No showings? Don't Know What to do? Start by Changing the Marketing!

If your home has been on the market for a month or more, and the price seems right by all indications, yet your home is not being shown, there ARE some things that you can do.

Did you ever hear that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result? Well, that certainly holds true for real estate marketing, too.

There are TWO VERY IMPORTANT things that you can do, or that you can instruct your agent to do if they haven't mentioned it to you already.

First and probably MOST important. Change the photographs of the home, especially the main marketing shot.  Buyers and agents alike have a good memory, and if the home's main photo isn't truly eye catching or has "become stale", it's time to change it.  That could be the very root of your problems.

Secondly, most agents put together a "write up" on your home. If that is not attracting buyers, then it should be changed. Maybe another buzz word or catch phrase will do the trick.

Make sure you review the photos and write-up, and give your final approval on both.

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

New to the Market Today- The Most Exquisite Colonial in Easton for $1.4M

Elegant in every way, this 5,951 square foot Georgian Style Colonial is  private and secluded, yet less than 5 miles to the Merritt Parkway.

Luxuriously appointed, meticulously maintained, and designed to perfection, this home is an entertainers dream and delight. Outstanding features include a grand two story entrance with dual staircases and balcony, a gourmet kitchen  with top of the line appliances, and a master bedroom suite  with a fireplace in the  sitting room, dual custom cherry closets, and a spa like bath. This home is right out of something liek Architectural Digest, and with so many outstanding features, it won't be available for too long. View additional photos HERE, or

.... View this home at 125 Norton Road in Easton by appointment ONLY, with pre-approvals in hand. Contact Exclusive Listing Agent Judy Szablak for your private tour, which we can arrange as early as tomorrow afternoon. (July 10, 2012)

Here's a small taste of what this home has to offer. ( The foyer balcony view, and the Foyer itself. )

Contact Judy Today by phone or SMS (203)257-5892 or email Judy@BestAgentsOnline.com

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Buying or Selling a Home in Easton or in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  easton or in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Security Check: Has Your Computer Been Infected with the DNS changer?

It's all over the news, and the alert is NO JOKE. There are many people who could find out tomorrow (July 9, 2012)  that their computer is not operating properly, and those infected will not be able to log onto the internet. Let's hope that you are not one of them.  You can use the links below to perform a safety check.

TRUSTED: The information and links below are provided from FOXnews.

"Internet users scanning their Twitter feeds or Facebook accounts Sunday might want to add one more quick click to check their computer for malware.

Thousands of people around the country whose computers were infected with malicious software more than a year ago faced the possibility of not being able to get online after midnight EDT.

At 12:01 a.m. EDT, the FBI planned to shut down the Internet servers set up as a temporary safety net to keep infected computers online for the past eight months. The court order the agency obtained to keep the servers running expired, and it was not renewed.

The problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of more than 570,000 infected computers around the world. When the FBI went in to take down the hackers late last year, agents realized that if they turned off the malicious servers being used to control the computers, all the victims would lose their Internet service.

Check your computer using one of these TRUSTED sources.

http://www.dns-ok.us/
http://www.dcwg.org/?page_id=381

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates July 6, 201212

Here is a sneak peek of residential mortgage rates and some brief news to share.  Treasury prices are making small gains this morning as central banks around the world hope to bolster their economies but cutting key interest rates.  China cut its benchmark rates for the second time in a month and the ECB dropped its rate by 0.25% to 0.75%.  Lastly, the Bank of England announced it will augment the scope of its stimulus program by 50 billion pounds.  The US economic calendar is busy today ahead of tomorrow's non-farm payroll report.  The weekly jobless claims report was better than expected as initial claims of 374k were lower than the expected 386k.

 Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed          3.625%                  APR 3.671%

Conventional 15 year fixed          2.875%                  APR 2.981%

Conventional 5/1 ARM                  2.625%                  APR 3.160%

Conventional 7/1 ARM                  2.75%                    APR 3.133%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 740 and a 20% down payment.

This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law.

 

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

 NMLS #110681

send Nima an email

Mobile: 203-913-6016
Fax: 877-804-5752

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

 

How to Pack Smarter for Your Move To, From or Within Connecticut

Moving day will be here sooner than you think. You probably wish you could blink your eyes and everything would arrive in its proper place in your new home. But you’re not a genie. It’s going to take careful thought, smart preparation, and plenty of muscle to get your belongings from their places in your current home to the right spot in your new one. Here are some ideas to help you get ready for moving day.

Plan. Plan. Plan.

You may have the urge to start tossing your things in boxes and sorting them out in your new place. Resist that urge. Plan ahead to make sure you move out and move in as easily possible.
•    Think about your new home: layout, size, number of rooms. Chances are you’re going to have to organize your stuff in a different way than it is in your current home. Those changes affect how you pack.
•    Draw out a floor plan of your new place. Look at the bedrooms, living spaces, and kitchen. Start planning where things will go. Literally draw objects into the floor plan so that you can visualize them in your new home.
•    Download MoveTools™, an iPad moving app to help you plan and organize the move.
Buy Supplies
Having the right equipment ready will make your move a little less painful. You’ll want these supplies on hand:
•    Boxes for your stuff. This one is obvious. Get about double what you're thinking, because you don’t want to overload them, and you definitely don’t want to run out of boxes at the last minute!
•    Bubble wrap and packing paper to protect valuables. Use packing tape to seal boxes.
•    Plastic sandwich bags, blank stickers, and permanent markers. You’ll find out why later.

Sort. And Purge.

Let’s face it: We all have a lot of stuff that we just don’t need. Do you really want to pack up, haul, and unpack stuff you never use and don’t care about? Before you pack anything, start by separating stuff you need from stuff you don’t.
•    Start in the storage area of your house. The basement, the attic, a closet – wherever you keep that mass of stuff you think you need but never use.
•    Go through things. If you haven’t used, looked at, or at least thought about something in a couple of years, separate it into the “purge” pile.
•    Don’t be afraid to keep valuables or special items – even if you don’t use them often. Put these types of objects together, and pack them safely in case you don’t open them for a while.
•    Decide how you’re going to get rid of stuff. Donate it to charity? Hold a garage sale? Leave it by the curb and hope someone takes it?

Get Packing

The moment of truth has arrived. All your planning has come down to this. Keep a few things in mind while you’re packing:
•    Don’t forget to wrap breakables in bubble wrap or packing paper.
•    Make sure to line the bottom of your boxes with peanuts or crumpled-up newspaper. Place the heavier items on the bottom and the lighter items on the top.
•    When everything is packed in a particular box, sprinkle in some more packing peanuts, tape up the box, and label it.

Preparing Furniture

It’s tempting not to prep furniture and hope that everything survives the move without a scratch. But taking a few extra minutes on the front end can save you from getting a big headache. Here are a few ideas to keep your furniture protected during the move:
•    Remember the plastic sandwich bags, blank stickers, and permanent marker we suggested earlier? They come in handy when you’re disassembling things like tables, bookshelves, and cribs. Nuts, bolts, and washers go in a plastic bag, which can then be taped to the underside of a piece of furniture. For items that have a lot of individual components, use the stickers to label each item so you can easily assemble the furniture again.
•    Apply wax to fine woods to prevent scratches.
•    Put pillows and coverings in plastic garbage bags. Make sure to fasten the bags so debris can’t get in.
•    Wrap important furniture with blankets or bubble wrap for extra protection.

Take A Deep Breath

You’re finished packing. Relax, but don’t lose too much steam: You’ll need to unpack everything soon. Get some rest before the big day. Go visit some of your favorite places, or spend time with friends and family. And keep things in perspective: Moving is hard work, but there’s an end in sight.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate  in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy