Chris Hill

OK so today is finally supposed to be the last day of heavy rain and winds here since wednesday and the remnants of Hurricane Ida! This rain has really "dampened" (no punn intended) my week. I had a planned closing on a home I built scheduled for yesterday. The sod on the lawn was scheduled to be installed on last wednesday (rain or shine) well it rained and rained and rained! The weather was so bad we couldnt get the sod down. Well after begging some very angry customers to wait it out. They have agreed to extend it until This Wednesday. Well for the first time in over 20 years of building homes, I have contractors installing the lawn on a SUNDAY. I just hope this will all work out and I can get this behind me. The rain really made this week difficult. Wish me luck.

Saint Michaels School in Ridge Maryland is planning their First Annual Fall Festival. The festival should be a real blast and benefit the school. The event is being catered by Paul Thompson of Thonpson's Seafood. There will be Stuffed Ham, Fried Oysters, and Turkey. Should be a great time.

13 Reasons to list your HOME Fall and Winter 2009!

Why listing in the fall/winter might actually BENEFIT you verses waiting until the spring/summer

1A+++ BRAND NEW REASON+++ $6,500 tax credit if you sell and buy now.... And $8000 to a buyer - that's a good reason all by itself! Selling your home NOW is worth up to $14,500 in tax credits for you and the buyer if you sell BEFORE April 30th.

1. Inventory of competition is lower, so your home stands out better with the serious buyers, who have less to choose from. Your odds of selling go UP during this time of year! You see... A LOT of people feel just like you... and don't understand that there will be FLOOD of new listings on the market after the holidays... And that increased supply without an equal increase in demand, can cause prices to take a dip again. If you want to sell for the most money possible, now is the time!
2. Only the serious buyers are out in the fall/winter, so fewer people running through your house, but you are more likely to get a contract from those that do come through! And think about how fantastic it will be to have this all finished when others are just getting started.
3. Taking photos in the fall can be a big asset, as they look great on the internet, MLS, and flyers before the winter sets in. A photo taken in Jan/Feb/March may not be as attractive as one in Oct/Nov/Dec.
4. Your home may show better while decorated for Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah. Your home may look nicer this time of year than any other! Why not have potential buyers see it while it looks it's best? Fireplaces, evergreens, scented candles... All can add to the beauty inside when it's not so pretty outside. Contrast can equal a sale!
5. It's OK to specify for "no showings" during certain times during the holidays. Lockbox can even be removed. Because you're planning a few holiday events is no reason to not be for sale the rest of the time!
6. Houses feel more like "homes" when you come in from the cold weather. This cozy feeling causes emotions in a Buyer you can't get other times of the year.
7. People stay home more in colder weather and online searches go way up. With today's technology and my expertise in marketing your home online, the chances you get sold before the 1st of the year rise in November/December.
8. Buyers who buy closer to the end of the year often pay closer to full price than other times of the year, as they are often buying under a deadline, so have less time to negotiate and less inventory to choose from, getting you the BEST price.
9. Buyers have more day-times off during mid-November through January, increasing serious buyer traffic during normal business hours verses showings during your evenings and weekends.
10. Buyers at this time often have an "urgency factor". Many employers want new hires to start in January, so they can't wait to buy your home. If you don't list until after January 1, you might miss out on those buyers. They can't buy yours if it's not for sale!
11. Many buyers that need to buy by end of the year don't have to occupy the home right away. Late occupancies are common during this time, allowing you a real win-win. They win with lower interest rates now, and you may be able to negotiate your move for later.
12. Decreased demand on lenders, appraisers, home inspectors, movers and other vendors during this time can cause your escrow processing to be smoother and easier than during busy times of the year.
13. The bottom line is that if your home isn't available, you may miss YOUR perfect buyer! If you know you want to sell, don't wait. "You can't win if you don't play" as they say... The Question really is - why delay? What's the downside to listing now?

Well Sunday was an adventure that I thought I would share with you all. As you may know my children attend a Great Catholic School in Ridge MD. Recently the Archdiocese of Washington has revealed it will no longer be able to financially support the Catholic Schools in the area due to economic hardships... So on Sunday our School community formed a Pilgramage to the old original Church in St. Inigoes MD that was formed by the Jesuits prior to the revolution. This Pilgramage couldn't have occured on a worse weather day. It was raining all day. But despite the weather there were almost 100 people that showed up to support the school. This school is really a step back in time. Where the staff and student have respect for one another. It is a remarkable location filled with love and care for the student. Not to mention the quality of the education is also Top Notched. The school really is in need of financial aid. If you could swing some sort of financial support I am including a link to the school website that has a donation page. Your support will definitely be appreciated. Here are a few pics of the pilgramage.

www.saint-michaels-school.org

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. For some reason my wife loves Halloween. She says its her favorite holiday. The kids really seemed to love it too. Here is a picture of the pumpkin my Daughter painted and decorated. She loves being a princess.