How to Remodel with Potential Buyers in Mind

When you are remodeling your home it is important to strike a balance between your needs, the
needs of future potential buyers. According to Remodel Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report,
homeowners can typically expect to recoup over 70 percent of what they pay for a minor kitchen
remodel. Focus on the basics, like cabinet resurfacing, countertops, and flooring but stay away from pricey hand-painted tiles or built-in espresso machines. Remember, bold or unique product
selections such as orange cabinets or red countertops will likely alienate future buyers, so stick to
neutral themes.

Do your research to determine what remodels yield the highest return on your investment. When selecting an area to remodel be conscious of your neighborhood. Remember, your location is a large indicator of the price you can expect from future buyers, so if you do indulge in high-ticket items, enjoy them, but don’t expect a large return on your splurge. Currently, the remodels with the highest returns are: entryway doors, garage doors, finished basements or attics, and vinyl siding.

To learn more or to speak with one of our REALTORS, contact our office today at 626.358.1858 or 626.963.7621.

The CENTURY 21® System Offers Training for Associates at All Levels

In an ever-changing real estate market, it is critical to be ahead of the most current industry trends and what it takes to be competitive. The CENTURY 21® System has one of the best training teams in the industry, as evidenced by our 2009 Training Magazine’s Top 125 award.What could be better than being part of a company that has award winning training for sales associates? The answer is simple, being part of a brand that offers affordable award-winning training for sales associates.

REO, Short Sales, Blogging, Social Networking – just a handful of buzz words being tossed around in real estate these days, important buzz words that have real estate professionals’ heads spinning. The CENTURY 21 training organization stays up-to-date on what is going on in the industry, and then creates useful training programs on current topics, designed specifically to help our agents be among the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry.

Take a look at this list of training topics available at no cost to all CENTURY 21 Agents:

Attitude: Persevere and Stay on Track, Contact Management Made Easy, Social Networking, Developing an Online Business Plan, Blogging for Online Visibility, REO and Short Sales Overview, Going Green, Anatomy of a House, Staying in Touch With Clients, How to Have an Open HouseWhether you are new to the real estate industry or a seasoned veteran, there is always something new for you to learn. Our training department has created a curriculum designed to offer something for everyone, regardless of experience level.This curriculum can be broken down into four categories:

Sales Skills – including the popular CREATE 21® Golden Edition program, Capitalizing on Market Dynamics, the Success Series, and a compilation of many live, online free training classes.

Coaching and Accountability – consists of our Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) with a web-based reporting dashboard and participation of the sales manager.

Niche Markets & Specializations – learn how to grow your business and expand your knowledge with programs focused on CENTURY 21 Fine Homes & Estates®, New Home Sales, Mature Moves and Commercial Brokerage.

Designations –Perception is everything! If you want to be perceived as an expert, pursue a designation or certification. We have many to choose from. Courses such as CENTURY 21 Global Referral Network Sales Associate and Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) are available.

Of course we are just scratching the surface of what is available to all CENTURY 21 System Sales Associates. We have an Online Resource Library with dozens of topics, including How To’s, Agent Scripts, and Agent Tools. by Design, Marketing Yourself as a Real Estate Expert, and More!

Five Reasons Why Owning a Home is Better Than Renting

The housing market is on the mend in many parts of the country, but media reports about falling prices and foreclosures may still be making you hesitate before taking the plunge and buying a new home. The truth is this: There’s never been a better time to buy a home.

Low interest rates, a great supply of houses from which to choose, and motivated sellers are just a few of the reasons why now is a great time to buy. But there are many other advantages to owning a home, rather than renting. Here are just a few:

• The potential to build equity. Sure, there are still reports of falling prices in some parts of the nation. But, in general and over time, you are likely to build equity in your new home. Plus, if you stay in your house long enough, you will ultimately pay off your mortgage and own it outright.
• Tax savings. For many, the interest on a home mortgage, and real estate property taxes, are tax deductible. Rent is not. Check with your financial advisor for more information.
• Control. Want to remodel your home, repaint the exterior or plant some flowers? If you own your own home, you are free to do so, subject only to local zoning ordinances and homeowners association or condominium rules. If you rent, you cannot make these changes unless the landlord agrees.
• Stable housing costs. If you have a fixed rate mortgage, your principal and interest are fixed, and your payments are predictable. But a landlord can raise your rent.
• Pride of ownership. If you purchase a house, it’s yours! To many, owning a home is the very epitome of the American dream. And, with a sense of permanence, you will establish roots in your community.

Would you like to learn more about the advantages of home ownership or take advantage of today’s opportunities? Give our CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes offices a call today to learn about available homes in your area. 626.358.1858 - Monrovia / 626.963.7621 - Glendora.

The CENTURY 21 System Launches Innovative Tool

Have you recently listed your home for sale, or do you plan to do so soon? If so, then you probably understand the importance of marketing your property on the Internet. After all, a recent National Association of Realtors survey of home buyers and sellers found that about 90 percent of home buyers use the Internet to search for a
new home.

CENTURY 21 home listings typically appear on over 500 websites, which provide extensive exposure for our listings. With so many websites, however, it can be overwhelming to monitor the effectiveness of online marketing efforts. That’s why the CENTURY 21 System has introduced an exciting new tool that will make it easier for CENTURY 21 Agents to monitor the online activity of their listings—and to keep sellers up to date on who’s looking at their homes online as well as any leads resulting from those views.

Called “The Golden Ruler,” this reporting tool also helps Agents keep better track of online listings and their marketing efforts. That means that sellers will have more extensive information, in real time, as to how their online listing is performing.

The Golden Ruler is an innovative way that CENTURY 21 supports the online marketing efforts of our sellers and Agents.

The Golden Ruler will not only keep sellers up to date on which websites their homes are listed on, but it will also indicate the number of page views, visits and leads.It provides information about the geographic area that leads are coming from and how similar properties are performing within the CENTURY 21 network of websites as well.

Interested in learning more about The Golden Ruler and other tools we use to market our listings? Give our CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes offices a call today at 626.358.1858 - Monrovia or 626.963.7621 - Glendora.

Do You Need A Home Warranty?

When Lisa Santucci moved from Kansas to Florida last December, she was happy to learn that her 16-year-old home carried a warranty. “We felt like it was an incentive for us to purchase,” she says. “We were new to the area, and we wanted to be sure that if something did go wrong, we had something to fall back on.”

Santucci hasn’t had to use her warranty yet. But she says she has peace of mind knowing it’s there.

A home warranty is a renewable service contract that covers the repair or replacement of many of the most frequently occurring breakdowns of home system components and appliances, according to Heather Wilson, a spokeswoman for American Home Shield, one of the nation’s largest home warranty sellers. These breakdowns are usually not covered by homeowners insurance.

According to the Service Contract Industry Council, home warranty sales increased in 2009. Many sellers added home warranties to help distinguish their properties from others on the market, and many buyers insisted on a warranty before completing their purchase, the SCIC said.

Items covered by a typical home warranty include major systems such as the HVAC and plumbing, as well as appliances. Some warranties offer additional coverage for pools, spas, extra air conditioners, etc. The average cost of a home warranty is $300 to $500, Wilson said. It must be renewed annually.

Home warranties can provide both financial and emotional security for buyers of existing homes. But they may not be necessary for every purchase.
New homes, for example, carry a homeowners warranty directly from the builder. In addition, home warranties are limited in scope. Buyers need to
read their contract carefully to understand what the warranty covers and does not cover.

Want to learn more about home warranties? Give our CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes offices a call today at 626.358.1858 - Monrovia or 626.963.7621 - Glendora.