ONLINE RELOCATION PACKAGE

HAGERSTOWN MD.  Historic Places.  Coming Events.  Posted to Localism.com, by Margaret Woda. 

The Miss Maryland Pageant began today, with contestants arriving in Hagerstown for a hectic week of rehearsals, appearances and competition (June 24-July 1).  If you've never been to Hagerstown or to a Miss America state pageant preliminary, this is a great opportunity for you to experience both.  And you still have time to get tickets, which are very affordable.

Competition is held Wednesday thru Sunday at the historic Maryland Theater on Potomac Street, one of Maryland's genuine treasures.  Visiting that venue is worth the trip to Hagerstown from anywhere in the state.  Built in 1915, partially destroyed by fire in the 1970's and re-opened in 1978, the ambiance of the theater takes you back to a different time.  There is an historic pipe-organ, wonderful acoustics, box seats overlooking the stage, beautiful lighting, and seating for about 1300 people.  It's really a breath-taking facility!

Twenty "Miss" contestants, representing Anne Arundel County and other areas of the state, will first compete in talent, swimsuit, evening gown and private interview on Wednesday and Thursday.  The finals will be on Saturday night, and the winner will advance to the Miss American Pageant to represent Maryland - as did Brittany Lietz of Edgewater, last year.   On Friday night, fifteen young ladies will compete for Miss Maryland Outstanding Teen.   

For ticket information, contact Richard Kibler - (540) 722-8007 - or purchase them at the Maryland Theater Box Office - )301)790-2000.  All performances take place at 8 p.m.

Remember Margaret in Maryland for real estate in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle. 

CROFTON MD 21114, GAMBRILLS MD 21054, ODENTON MD 21113 

Suburban Scene Magazine is a relatively new publication that focuses on places, people, and events in the areas of Crofton, Gambrills and Odenton in Anne Arundel County, MD.  A few weeks ago, I was asked to contribute to their cover story for May, which focused on real estate in the area.  Our Real Estate Picture, by Laura Gayvert, was extremely informative with information about real estate past and present, as well as some predictions for the future.  Several local Realtors and lenders were quoted and even pictured, and several different communities were highlighted.  Take a few minutes to read this, if you're considering a home in Crofton, Gambrills or Odenton, or anywhere in the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis triangle.

Contact Margaret in Maryland, for real estate in the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle.  (Margaret Woda,  RE/MAX Vision)

Well, actually, that was lesson #3 learned from my listing at 1697 Walleye Dr.

Lesson # 1 - The Internet IS a source of business for real estate agents.   This listing came to me directly through an ActiveRain contact form for a property located about 3 blocks from my office, in the heart of my target area in Crofton, MD. 

Lesson # 2 - Do not walk away from any listing, even if it is overpriced.  I did at first, but had second thoughts as I drove down the street.  The next morning I called the home owner and said "If anyone can sell your property for more than $300,000, I can."  Over the next few weeks, I had several sign calls on that property, ending up with at least one other listing and sale.

Lesson #3 - Appraisals are not the last word!  We did get a full price offer of $333,000 about 30 days later.  Concerned about the appraisal, I asked the seller to provide her receipts for renovations, which I then gave to the appraiser.  In spite of documentation for more than $50,000 of renovations, the appraisal came in at $295,000, just $11,000 more than she paid for the property in October 2006. 

The mortgage lender, new ActiveRainer Don Wilkins, immediately ordered a second appraisal.  Again, I met the appraiser and gave him the package of receipts.  This time, the appraisal came in at $306,000 - better, of course, but still $27,000 away from the contract price.  Many agents and lenders would have let the appraiser have the last word and this sale would have died at this point.

But not me, not us...  Super-heroine Margaret, along with the super-hero co-op agent, informed our respective clients of the situation and asked how they felt about going forward (without mentioning our own doubts).  My client said she would consider it, if the buyers could/would waive the closing help in the original contract.  The buyers told their agent that they would waive the closing help in the original contract, if the seller would accept the sale price.  Voila!  They came together on their own, and they both feel they "won" because the solution was THEIR OWN IDEA.

The buyer and seller reached a fair compromise, facilitated by two experienced agents and a lender willing to seek a second appraisal.  They, not the appraiser, got the last word.  Settlement will be next week, and all are expected to live happily ever after!

Remember Margaret in Maryland for real estate in the D.C.-Baltimore-Washington triangle. 

Choosing your agent.  Part 1 of 2.

Before the interview...

If you live in Maryland, or anywhere in America, you probably know a Realtor or two or three.  You might even be related to one or more.  So how do you choose a professional to help sell YOUR home?  There are several steps you can take to narrow down the list before you interview any agent in person.

1. First, create a list. - Start with any agent who has done a good job for you in the past and any that you've heard friends or family rave about, based upon their pleasant and profitable home sale or purchase.  You may wish to add any agent who has kept in touch with you regularly through postal mail or email, or whose signs you've noticed in your neighborhood - assuming, of course, those signs read "sold".
2. Do a google search or a yahoo search (or both) to find out whether they have a presence in cyberspace.  That is essential in today's market, because cyberspace is where most buyers start their home search, and you want to work with someone who is comfortable in that world.  They don't have to be on page 1 when you search by community, because that is often dominated by the large firms' corporate websites, but the agent should at least appear when you search their name and their local office.
3. Visit each agent's website.  Ask yourself, "What's in it for me?"  Is their focus on YOU-YOU-YOU, the consumer, or is it me-me-me, the agent...  Of course, you want to learn about the agent's professional background and qualifications through their website, but you'll also learn a lot about them and their approach to business by the articles and links they provide, including mls searches.  If there are non-working links and mis-spellings throughout the website, ask yourself if that lack of attention to detail is a quality you want in the agent who represents you.
4. Contact each agent by email or phone (or both), to find out how quickly the agent responds.  The Number 1 complaint I hear from consumers about their agents is "He didn't call me back" or "I never hear from him."
5. Contact each agent's office to inquire about a listing.  (Or ask a friend to do this for you.)  You will get a good indication of how inquiries about YOUR property will be handled.  If they encourage the caller to make an appointment to see the property, that's a good thing.  If they tell the caller about another listing they have that is better priced or a better location or ..., that is probably not how you want inquiries handled about YOUR home.

If you take these steps before you interview an agent, it is likely that one or more of them will be eliminated from your list.  That will help you to minimize the risk of succumbing to personality over substance when you meet face to face.  While it is important for you to like your agent, personality alone is not enough to get the job done in today's tough real estate market.

The next step, interviewing prospective agents face to face, is a topic for another day.

Do Your Homework Before You Choose An Agent.  Copyright 2007.  All Rights Reserved.  Margaret Woda.

WELCOME TO MARYLAND!

Whether you are relocating to Maryland, or already live here, look no further than the website for Maryland Department of Tourism to learn about places to visit and things to do in Maryland.

You will find information for Planning a Maryland Visit, including information about and links to Western Maryland, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland, the Capitol Region, and the Eastern Shore, including maps, photos and descriptions of counties in each of these areas.

There is a family-friendly Kid's Room, with information about Maryland history, topography, interesting facts, interesting places to visit, and even games to help your kids learn about Maryland cities and state symbols.

There is information about places to dine, places to stay, and places to see while you are in Maryland.  You will learn about transportation in Maryland, ranging from rail to air to roadways.

Photos:  Maryland's Eastern Shore and Western Maryland

To obtain a FREE MARYLAND TRAVEL KIT, including a Travel Guide, Map and Calendar of Events simply click on the link to request one online.

If you would like to show your Maryland pride by wearing or using Maryland merchandise, be sure to visit MARYLAND YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Enjoy! 

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If you are relocating to the Maryland, be sure to contact Margaret Woda at RE/MAX Vision, 410-451-1900.  She's been helping Maryland homebuyers over 30 years, and she'd be happy to help you now.