Avoid these common mistakes when buying a home

Home buying can be a frustrating experience, but choosing a competent real estate agent to guide you through the 

process will likely save you time and money. Here are some tips to avoid costly mistakes.

• Get pre-approved BEFORE you start your home search. Pre-approval will give you a realistic price point when viewing potential homes and puts you in a better position to make a serious offer.
• Research the neighborhood. Learn about crime statistics, schools and amenities within your potential town.
• Look beyond the décor. Focus on the structure itself, square footage and layout. Look beyond the taste of the current homeowner, and remember you are buying the actual house.
• Never skip the inspection. Your home is likely the biggest investment you will ever make, a home inspection is necessary to ensure it is a sound structure or at the very least, make you aware of any defects.
• Give yourself an out. Make sure there are contingencies (such as financing or inspection) in the contract so you can back out of the deal and recoup your deposit.
• Don’t buy the most expensive house on the block. The lower home values around your property will negatively affect your property's value.
• Keep resale value in mind. It may be difficult to envision selling a home that you have yet to live in, but remember to consider long-term property value, location and overall mass appeal, when viewing a potential home.

And remember to call our offices today so that one of our knowledgeable sales professionals can help guide you through your home buying experience.

Team CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes Enjoys it's Annual Company Luau and Award Ceremony

This Sunday (June 10, 2012) our team of REALTORS at CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes came together with family and friends to take part in the our annual company luau and award ceremony.

Enjoying a gorgeous Monrovian summer afternoon our crew played the afternoon away with a hearty game of limbo, a messy pie eating contest, a very wet water balloon toss and the usual mayhem that occurs when buckets of water meet little kids.

The food was also delicious and we don't believe anyone went home with an empty belly.

We are proud as a company to have a team of professionals who enjoy each other's company as much as we do. 


To see our entire luau photo album follow us here: Company Luau

Gardening Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you are a garden novice or a seasoned green thumb expert, avoid common gardening mistakes with 
these tips.

1. Pay attention to your property. Observe what areas receive the most sunlight and if there are areas that are often shaded throughout the day. Is there an area that collects an excess of water?
2. Read care instructions on trees, shrubs and plants. Learn and adhere to proper spacing instructions. Remember, spacing may seem excessive at first, but as plants grow and flourish they will increase in size and require adequate space.
3. Take pictures of your space and bring them to your local nursery with your notes and observations of sun exposure. The experts may have some advice and ideas for what will thrive and complement your yard.
4. Install an irrigation system in your yard or be vigilant about watering plant roots according to necessary specifications. This is especially important in the early stages to ensure the plants take root.
5. Landscaping and upkeep can be time consuming and expensive. Choose plant life that will not break your budget, this may entail landscaping your space in stages.

Relay for Life in Monrovia Will Be Here Before You know It

June 02 will be here before you know it and once again our team of walking REALTORS at CENTURY 21 Adams & Barnes will take to Recreation Park in Monrovia and kick off the 24 hour relay towards a cure for cancer.

All of our team members had been affected, directly or indirectly, by this terrible disease which continues to take human lives. Great strides have been taken towards finding solutions but there is so much research and hard work to be done.

Relay for Life is our opportunity to help raise funds and it is also our chance to pay tribute to the countless men, women and children who have struggled with the disease.

We encourage you to visit our team's website, supportrelay.com and help our efforts. Also, if you'd like to participate in the day's relay please contact our team captain Lary Kubel for more information at 626-203-6384.

We look forward to this year's events.

Monrovia Relay for Life 2011 

Tips for buying and selling homes at the same time

When you are buying a property while selling a property your real estate agent is more important than ever. A qualified and competent agent should be able to give you an accurate estimation of the price your current property may trade for, which is crucial if the sale of the property is contingent on the purchase of another.

Follow the same basic rules when selling your home: get organized by disposing or donating unused items, stage your property, and pack anything you don’t need on a daily basis in preparation for a move. Get a home inspection and make any necessary repairs for your potential buyers and a pre-approval letter to give to sellers of a property you may be interested in. Any proactive and preventative steps you complete will expedite both the home selling and buying process.

When listing your home be realistic with potential offers and ask for a closing date that fits your schedule. Perhaps, if the property you are purchasing is contingent on the sale of your current property, you can ask your buyers for an early closing date. If you have yet to find a property to purchase, you may ask for a later closing date so you won’t have to rent in the interim. No matter what your circumstances are, organization, pre-planning, in-depth knowledge of your finances, coupled with a skilled and experienced real estate professional, are vital aspects to the process.