants of one neighborhood can persuade Ocean City, Maryland, officials to implement this restriction in their little beach town, what about college towns... Are College Park residents, neighbors of the University of Maryland flagship campus, going to be inspired by this precedent and seek similar relief in their neighborhoods so that investors cannot rent to college students? I don't have any vested interest in this matter, since I don't own property in Ocean City (or College Park, for that matter), and my real estate business is located in another part of the state. It does seem to me, however, that this is the first inch in a potentially slippery slope that could have collateral consequences beyond Ocean City. Where is the Maryland Association of REALTORS® and RPAC®? I've seen no mention of them assisting the Coastal Association of REALTORS® in their opposition to this zoning category, in spite of the potential implications for property rights statewide. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Five Reasons to Consider Resale vs. New

Sat, 02 Jan 2016 22:32:35 -0800

Five Reasons to consider a resale home in a new construction community A brand new home is the dream of many home buyers, but there may be some nearly new resale homes in the same community. Why would (or should) anyone purchase a previously owned home when brand new is available? There are benefits to both options, of course, and only you can decide what's right for you. But it IS worth considering a nearly new resale home before signing on the dotted line with a builder. Five reasons to buy a new construction home: You choose the lot. You choose the options. Everything about the home is brand new - from mechanical systems to carpet and paint. No one else has ever lived in the home before and it's like a blank slate, just waiting for your personal touch. Builder incentives (closing help, "free" options, etc.). Five reasons to buy a resale home in a new community: You can see the actual building lot, including the finished grading, exposure to the sun, proximity to neighboring houses (how other houses impact your view, how neighbors maintain their property, etc.). It's more than a blank piece of ground in a field or a square on a site map. You can see the options AND the many additional things added after the purchase. These may include custom features such as landscaping, floor coverings, light fixtures, window coverings, ceiling fans, a deck or patio, finished basement, upgraded appliances, etc. These items would add to the new home price from the builder, or perhaps they're not even available from the builder. "What you see is what you get" in a resale home, without the agony of hours spent weighing the cost/benefit of adding builder options and making selections from those limited options. Everything about the home is nearly brand new and probably still under warranty. Someone else has already dealt with a myriad of new home issues ranging from grading to dying plants or grass, from missing trim to imperfections in construction. Seller incentives. A private seller may be more highly motivated than the builder and, therefore, more negotiable. In some areas, a builder's offer of closing help could be misleading because marketing "closing help" only reflects terms that are already customary for resale homes in the area. (This is the case in the area where my business is focused.) In addition to these five reasons, sellers of existing homes in the community may be a good source of information regarding issues they've experienced with the builder or the mandatory Homeowner's Association (HOA). These conversations may help you identify questions to ask the builder's sales rep and/or matters for you to investigate online or with HOA or local officials before buying new. There's no one right or wrong answer about new vs. nearly new in the same community. That's an individual decision - But a wise home buyer will consider both when looking at new construction homes.This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Is it possible to retire from real estate?

Mon, 11 May 2015 21:32:15 -0700

It's been a long time coming, but my husband and I decided last September to leave the community where we had lived for 43 years and move to "lower slower" Delaware. We contracted on a new home to be built in September, put our Crofton home on the market the day after Christmas, and moved into our beautiful new Plantation Lakes home in March.I made a decision, at least for now, to not get a Delaware real estate license and have to learn new state laws and new forms, but to enjoy walks on nearby beaches, to play the piano again, and to finally try out those new golf clubs I purchased a few years ago. If any repeat and referral business should happen to come my way, I would take care of it - perhaps with some assistance from my Long & Foster colleagues in Crofton - at least until my license expires again in August 2016. Funny thing... my Maryland real estate business absolutely exploded with new listings that have sold quickly, repeat clients that have purchased homes or are planning to this Spring or Summer and even new clients coming out of the woodwork after reading my old blog posts. As a result, I'm now commuting two hours each way nearly every day to maintain my real estate business in Crofton and other communities on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.I guess this could have been expected... When you're in real estate for 42 years, you're gonna have repeat, referral, and even new business, right? All this has certainly been good for my ego and self-confidence, not to mention the shopping list for my new home, and I'm actually enjoying the drive. Is it possible to retire from real estate? For me, the answer apparently is "not yet" - so don't overlook me for referrals in Maryland just because I live in Delaware!This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Closing day from the seller's perspective

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 20:12:31 -0800

The closing today is not just another home sale... it's MY home sale! Ever since September, when my husband and I decided to purchase a home in a new Lennar community, the experience has been somewhat surreal. We've lived in five different homes in the same community for nearly 45 years, and now we're leaving it behind for a completely new experience in a new area. A smaller yard, bigger house, and lower taxes are calling, and we're looking forward to starting over with landscaping and decorating projects. (Expect lots of blogs on those topics in the coming months.) The appraisal was our last hurdle to this adventure becoming real, and the number came in right on target. Now we're surrounded by boxes and scrambling to fill more of them before the moving trucks come on Monday. But the real estate business doesn't stop - or even pause - because agents have a personal life. Another home I just listed in the neighborhood got an offer yesterday, and I spent the day dealing with that. My brother wants me to look at our mother's condo since he finished preparing it for sale, and get it on the market now... not next week. GRRRR! And a relocating military family contacted me via email overnight about seeing a house today. (Not to mention the listings and sales already on my plate.) Everything will get done. I know that because it always does. I just have to remember to take care of my husband and myself with the same diligence I would any other client. Let's hope that closing goes as smoothly as I expect it to! So much to do... so little time... This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Crofton Charmer for sale in South River school district

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 08:14:45 -0800

There aren't many cape cod style homes in Crofton, and they rarely come on the market. This Crofton charmer, located at 1730 Stratton Rd., features updates and upgrades from top to bottom - or should I say roof to carpet. Your friends will be green with envy when they see your updated kitchen with hardwood floors and quartz counters, the two updated baths (one is expanded and the other has a skylight), and the spacious master bedroom with walk-in closet. The architectural style roof was installed in 2013, and the new carpet just months ago. Updates include 6-panel interior doors, energy efficient windows upstairs, hot water heater, central air conditioning compressor, kitchen appliances, medicine cabinets, and attic insulation. When we describe this home as "move-in ready," it's no exaggeration! The lot is uncommonly large (13,264 sq. ft.) with a fenced area featuring an L-shaped brick patio with built-in seating. You may appreciate that the yard received Bay-Wise certification in 2014 for landscaping plants and practices that are friendly to the Chesapeake Bay. Crofton is located within a triangle formed by D.C., Baltimore, and Annapolis - convenient to any of them for work or play. Crofton Country Club, Barbara and Tom Swann Park, the Village Green, and Crofton Woods Elementary are within blocks of the home, while nearby shopping and dining options are too numerous to list. This home is located within the Crofton Middle and South River High school districts. This is a military-friendly community that is easily accessible to Fort Meade/NSA, the U.S. Naval Academy, and Joint Base Andrews, and many of your neighbors commute to the Pentagon and other D.C.-Baltimore area military facilities. You'll find American flags flying over the streets, there's a Blue-Star Memorial Byway Marker at the Crofton Library, and the community celebrates Armed Forces Day with a parade to honor current and former military personnel and first responders. Other community traditions include an annual Halloween parade, Santa's arrival and lighting of a Christmas tree, two crafts fairs, and a summer concert series at the Village Green. There are organized youth sports and organizations for every age, several places of worship, two member-only swimming pools and a championship golf course. Enjoy a virtual tour by clicking below on the photo, and contact me if you have any questions or you'd like to see this home in real life. (301)346-2923 AA8519611 This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Why Title Insurance?

Sat, 10 Jan 2015 21:10:22 -0800

Why Title Insurance? It's understandable when a home buyer expresses outrage at the requirement and cost for title insurance because he probably has no idea of what it does for him or even why he's required to pay for it. How would he, unless his real estate agent, lender or closing agent explains it well - which rarely happens, due to time constraints and the mountain of required paperwork at every step of any real estate transaction. Some real estate agents (and probably some lenders or closing agents) don't explain it to their clients because they just don't understand it themselves. I was reminded of that this morning when I read the featured post, Title Insurance is a Scam in Massachusetts. Ignorance is NOT bliss, especially when it comes to elements of our profession that we should be able to accurately explain (if not endorse) to our clients. Title insurance is one of these. Experience teaches me that title insurance is no scam and, in fact, it's a good investment. Where else can you buy insurance that's in effect for up to 30 years, with only one up-front premium? And the fact is that title insurance is required by mortgage lenders as a condition of obtaining a home loan. Why home buyers purchase lender's title insurance: Lenders have a vested interest in any collateral used to secure a loan, and they have every right to require insurance for the title of a home - i.e., protection against title fraud, error, or mishandling, among other things. As a condition for lending their money, they require borrowers to purchase title insurance for the same reason they require an appraisal, a credit report, and property insurance naming the lender as an insured party: to protect their investment. Failing to do so would be negligence on the lender's part. Maryland borrowers have the option to purchase the same title protection as lenders at additional cost, and the amount paid at closing is a one-time premium with no additional payments during the life of the loan. Buyers purchase lender's title insurance for Peace of Mind - the same reason they purchase any insurance. Why purchase owner's title insurance? Lender's title insurance protects the lender in the event of a title issue. It does not protect the borrower, however, who may feel the effects of a title issue long before it impacts the lender. Let me share a few examples of situations when my own clients benefited from owner's title insurance: Property description - Early in my career, a discrepancy was discovered in the property description for a townhouse community in my market. Lenders were protected during the years of litigation, but homeowners in this community who had buyer's title insurance were protected. Only they could sell their homes before the matter was resolved. Since then, I have recommended optional buyer's title insurance to all of my clients. Encroachment - Then there was the case of two condo owners who came to agreement about swapping their garages. Everyone was happy with the arrangement until one was ready to sell, and an alert appraiser noticed that the condo owner did not have possession of the garage deeded with that unit. Returning possession of the garages to the two deeded owners became a condition of my buyer's new lender, and closing would not have taken place at the scheduled date and time if there had not been owner's title insurance in effect. Unreleased liens - In two other cases involving my clients, one a buyer and the other a seller, previous construction liens reared their ugly heads. These liens dated back to construction of the home and apparently had been overlooked in previous title searches. Many hours were required to track down the the lien holder (no longer in business) and for previous title companies to pull their old files out of storage to review whether the liens had been paid. If there been no owner's title insurance, these two cases would not have closed on time while the legal beagles did what they do to address these situations. As we've seen throughout the foreclosure crisis, lenders have plenty of time to wait... and wait and wait and wait... while home sellers are denied short sale approvals time and again and foreclosures are postponed for months and years. Would any of us want to wait for a title issue to impact their lender significantly enough to motivate a title insurance claim and then hope their claim coincidentally saves our butts? I'm very confident that lender's title insurance would not have expedited any of the transactions described above - but owner's title insurance did. Who determines the cost of title insurance? In Maryland, insurance rates are established by the state and the cost of title insurance is not negotiable, so it doesn't matter which closing agent a borrower selects. A percentage of the one-time premium is paid to the title agent as compensation for preparing the required policy. The cost of title insurance may vary from one state to the next, but insuring the title of one's home simply makes sense no matter where your property is located. You may never need title insurance, but won't you be glad to have it if you do find yourself with a title issue? Guaranteed,... that premium is less than the cost of hiring an attorney or settling with another party in a lawsuit or even a minor title discrepancy. I wouldn't buy a home without it! This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month...

Mon, 10 Nov 2014 20:55:31 -0800

There's more to Veterans Day than freebies and discounts offered to veterans by commercial establishments on November 11. Veterans Day is a celebration of the Armistice that ended World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. 'Just something to think about today as we celebrate Veterans Day. ________________________ Meet Ray Farrell, the son of a widowed Irish immigrant who came to the United States to escape the potato famine in Ireland. The armistice ending World War I might not have been signed at the Palace d'Versaille on November 11, 1918, if it were not for him and the men he led (not to mention the Americans who bravely fought in this "war to end war.") Their role was less prominent than that of the top negotiators at this conference, but it was a key factor in securing the peace. A little world history refresher: Negotiations for ending World War I began in January 1918, with 70 delegates from 27 nations participating, excluding the defeated nations of Germany, Hungary and Austria - and Russia, who had negotiated their own treaty. Each participant had its own agenda, and discussions were often quite heated. For example, French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau wanted to cripple Germany economically, politically and militarily so they could never invade France again. Britain's Prime Minister David Lloyd George supported reparations, but to a lesser extent than the French, and sought compensation for the many widows, orphans and men crippled during the war and unable to work. U.S. delegate Edward Mandell House sought to extricate the U.S. from European affairs while encouraging a Germany that would be a strong trading partner in the future. And, I might add, President Wilson excluded the Republicans in Congress from any policy discussons regardingthese negotiations. Okay, back to my story... Ray Farrell was the Chief Clerk of the Supreme Allied War Council, a shorthand reporter from Baltimore, MD, in charge of all the shorthand reporters who created a record of the procedings for participating nations (and history). In 1918, there were no audio recording devices, so every session was painstakingly recorded with pencil in shorthand notes, and later transcribed and reconciled by these same shorthand reporters. When a final product finally evolved, calling for fighting to end on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Ray Farrell devised a plan for securely communicating the armistice back home to the United States for Congressional approval. He divided the document into several small sections and transmitted each separately by telegraph. For example, one transmission might include line 10 from several pages, so it would make no sense to anyone who intercepted it. However, when collated with another transmission that included line 9 and yet another including line 11... In the end, Congress did not ratify the Treaty because of their objections to forming a League of Nations, but they did approve the armistice which ended fighting on November 11. On the first anniversary of the armistice ending World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation expressing pride in the heroism of those who had fought during the war. All business stopped and two minutes of silence were observed, beginning at 11 am. Several states made Armistice Day a state holiday in the 1920's and 30's, and Congress declared it a federal holiday in 1938. Then, in 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor those who served in World War II and Korea, as well as those who served in World War I. Today, all veterans are honored on November 11. In spite of the commercialization of Veterans Day, I think that all our veterans deserve an annual day of special recognition, don't you? ______________________ Originally posted to Activerain on November 11, 2008, with the title Armistice Day - My Grandfather was There. Some minor tweaks have been made to the orignial post.This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Crofton Halloween Parade

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 22:16:14 -0700

Crofton Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 25 Don't miss the Crofton's Annual Halloween Parade this Saturday on Crofton Parkway, between Crofton Country Club and Crofton Woods Elementary School. This event is a long-standing tradition that dates back at least thirty years in this community. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there are some 2nd generation participants! Kids will gather in the parking lot at the club, beginning at 10 a.m., and the parade will kick off at 11 a.m. sharp! Members of the Crofton Kiwanis will be waiting at Crofton Woods Elementary to distribute refreshments and award prizes for costumes. There will be crafts for kids, and a visiting witch who will tell child-friendly "spooky" stories. It will be lots of fun, as always, and a memory these children will cherish forever. P.S. Crofton Parkway will be closed to automobiles between Crofton Country Club and Urby Drive, as well as Urby Drive in front of the school for about an hour, roughly 11 - noon. Drivers will experience a detour and most side streets will be accessible from another direction, with the exception of the "W" streets and courts. Plan ahead if you live in that area and have someplace to go on Saturday. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Santa's Workshop in Crofton, MD

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 21:57:03 -0700

Santa's Workshop at Long & Foster in Crofton, MD Crofton Village Garden Club members will don their elf hats to fill holiday gift bags for deployed troops on Tuesday, October 28, at Santa's workshop in the Long & Foster office on Defense Highway. They'll be working side by side with several Long & Foster agents and members of the community to fill the bags with items such as puzzle books, toiletries, socks, snacks, and other donated goodies. If you'd like to donate, please drop off your items at Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Highway, Crofton, MD 21114. If a cash donation is more convenient for you, it will be used to purchase items in bulk. Photo taken at last year's workshop. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

Is your yard Bay-Wise Certified?

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 01:56:26 -0700

The Maryland Bay-Wise Program Have you seen those Bay-Wise Certified signs popping up all over Crofton, Maryland, since Labor Day? At least thirty members of Crofton Village Garden Club have received their certification since then. If you live in Maryland, chances are there's a storm drain within a half-mile of your home - if not a stream, river, or the Chesapeake Bay itself. That's why our landscaping practices can impact the Bay, even if we live hours away from its shores. Better water quality through smarter gardening is what the Maryland Bay-Wise Program is all about - and it's MUCH easier than you might think to become Bay-Wise Certified. In fact, you may already follow landscape practices that satisfy the recommendations of the Master Gardeners who conduct the Bay-Wise home visits. How do you become Bay-Wise Certification?Download the Maryland Bay-Wise Yardstick for a ist of the recommended landscape practices. Complete the Maryland yardstick to discover how many of the recommended landscape practices you already follow... and learn about other easy ones you can adopt. Email the Anne Arundel County Master Gardener Program to schedule a home visit. (List of all Bay-Wise counties in Maryland) What do they look for? When I first saw the long list of best practices for landscaping management, I was intimidated and read no further. Silly me, because I already followed many of those practices, without even trying. I didn't discover how easy it was to become certified until I downloaded that Maryland Bay-Wise Yardstick (link above). Here are a few examples from my own yard... Control stormwater runoff by planting ground covers on thinly vegetated ares, under trees, or on slopes to decrease erosion. Encourage wildlife by providing and properly maintaining a water source for wildlife, such as a birdbath or small pond. Mow properly (3-4 inches for cool weather grasses) to encourage a deeper, more drought and pest tolerant root system. A higher cut also shades out weeds. Manage yard pests by recognizing beneficial bugs and letting them live in my yard to provide natural control of harmful pests. Mulch appropriately by maintaining no more than a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch over the roots of shrubs, trees, and plants. Plant wisely by incorporating a variety of native plants into your landscape. Follow the example of Crofton Village Garden Club members to practice environment-friendly landscaping. And don't forget to request a yard visit from Maryland Master Gardeners to become Bay-Wise Certified. P.S. As a real estate agent, I can't help thinking that a Bay-Wise Certified sign in the yard of a listing might attract interest from some prospective buyers. It certainly can't hurt.This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS

What's Your FSBO Handout?

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:22:25 -0700

What's Your FSBO Handout? Facebook is a treasure chest of inspiration for blog topics, and today's post is my response to a question posted yesterday by Tabetha Sibley-Tyner in the Real Estate Agent Group. Scenario: You're getting ready to go on an appt to view a FSBO. You do not want to make this a sales pitch of why you want to list with me, this time around. What would you do or bring with you or for the FSBO? In the interest of full disclosure, we don't have very many FSBO's in my primary market area and I haven't aggressively pursued them in recent years. However, I've never failed to list a FSBO when I've tried. Of late, it's done in the course of training new agents how to approach a FSBO by offering a helping hand, and they quickly adapt this strategy when they see how easy and successful it is. DO NOT EXPECT any potential home seller to be so wowed by your handout that they will instantly list with you, whether you hand it to them, mail it, or leave it in their door. Real estate is a relationship business, and no one will do business with you unless and until they know, like, and trust you. (How many times have we heard that?) I'm not going to roll out my entire FSBO strategy... this is simply an answer to Tabetha's question about what I bring to a first FSBO visit. It's not a listing presentation for FSBO's. This handout is merely a tool to help a potential seller remember the pleasant experience of their FACE-TO-FACE contact with helpful little ol' you. A Checklist for Home Sellers is the tri-fold brochure I created to leave behind when I visit a FSBO. You can see a screen shot of the cover on the right. When they open the brochure, this is the text they see: If you’re thinking of selling your home without an agent, there are some things you should know. The remainder of this section is a stock photo of a beautiful kitchen that would make anyone smile. It continues on the center-fold... "Before you place a sale sign in your yard or advertise for buyers, consider this: The sale of real estate is a complex legal transaction with the potential for expensive mistakes and liabilities. This is the reason why so many home sellers hire a real estate professional to handle the pricing, marketing and other details of their sale." (Insert photo of a previous listing.) Below this photo it asks... Are you ready to sell? followed by this sub-header, "Use this handy checklist to prepare for your home sale." Insert your list of 15-20 items in the remaining space of the inside space. Be creative. Start out with questions that you typically ask a home seller at a listing appointment, such as "Where will you live when this property sells?" Use bullet points instead of numbers, so it doesn't look too overwhelming. Include other items that sellers typically ask you about at a listing presentation, such as "Determine the average days on market for homes in your neighborhood" or "Calculate your net return after all state, local, and title charges are deducted from your sale price." (Insert another photo of a recent listing.) Last but not least, include some of the things you DO for seller clients that they often take for granted:(1) Identify the protected classes under federal, state, and local fair housing laws (they may differ) and be careful not to do anything that could be interpreted as a violation; and (2) Obtain and complete all appropriate forms to satisfy federal, state, and local disclosure laws. (You may be exempt from some.) You get the idea, right? A typical home seller has no idea of what they're getting into when they decide to sell without an agent. This checklist will be helpful to them, while introducing them to some of the details of real estate sales. If you have more items than fit in this space, eliminate enough to keep the list contained within one side of the brochure. Agency differs in every state, so this section on one of the remaining folds of the brochure will vary, depending on the laws in your state. See my screen shot on the left. Last but not least, the back fold contains a description of Real Estate the Woda Way and my contact information. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP is NOT this (or any) handout, however. Flash neon lights here! It's (1) the Face-to-Face contact when you stop by to introduce yourself and offer this helpful checklist and (2) the follow-up within 12-24 hours to ask if they've had a chance to look over the handout so you can answer any questions. If they don't ask you to come back so they can learn more about you and your services with this first follow-up call, they will be the exception. But don't fret... Send them a hand-written thank you note for their time and courtesy, and then drop by or send them something of value every few days, always followed up by an offer to answer any questions. Your pleasant and helpful demeanor and information will earn you the listing, not the handout you leave behind after a personal visit, not an aggressive postcard campaign, and not your fancy iPad presentation. If you ask 50 real estate agents what handout they offer to For Sale by Owners, you'll probably get 50 different answers. Some of them are effective, some are not. If you're a new agent, the best way to find out what works for you is to aggressively pursue For Sale by Owner listings. You'll eventually figure out what works for you in your market. In the meantime, feel free to borrow my FSBO strategy. This information was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. Crofton real estate HOME SEARCH HOME BUYERS HOME SELLERS