Janie Masterson Realtor GRI CLHMS Trusted Real Estate Resource

Clarksville, TN Home of the 101st Airbornne WELCOME HOME!

Negotiating the deal

When a buyer is ready to make you an offer they will contact their agent who will get in touch with me, I'll let you know as the Seller. Buyers should present their offer formally with a contract of purchase and sale.

Most home buyers and home sellers want to arrive at a win-win agreement, but that's not to say either side would regret getting a bigger "win" than the other. Successful negotiating is more than a matter of luck or natural talent. It also encompasses the learned ability to use certain skills and techniques to bring about those coveted win-win results. That's why using an experienced Real Estate Agent is so important.

1. Start with a fair price and a fair offer
There's no question that significantly overpricing your home will turn off potential buyers. Likewise, on the buying side, making an offer that's far lower than the asking price is practically guaranteed to alienate the sellers. Asking and offering prices should be based on recent sales prices of comparable homes. Let your agent work out a Comparison Analysis for you so that you know what the market is in your area. The house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

2. Respect the other side's priorities
Knowing what's most important to the person on the other side of the negotiating table can help you avoid pushing too hard on hot or sensitive issues. For example, a seller who won't budge on the sales price might be willing to pay more of the transaction costs or make more repairs to the home, or pay more in closing costs for the buyer, while a buyer with an urgent move-in date might be willing to pay a higher portion of the transaction costs or forgo some major repairs to close sooner.

3. Be prepared to compromise
"Win-win" doesn't mean both the buyer and the seller will get everything they want. It means both sides will win some and give some. Rather than approaching negotiations from an adversarial winner-take-all perspective, focus on your top priorities and don't let your emotions overrule your better judgment.

I am a respected, experienced Real Estate Agent with years of negotiating skills, give me a call to discuss your next Real Estate Transaction.

Janie Masterson, Realtor, GRI, CLHMS janie@janiemasterson.com

Here are a few ideas to keep your home cool and save on the pocket book.

In most homes during the summer months air conditioning accounts for 40-50% or more of the annual electric bill. So, this is the best place to start controlling your own energy consumption.

Keep your thermostat at 78 with the fan switch on "auto."

Cool your home only when you're there. When you leave for the day, move the thermostat up to 82 and turn it back down to 78 when you come back. It costs a lot less to bring the temperature down to 78 than it does to keep it at 78 all day. You can even buy an inexpensive programmable thermostat that will do this for you automatically, so your home will be nice and cool whenever you're there...and you won't be wasting money when you're not.

Remind everyone in the family how thermostats work: Your house won't cool down faster if you set the thermostat at 70. It just wastes money. If you want the temperature at 78, set the thermostat at 78.

Ceiling fans don't actually cool a room; they just make you feel cooler. That means they don't do you any good when nobody's in the room so you can turn them off. Try setting your thermostat a few degrees higher and use your ceiling fan to keep you cool while you are in the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month, depending on age and size.

Clean or change your A/C filter once a month. A clogged filter makes your A/C work harder than it has to.

Maintain proper airflow through your system. Keep the interior door and vents open to help your A/C circulate air more efficiently.

Keep sunlight out during summer months. If you have a lot of windows, you'll save on air conditioning if you keep the drapes or blinds closed when you're not home.

Check your duct system for leaks. If you have central air, check all the ducts and seals. If they leak, you're wasting money.

Importance of Walking

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing
home at $7000 per month.

My grandpa started walking
five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he's 97 years old
and we don't know where he is.

I like long walks,
especially when they are taken
by people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking
is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

I joined a health club last year,
spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.

Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate.

I do have flabby thighs,
but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day
is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, (s)he looks good doesn't (s)he.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,
start with a small country.

I know I got a lot of exercise
the last few years
just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older
because there's a lot more information stored in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AND

Every time I start thinking too much
about how I look,
I just find a Happy Hour
and by the time I leave,
I look just fine.