Bel Air, MD

Selling your home in today's marketplace is hard. Selling your overpriced home in today's marketplace is downright MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE.

You're doing yourself, your home, and your agent a huge disservice by overpricing your home in the current buyer's market. Overpriced homes get shown last, if at all, and they sit un-sold much longer than homes that are priced right. You think that old strategy of pricing higher than your absolute minimum acceptable sales price will work because now you're adding some ‘padding'?

Seriously?

You think that's a good strategy?

Uh...no, it's not.

It's a terrible strategy and it absolutely does not work in today's market. Moreover, you're doing a great thing for your neighbors' agents. You see, by pricing your home too high, you are helping to sell your competition's homes -- hard pill to swallow, but oh-so true.

Today's market is not the market of just a few years ago and your home will sit on the market while the seasons change, the well-priced competition goes to settlement, and the days roll by.

Do yourself a favor and listen to your well-informed, professional real estate professional. This is what we do. As Realtors we research your specific area and give you a price range that reflects myriad factors affecting your home's saleability. We listen to your needs, your wants, and your motivation in order to create a marketing plan specific to your home.

Personally, I spend lots of money out-of-pocket on the marketing of your home and I won't touch your home with a 10-foot pole if you and I are not on the same page when it comes to pricing. Why bother? Why waste time, energy, and MY money? A broke Realtor + a frustrated Seller = 1 Hot Mess.

You want sell your overpriced home? -- change that ACTIVE status to PENDING and then SOLD? Realize the gold mine you have at your disposal. Your agent did the hard work, researched the information you needed to make a decision, and provided that information to you quickly and efficiently, right? Now, the onus is upon you to use that information to make a well-informed decision and price your home right the first time. Don't get caught ‘chasing the market'!

What's ‘chasing the market', you ask?

Well, ‘chasing the market' is...another blog altogether!

What will you be doing when the weather breaks? I fully expect the real estate market in Harford County to get HOT! I look forward to working with clients to find some great deals - there are plenty to be had! - and then taking it easy on the bay - maybe catching some rockfish!

Following is a synopsis of my newly revised Homebuyers Workshop. We cover a lot of information in the workshop and it's divided into 13 sections. Hmmm...where are my Triskaidekaphobians?

Agents, feel free to borrow/use whichever portions you need for your own Workshop/Seminar!

Buying a House...It Ain't For The Faint Of Heart

Subtitle: Wimps need not apply

•1. So, you want to buy a house?

•2. Homeownership, it ain't for everyone

•3. It's a mindset, Baby

•4. Choosing a Lender

•5. Whoa! When's the last time you paid that bill?

•6. Choosing an Agent

•7. Finding your dream home

•8. Negotiate to win!

•9. Ready, set, go!...timeline to settlement

•10. Be sure to pencil in The six-hour Home Inspection

•11. Home is...where the mortgage is

•12. Your New Home

•13. The end?

StagedHomes.com, an Accredited Staging Professional organization came to the Bel Air office of Keller Williams American Premier Realty on Febraury 3-5, 2009 to hold a certification class for anyone interested in earning their ASP designation. People from as far away as New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia made their way here for the class. Realtors from all over the county were invited as well as individuals who wanted to earn their staging designation.

According to Barb Schwarz, the founder of HomeStaged.com, Home Staging is the very best proven way to get top dollar for your home as you prepare it for sale. Homes that are Staged with an ASP Professional Home Stager sell faster and for more money! This is because Staging sets the scene throughout the house to create immediate buyer interest in your property. This will then lead to your home selling for the highest possible price in today's market. Remember, "The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things."

In today's real estate market it takes some creativity to get your home sold in the shortest amount of time for the most money. Statistics show that in today's market 94.6% of ASP Staged Homes sell on average in 35 days or less. "Your Investment in ASP Home Staging will always be less than your first Price Reduction" - Barb Schwarz, The Creator of Home Staging.

Did you know that because of this class Keller Williams American Premier Realty now has the most Realtors holding the designation of Accredited Staging Professional-Realtor (ASP-RE) in their office than any other Harford County real estate office. I am proud to say I am one of the ASP-RE Home Stagers. I would love to assist you to set the stage to make your home stand out amoung the vast competition in today's market. Call me for a FREE phone consultation so I can tell you how I work! 410-375-9977 or email me at: Deanna@ZBestAgent.com

Everything you always wanted to know about Bel Air maryland in Harford County.....

BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS:

Robert M. Preston (Chairman)
David E. Carey
Terence O. Hanley
Edward Hopkins
Robert J Reier

joliver@belairmd.org
410.638.4550
410.879.2711

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR:

Christopher G. Schlehr
cschlehr@belairmd.org
410.638.4550
410.879.2711

ADMINISTRATION/HUMAN RESOURCES:

Joyce A. Oliver, Director
joliver@belairmd.org
410.638.4550
410.879.2711

Personnel: Position openings, applications and Americans with Disabilities Coordinator and Employee Benefits.

Cultural Arts: Position openings, applications and Americans with Disabilities Coordinator and Employee Benefits.

Special Events: Coordinator for special events (Town sponsored and events on public property)

Town Clerk: Coordinator for Board of Commissioners agenda, elections, interpretation of Town laws

Risk Management: Coordinator for all insurance plans

FINANCE DEPARTMENT:

Lisa M. Moody, Director
lmoody@belairmd.org
410.638.4555
410.879.2712

Taxes: Real, corporate and personal property; Budget information and preparation; Sewer billing and collection

PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

Carol L. Deibel, Director
ssaunders@belairmd.org
410.638.4540
410.879.9500

Planning: Planning Commission/Board of Appeals agendas/requests; general zoning and development information; sign, fence and shed permits; home occupation, permits; GIS information.

Transportation Parking: Preferential parking program and untagged vehicles; Neighborhood Transportation Management program; stop sign requests; lease parking lots and garage.

Environmental: Tree Committee agendas/projects; floodplain and wetland information; forest conservation requirements; memorial tree grove and park planning.

Economic Development: Economic and Community Development projects; new business location; Farmers' Market; demographics and marketing data; Calendar of Events and Christmas Parade.

Historic Preservation: Historic Preservation Commission projects; historic district designation; adaptive reuse of buildings; tax credit administration and historic property owner assistance.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:

Leo F. Matrangola, Chief
lmatrangola@belairmd.org
410.638.4500
410.638.4518
410.893.0200

Deputy Chief/Community Policing Division	410.638.4515
Deputy Chief/Support Services Division	410.638.4506
Parking Violations & Accident Report	410.638.4516
Criminal Investigation Division	410.638.4525
Community Service Officer	410.638.4523
Training Officer	410.638.4456
EMERGENCY	911

FIRE DEPARTMENT:

Rusty Eyre, Chief
3043@bavfc.org
410-638-4401

Bill Snyder, Deputy Chief (General Fire Issues)	410-808-1347	3094@bavfc.org
John Blake, Assistant Chief EMS (General EMS Issues)	410-638-4401	3201@bavfc.org
Kevin Phillips, Fire Prevention	410-638-4401	3447@bavfc.org
Thomas Schaech, Chief	410-638-4401	3119@bavfc.org
EMERGENCY	911

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT:

Randy Robertson, Director
rrobertson@belairmd.org

Streets/Sidewalks: street and sidewalk repairs; street sweeping; snow removal; street signs/traffic painting; parking garage operations/repairs; parking meter maintenance/repairs; parks and playground maintenance and repairs; street light outages and street tree trimming.

410.638.4536 or 410.879.9507

Sanitation: sewer system service and refuse collection including regular refuse, brush, leaves, bagged grass, bulk items and recycling services.

410.638.4545

Engineering: Grading/Stormwater Management/Sediment & Erosion Control permits; project reviews and Town road access permits including driveways.

410.638.4544

Inspections and Facilities: Utility permits; property maintenance violations or inquiries; tall and uncut grass violations and Town facilities maintenance and repairs

410.638.4537

Permits: Building permits; use and occupancy permits; underground storage tank (UST) installation/removal permits; deck permits; pool permits and shed permits.

410.638.4546

ROCKFIELD MANOR:

Jane Pessagno, Operations Manager
rockfield.manor@comcast.net
410.638.4565

BEL AIR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION ALLIANCE:

James Welch, Downtown Manager
welchbelair@aol.com
410.638.1023

BEL AIR BOND EDITOR:

Kathi Santora
ksantora@gmail.com or ksantora@belairmd.org
443.695.3345

BOARDS & COMMISSIONERS:

Bel Air Planning Commission
Board of Appeals
Board of Building Appeals
Economic & Community Development
Historic Preservation Commission
Tree Committee

Telephone: 410.638.4540 or 410.879.9500

Apperance & Beautification Committee

Telephone: 410.638.4539 or 410.879.9507

Board of Election Judges
Cultural Arts Commission
Events Committee
Bel Air Downtown Revitalization Alliance, Inc.

Telephone: 410.638.4550 or 410.879.2711

FIRE DEPARTMENT:

Bill Snyder, Deputy Chief (General Fire Issues)
3094@bavfc.org
410-808-1347

EMERGENCY:

Sewer Backups:

Normal Hours	410.638.4545
Evening, Weekends & Holidays	410.638.4500

Water: Maryland-American Water Company:

Normal Hours	410.838.8403
Evening, Weekends & Holidays	410.838.3494

Fire Department: 911

Poison Control: 1.800.492.2414

TOWN OF BEL AIR OFFICE HOURS:

Administration/Financial Departments

39 Hickory Avenue
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Bel Air Police Department

Entrance in Rear of
29 Hickory Ave
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Open 7 Days A Week
24 Hours A Day

Planning/Public Works Departments

705 Churchville Road
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

SEARCH HARFORD COUNTY MARYLAND REAL ESTATE

Harford County Maryland Real Estate

FREE List of FORECLOSURES and SHORT SALES

I have lived in Maryland all my life and been an active real estate professional for the last 20 years. I have worked with numerous foreclosures, short sales, pre foreclosures, HUD homes and bank owned properties.

If you have a home to sell in Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County or Cecil County call an agent that knows the area and works hard to make you a satisfied client. I specialize in Bel Air, Abingdon, Aberdeen, Forest Hill, Perry Hall, North East, Kingsville and the entire I95 corridor. For 20 years I have helped people buy and sell real estate and specialized in REO and foreclosure properties for investors and homeowners.

When I am not helping my clients with their real estate needs I enjoy spending time with my family and my Pomeranian Zeke, bible study, gardening and foreign mission work. In 2007 I founded Micah Missions a non-profit company designed to raise awareness and funds to assist the struggling Haitian refuges in the Dominican Republic.