How Can You Show Gratitude Every Day?

Showing gratitude is a great way to combat negativity. Here are five ways to show gratitude.

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I wanted to do a little something different today. There has been so much negativity lately surrounding the recent elections. The media does a great job of putting that out there and creating fear and doubt in a lot of us. That negativity can get to us if we let it, so I just wanted to share five ways that you can show gratitude. I believe showing gratitude is a great way to combat negativity. Here’s what you can do:

1.  Write down five things you are grateful for every day before you get out of bed. This could be something simple or could be something deeper.

2. Give away things that you are no longer using. This includes clothing, furniture, computers, phones, and books.

3. Leave sticky notes around your home with inspiring messages on them for you and others to find.

4. Pack a lunch for yourself and a co-worker. Then take the time to sit down with them, talk with them, and listen to what they have to say. A lot of us are guilty of listening with the intent to respond, but this is a situation where you should just listen with the intention of listening.

5. Smile. This one is easy and it’s contagious. Just another simple way to brighten someone’s day.

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I am very grateful for all of you.

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I am very grateful for all of you, for our business, and the fact that we’ve been able to help so many people buy and sell real estate. We look forward to serving you in 2017 and hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Try and put gratitude first and foremost in your life.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

The 5 Home Upgrades With the Best ROI

There are a lot of improvements and upgrades you can do to your home, but not all of them will come with a big return on investment. Today, I wanted to share the top five home improvements you can do to your home to increase the return on the money you invest.

1. Replace the front door. If you can't replace the door, I recommend painting it. It makes the first impression on a buyer driving up to your home, and a new door or new color can really make the house pop. Buyers are looking to see things that are wrong with the house when they walk in, so the fewer objections you can give a buyer - starting with the front door - the better off you are when it comes to negotiation. This yields a better return than 96% of all other renovations.
2. Wood deck additions. This yields an 87.4% return on your money.
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Not all renovations offer a good
return on investment.
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3. Attic, bedroom, or efficiency garage conversions yield an 84.3% return. It's unused space, so if you can convert it into something useful and get back nearly 85% of the money you invest, it's absolutely worth it.
4. Garage door replacement. This goes back to first impressions. Buyers don't want to drive up to a garage door with dings and marks on it, or one that is not working properly. This yields an 83.7% return.
5. Minor kitchen remodels will get you an 82.7% return on investment. Kitchens are really big for buyers, and they want to know that when they move in, they won’t have to invest a ton of money to make it more modern. Minor things like painting the cabinets, replacing the appliances, changing the countertops, or anything that can bring a modern appeal to the kitchen will give you a big return.

These home improvements will bring you the best return on your investment, so they are the things you'll want to focus on if you're thinking of putting your home on the market.

If you're thinking about selling and you'd like to know what you can do in your home specifically to get a better return on investment, give me a call. I'd be happy to give you some advice on how to maximize your return.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, or you have any questions at all about real estate in Southern Maine, don't hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to help you!

5 Tips for Finding a Home Within Your Budget

Today I wanted to give you my five favorite tips for finding a home within your budget.

1. Stick to a firm price. Before you begin looking for a home, you should sit down with a loan officer to find out what you can afford to buy. You also want to think about what you're comfortable spending. Once you've looked at those things and have come up with a budget, stick to it.
2. Communicate with your real estate agent. We're your best friends during this process, and we're here to help you navigate through all the properties, find out whether your financing works for them, negotiate the best deal possible, and get the best terms. We want to hear from you and help you.
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Your Realtor is your best friend
during the process.
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3. Shop only for you. For example, when I bought my home, I brought along friends and family, and of course, everybody had an opinion. At the end of the day, you're the one who needs to live in the home, so as much as you value the opinions of your friends and family members, you have to make the best decision for you and your family.
4. Search for fixer-uppers. Homes in need of a little repair help you get a better price, especially if the seller knows that there are other homes in the area that are more modern and need less work. It also gives you the chance to put your own personal touch on a property. Your Realtor will also help you understand whether your financing will work for the necessary repairs. Some fixer-uppers might need too much repair for the type of financing you have.
5. Save for a down payment. Although there are some programs out there that allow for 100% financing, most require some kind of down payment from 3.5% all the way up to 20%. The more money you put down, the more affordable the house is going to be.

I hope you find these tips helpful if you're thinking about buying a home. If you have any questions about the home buying process or you have questions about the real estate market in Southern Maine, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help!