We have some exciting news to share with you. We are partnering with the Boys and Girls Club to help our local food pantries.

We are very excited to announce our partnership with the Indianapolis Boys and Girls Club of America. Right now, I’m standing next to a full pantry. Unfortunately, this is not the common scene many of these boys and girls in this local organization experience. So today, we are asking for your help.

We want to fill these pantries, so we have partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to collect donations at our office to provide them with. We are located at 8555 River Road, and you can drop non-perishable items off until October 7th.

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We are located at 8555 River Road.

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If you are outside of Indiana, can you do us a favor? Reach out to one of your local food pantries and help them fill up as the holiday season approaches. Every little bit helps.

You should have received your invite already, but we wanted to remind you about our Fall Festival coming up. On October 8th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Spencer Farm in Noblesville, we’ll have hot dogs, s'mores, and hayrack rides for you and the entire family. Check out our Facebook page for more details and to get the link to RSVP if you haven’t yet. We want to make sure we have enough s'mores!

If you have any other questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out. Give us a call or send us an email any time. We look forward to hearing from you.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about how to handle multiple offers from a seller’s vantage point. Here are the four most common questions for sellers to consider:

1. Is the highest offer the best one? Not always. There are many other factors besides price to consider when selecting an offer. Does the buyer’s timeline work with your own? Do you want to keep your washer, dryer, and refrigerator? The first offer might usually be the best, but the first price isn’t necessarily the best price. You can negotiate the price to where you need it to be.

2. What should I consider when accepting an offer? Price, possession, and amenities are the three biggest things to pay attention to when selecting an offer. For example, maybe the buyer wants to take possession two weeks before you are scheduled to move. That might not be the best offer for you to accept.

"Cash is king 99% of the time."

3. Is a cash offer better than a mortgage offer? Cash is king 99% of the time. When you accept a cash offer, you are not required to do an appraisal on the property. With multiple offers, you may be able to drive the price above asking. However, if you accept a mortgage offer, you need to do an appraisal, and the home may not appraise. Ultimately, cash offers allow you to close on the property without worrying about some of the contingencies that come with a financed offer.

4. How can a qualified professional help me select the best offer? We will sit down with you and compare each offer in order to find the best one for you and your family.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

We have a few questions to answer today, all relating back to managing multiple offer situations from a buyer’s standpoint.

Should you wait for other offers before making one? We advise against this, because you should submit your offer as soon as possible. Our marketplace is competitive due to low inventory. It’s easy for a home to sell quickly, even in under 24 hours. You should dodge multiple offer situations whenever you can. It can drive up the price quickly.

Additionally, ask for a limited time frame of acceptance. Ask your agent for a recommendation of an appropriate time frame. This urges the seller to accept or decline your offer in a specific amount of time.

If there’s already an offer, should I still make one? If you like the house enough, submit an offer. However, you need to use two strategies. First, write off highest and best number. If this offer is then rejected, you’ll already know you put your best foot forward already. Second, get pre-approved ahead of time. This shows the seller you’ve consulted a lender to make this major financial decision.

How can my offer stand out? Avoid contingencies at all costs. For instance, if you’re dedicated to a property, you might want to pick up some fees as the buyer. You can protect yourself while reducing contingencies for the seller.

As always, if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding Indianapolis area, reach out by phone or email. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have and possibly turn one into a future video! Talk to you soon.

Oftentimes, first-time home buyers and current rental tenants ask us whether they should consider buying or renting. There are a few reasons why buying is better than renting, especially in the surrounding Indianapolis region.

Pride of homeownership: It’s the American dream and what everyone strives for. If you get approved for a loan, now is the best time to make the transition.

Mortgage interest deductions: You can take your mortgage interest and deduct that from your taxes. If you’re renting, you’ll only receive the standard $1,500 deduction.

Your credit score: Everybody knows how important credit scores are! It helps you buy anything you want. Owning a home and paying your mortgage on time can increase your credit score.

If you’re thinking about buying in the local marketplace, give us a call or send us an email! We’d be happy to work with you and answer any real estate questions you might have.

Today we’re coming at you with three simple tips to prepare your home for sale in this selling market. We want you to be ready should you decide to sell your home. Here are our three steps:

1. Declutter your home

The last impression you want to give to buyers is that you’re a hoarder. Start decluttering every nook and cranny of your home, including your closets, garage, and pantry. Everything needs to look as neat and clean as possible.

2. Think about your curb appeal

When people first drive up to your home, what impression do they get? If you have fresh mulch, new plants, and a tidy yard, buyers will be more drawn to your home.

3. Fix broken things

The first thing a buyer is going to do after their offer is accepted is order a home inspection. If you are proactive and get a pre-listing inspection, you have the opportunity to fix these problems before they even show up. If you fix these broken things before you list, there will be fewer items on the inspection and less room for the buyer to negotiate. This leads to a smoother closing.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Many people might not realize it, but the spring market is already in full-swing in Indianapolis real estate. According to a graph on Historic Sales by Year, the data reveals most sellers list between February and April. Then, homes sell within thirty days and close between March and June. Oftentimes, sellers think they should wait until it warms up to act.

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Now is the time to sell!

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However, February 1st kicks off the spring market! That’s crucial information. Although it’s still cold, the busiest selling season of the year has already started. February to May are the top-selling months of the year locally. If you want to list, and have not yet, you are missing the boat. There are statistics to prove it. Now is the time to sell if you want to avoid increased competition down the road! 

Don’t let this happen to you! Don’t wait and let time fly by. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this season in Indianapolis, give us a call or email! Reach out to us at your earliest convenience. We’d be happy to hear from you!

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report    

What are the advantages of buying new construction property over a pre-existing home? There are three clear advantages.

No one’s ever lived in it before. It’s brand new. No one’s neglected any parts of the home, such as a furnace or the gutters. You have a fresh start. You’re getting something brand new. You receive a full warranty. Most builders offer a two-year Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty on their properties.

You receive the latest technology. Since the home has been recently built, it offers the latest technology. It might be the latest and greatest types of insulation, windows, shingles, and more. This is huge for utility bills because they can be reduced with clean energy. Plus, people enjoy more open space between the living room and kitchen, which traditional home layouts don’t always offer.

You have a better chance at future resale. If someone owns a home for five years, it’s easier to sell a five-year-old home compared to an older one. As real estate agents, we find newer homes easier to sell.

As you can see, there are tremendous benefits to investing in a new construction property compared to pre-existing home. New definitely comes out on top compared to older listings.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the Indianapolis area, give us a call or email today! We’re happy to talk about and serve your real estate needs.

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report    

Today, Scott Surette from Premium Home Inspections joins us to discuss the three-part home inspection on a construction property. Why would anyone want to pay someone to inspect a brand new home?

Typically, people have the misconception that a new property is like buying a new car. This isn’t the case. New construction isn’t that way. It’s an imperfect process with many people working together. Bringing in a new set of eyes to look everyone over is important.

I have a specific process. It includes three stages: foundation, pre-drywall, and final. We look at things before the foundation and drywall are built. We follow the home each step of the way as it’s built. We want to safely say we’ve looked at everything and verify it officially.

We want to identify any and all problems prior to closing! Once the builder received their pay, it isn’t easy to back out to fix things. We know it upfront and get it fixed.

If you’re interested in buying or selling a home, as always, please reach out. We’re happy to serve your real estate needs. Give us a call or email today!

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report    
Purchasing in the Indianapolis area? Click here for full MLS access

In 2015, we had a solid real estate market. We experienced a bit of a seller's market, as inventory has been low and demand for homes has remained high. This has resulted in multiple offer situations for sellers, which is always great news for people looking to get a great value for their home. However, pending sales are trending down year-over-year, which means we're starting to get market stabilization.

As we head into 2016, expect to see a market that still favors sellers. By about midyear, though, we're expecting the market to level off and become neutral. A thing to keep an eye on is interest rates -- the Federal Reserve has indicated that interest rates might rise as early as Q1 next year, which will greatly affect the buying power of consumers.

If you're thinking about making your move, now is the time to get off the fence and look for something to buy. Rates are still at historic lows, so if you want to lock in a very affordable rate on your mortgage, now is the time to act!

Recently, we saw an article in which a handful of builders were interviewed about the Hamilton County housing marketplace. They said that, from here on out, it's going to be difficult to build a home for $200,000. One builder even said that it's going to be almost impossible to build anything under $175,000! If you would have told me that 10 years ago I would have called you crazy, but the way the market has picked up and the increases in material costs have made building from scratch a more expensive process.

If you have any questions about where our market is heading, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!

Selling in the Indianapolis area? Get a free home value report    

Winter is approaching quickly, and with that being said, you'll need to invest in some maintenance around your home in order to keep it in good condition. We have Scott Surette with Premium Inspections to give us some useful advice.

First of all, you need to disconnect your hoses and faucets. You don't want your pipes to freeze, so do this maintenance now to avoid a heavy loss later on.

Inspecting your gutters is also very important. You want them clean and clear of debris because if they're clogged this will cause water to get into your basement and this could cause major issues with your foundation. If your gutters are clear, the water can be pushed away from your foundation when the snow melts in the spring. You simply want to ensure that the water gets carried away from your home.

A very easy thing to do is to change your furnace filters. Dirty filters restrict airflow and this can cause damage to your furnace as well as your air vents. It's an easy thing to do, and it could save you a lot of money down the road. Preventative maintenance always pays off.

It's also a good idea to get someone to come and check on your fireplace and your chimney if you're going to be burning wood in it this winter. While you're at it, get your smoke alarms tested and replace those batteries if necessary.

Please don't hesitate to call Scott if you have any questions or concerns about winterizing your home.