Kay Bennett Your Cookeville Real Estate Connection!

I was just speaking to my husband this evening and he was telling me about one of his friends who will soon be moving to our area. His friend needs to sell his home that he had built a few years ago, which is a few hours from here in Cookeville Tennessee, and will transition to our area possibly renting until he gets to know the Cookeville area well enough before purchasing. His friend told him he was reluctant in speaking to an agent because he didn't know about real estate or what questions to ask. Ahhh, flashbacks came rushing in so fast! I remembered buying and selling my first home and how I knew nothing about Real Estate or what to ask, what to do, who to talk to.

So, for those who need a good Realtor(R) who will be a good listener, and very informative here are a few things that are important to ask if you need to sell your home:

Hello Mr./Ms. Real Estate Agent,

• Tell me about yourself, your company, and your qualifications?
• Tell me about your marketing plan and list to close procedures?
• Will you provide me with a comparable market analysis of my home and estimated length of time homes are generally on the market in my area?
• What things do I need to do as the home owner to prepare my home for sale and to get the best possible price for my home?
• Will you place my home in local and internet advertising? If so, where do you advertise? I will need you to provide me with advertising in your local real estate books, papers, and popular internet sites and I would like to be informed of this in case I do not want my home listed on a specific site.
• Do you put your listings in the real estate agent's Multiple Listing Systems (MLS) if so, what is the coverage area of this system? and of course, do you co-broke with other real estate firms to sell your listings?
• Will you take pictures of my home inside and out and place these pictures on your MLS and internet sites?
• Will you place a for sale sign on my property?
• Will you take room measurements of my home to place on your advertisements and MLS?
• Do you do virtual tours?
• Please discuss "agency" with me, I need to know what status of agency your company practices. I need to know up front how much information should be discussed with you about my thoughts and opinions as in what I will actually "take" for my house. Will it be discussed with a potential buyer? Yes, please tell me how you practice agency when "you", my agent brings "me" a buyer..I need to know who you are working for, if any of us? Types of agency include dual agency, designated agency, and transaction broker or facilitator... How do you and your company handle these types of situations?
• Please discuss your listing agreement with me as I need to know how many days is our agreement and what is your company policy about getting out of the agreement early in case such need may arise. Does your company charge a fee for listing withdrawal before the listing contract expires?
• Will you discuss the benefits of pre-appraisal and pre-home inspection?
• What is a home warranty? I need to decide if I want to offer this in the sale of my home.

Note: A lot of real estate detail and education are required by your Realtor(R), however your agent is not allowed answer any questions of a legal nature as real estate agents (who are not attorneys) do not have a license to practice law. If you have a legal question regarding real estate, please consult your attorney.

Need to sell your home in Cookeville Tennessee? Give me a call today to discuss an easy transition for you!!

FIRST REALTY COMPANY~ SERVING OUR COOKEVILLE COMMUNITIES SINCE 1979

As our markets are ever changing, it can be a daunting task for a real estate agent to keep up with the market, new regulations, etc. Some agents who jumped into the business when the markets were up are retiring their license now. Why, because in an economic downturn, there are many things to consider when you are an active real estate agent. You can no longer just post a sign in the yard and have the home sold by 5 o'clock. As a flood of homes hit the market, especially foreclosures, a real estate agent must stay on top of current conditions in his/her area to appropriately inform their client/customer. Supply and demand are of utmost importance in real estate and inexperience no longer can play under such tough conditions. In these times, rules and regulations are getting tougher, especially when it comes to lending and special stipulations. Real estate agents are continually educating themselves to stay ahead and informed. Well informed clients and saavy agents will stabilize our markets faster and thus help to bring our economy back to normal.

Are you in need of Real Estate services? If so, here are some things to consider:

• Do hire a Realtor to work with you. Why? Because an experienced agent and company has been through all types of market conditions. They know Real Estate and work with it every day. They can get you what you want and give you information concerning your real estate purchase that you might not be aware of on your own.
• Interview a Real estate agent thoroughly before you agree to work with them. Usually you will sign an buyer's agreement to hire an agent to represent you for buyer, and a listing agreement for seller. When you do, make sure you have discussed what your agent will do for you. Buyer- Make sure your agent will show you any listing in your criteria from any company they co-broke. Make sure your agent will follow up with you during the closing process to make sure everything goes smoothly. If you are new to the area, make sure your agent provides you with area information, maps, and etc. Sellers-make sure your agent will provide you with a comparable market analysis for your home, and advertise your property on multiple MLS systems if applicable. Here in Cookeville TN we have three systems to include Nashville,Upper Cumberland, and Knoxville. Having your listing on multiple systems is a better advantage to you. Sellers, also make sure your agent does heavy Internet and local advertising with Pictures and virtual tours. Don't be afraid to ask for a list of where the agent advertises. A saavy agent will most likely have this material handy for you to obtain in the interview. Also, don't be afraid to contact the agent's broker for additional information about the company and it's longevity in the local market.
• Remember, a good agent doesn't have to be in the busines 20 yrs, but a good track record does count and a good company with years of experience puts you at an advantage. I have seen new agents do an outstanding job for clients, especially with a solid company to support them. Education is key to being a successful real estate agent.

If you are looking to re-locate to the Cookeville or Crossville Tennessee area, Call today for more information. Real Estate is what I do for you!

PUTNAM COUNTY TENNESSEE HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAWNS! 2009 is proving to be a beautiful spring season with plenty of April showers to give us an array of beautiful flowers and fresh lawns to admire. Also, Spring is a perfect time of the year to buy a home or property. With trees budding, picturesque landscapes magnify each and every neighborhood and lawn with perfect color. No wonder why Spring is proven the best time of year for homes sales. Property can still be easily shown. Especially wooded lots are prime to view. While not every tree is full of foliage, you can define the lay of land and see the natural drainage of the property easier this time of year.

As the sun brings us outdoors, the array of God's natural beauty though the budding of trees and flowers is wonderful to enjoy.

From Bradford Pears to beautiful Dogwoods, you will find it all in Cookeville Tennessee... Neigborhood site seeing is a must this time of year.

SPRING INTO ACTION! BUY YOUR NEXT HOME IN COOKEVILLE TENNESSEE! CALL KAY BENNETT FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A LIST OF HOMES FOR SALE TO FIT YOUR CRITERIA!

COOKEVILLE TENNESSEE ~ UPCOMING EVENTS

(DRAGON RENAISSANCE FAIRE)

Hidden Hollow in Cookeville Tennessee presents its Dragon Renaissance Faireand is sure to be a hit with all of us renaissance faire enthusiasts! Come on out and enjoy some cultural activities, and lots of family fun!

Staged in Elizebethian period. You can dress up or just come as you are,but you will be sure to enjoy all the festivities. Live music and dance, games and fun!

Come hungry and enjoy Turkey legs, beef stew bread bowls, or polish sausage with grilled onions and peppers. Nothing like great faire food!

DIRECTIONS: Hidden Hollow Park is located South of Cookeville just off exit 290. From Nashville, turn right then left onto Poplar Grove Rd then left at Rocky Point Rd. Follow the signs to fun and entertainment.

POSTED BY:

Kay Bennett, Realtor (R)

First Realty Company

Cookeville, TN 38501

931-528-1573 ofc.

931-510-8601 agent

I know the big buzz is everywhere about the great tax credit for first time home buyers and I will have to jump in and talk about this great incentive too! Here is a simple run down of what to expect!

• First time home buyers only
• the tax credit does not have to be paid back
• the tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum $8,000
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after Jan 1, 2009 and before Dec 2009
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the tax credit.

Simply put, how this works:

To claim your tax credit, you will claim it on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount and then claim this amount on line 69 of their 1040 income tax return. No other applications or forms are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first time home buyer tests.

For example, when you file your return next year, if you qualify for the full $8,000 credit and owe $1,000 on your tax return, you will receive a check for $7,000.

For more information on the 2009 tax credit, click for the Federal Housing Tax credit website.