Lose 200 lbs. this weekend!

Since it is so HOT outside, this is the perfect time to work INSIDE your home and lose at least 200 lbs in the process!
How?  By De-Cluttering every room and every closet!  You can get rid of a minimum of 200 lbs of junk and trash in just 2 days!  And you probably won’t even break a sweat!
Where to begin?  Start with the most obvious rooms and where you will see the quickest “weight loss”.  For me, it was my kitchen.   Think YARD SALE….and if you are like me, you hate having a yard sale.   So I told my teenage grandaughter that if she would run the yard sale (pricing the stuff and actually sitting there all morning) I would half all the proceeds with her.  She was delighted and so was I.    Anyhow, once you are thinking YARD SALE, you begin to see more and more “stuff” that you haven’t used in forever that is taking up precious space and that you probably won’t ever use in the future and could sell it for a few bucks…so OUT it goes to the Garage/Carport/Yard Sale pile.   I had so many odds and ends taking up cabinet space in my kitchen…not to mention a 3 month supply of expired diet food in my pantry.  My trash pile grew at the same rate as my Yard Sale pile.  But, boy, did it feel good to free up all that room in my kitchen!

What next?  Once you get on the cleanout, throw out roll, DON’T STOP!  You don’t want to lose your momentum or your mindset.  Why was I saving that huge stack of Southern Living magazines anyway?  And did I really need 25 flower vases taking up space on my shelves?  All those size 8 outfits will be completely out of style before I even get back down to a size 10.  Surely there is someone out there who could be wearing them now!  So if you don’t put clothes in your YARD SALE, then donate them to a local clothing bank or Goodwill and get a tax writeoff instead of cash!

How to manage it all?  When you go into a room to begin your “weight loss”, take a big garbage can, a big box for YARD SALE items, a big box for “give or return to family members/friends” items, and a big box for DONATE items.  Make a decision on each item and put it in the proper container.  This keeps it simple and keeps you on track for the job at hand.  At this rate, you are sure to lose much more than 200 lbs. from your home!

Celebrate!  When it is all cleaned out, separated into categories and delivered to its destinations, then sit back and admire your new SLIMMER home and enjoy your more spacious surroundings.  And if you are planning to sell your home in the near future, you have just made progress at getting it ready for showing to prospective buyers!   When the weather is cooler, you can work on your outside curb appeal….that’s another day!!

Stay cool…and remember, when its time to

Buy or Sell, call Bob and Gail !  334-524-8200

P.S.  We made over $400 at our YARD SALE!  My grandaughter was thrilled!

Market Days in UpTown Columbus are here!

Hooray!  Market Days are back…every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. til noon in UpTown Columbus, Georgia, on Broadway.  For an entire block on Broadway, you can find fresh fruits, veggies and homebaked goodies from local growers and bakers.  Yum Yum 

Bob and I love to buy a cookie or chocolate croissant to eat while we stroll down the block and check out all the vendor’s wares.   From fresh corn, okra, organic eggs and tomatoes to local honey, barbeque sauces and pastries, we fill our shopping bag.  

But if you aren’t into food as much as we are, there are also some vendors offering handcrafted pottery, jewelry and clothing items.   Just remember to get there early because all the good stuff goes quickly, especially the baked items and fresh veggies!  And at 12 noon, they all pack up and leave until the next Saturday. 

These Market Days continue thru the Fall so watch for the fresh blueberries coming soon from Pine Mountain area and then as summer arrives, here come the watermelons and peaches…and then in the Fall, look for the muscadines and pecans. 

I just love the SOUTH!  Don’t you?

Watch for our video of the Market coming soon!

Time to File for Homestead Exemptions!

If you purchased a home in Columbus, Georgia, you have until April 1st to file for homestead exemption and reduce the amount of property tax you will owe for 2012 and going forward. Click here to get more detailed information and instructions. But don’t delay, April 1st is not that far away!

 If you purchased a home in Alabama, please click here to go to the website for detailed information on filing for homestead.  You will see that it is very different in Alabama than in Georgia.

 No matter in which State you reside, filing for homestead exemption can significantly reduce your property tax payment whether you pay monthly to your mortgage company or annually direct to the tax commissioner!

 And if you purchased your home with Realtors Bob and Gail McLain, we certainly thank you and hope you will refer your friends to us in the future!

Harris County, Georgia, is next Hot Spot for Homes!

For the last three years the focus on new construction has been mainly in Fort Mitchell, Alabama, as the Columbus builders and Realtors prepared for the influx of new residents as a result of BRAC and the expected increase in population overall near Fort Benning.   With access to large areas of inexpensive land in Alabama near the West Gate of Fort Benning, Georgia, the developers focused on building communities in Fort Mitchell, Alabama.  The Fort Benning soldiers and their families have moved into the area steadily and eased the economic downturn’s effect on the local economy.   

Homeowners who purchase high quality homes in subdivisions like The Registry in Fort Mitchell, are enjoying spacious living at affordable prices.  The homes are brick, energy efficient, built on large lots, and include double side entrance garages. The neighborhood is well maintained and aesthetically appealing with covenants and restrictions for the homeowners protection.  Homes in The Registry are built by Hugh Morton of Peachtree Homes, Inc.

This same builder is now building homes in Harris County, Georgia, just north and east of Columbus.   An old “new” Hot Spot, Harris County has long been a desired area for Columbus residents who wanted to move out of the city.  Now the newly relocated military families are coming to that same conclusion.   Still less than a 30 minute drive, residents can zoom down I-185 from Harris County straight to the main gates of Fort Benning.

With building  codes allowing new development only on two acre or more lots, this area is perfect for country living subdivisions.   For families with school age children, the Harris County school system has a high ranking and new school facilities.  The opportunities for outdoor activities in Harris County are numerous with its proximity to Pine Mountain, Georgia, and its hiking trails, Callaway Gardens with all its events, and the many lakes, sports arenas and equestrian facilities in the area.

From the friendly tellers at the local Wells Fargo bank, to the waitress at the Whistling Pig Barbeque, you’re going to love this laid back welcoming community.   Just walk into any one of the many churches in Harris County and you will be greeted with a friendly handshake and  welcomed to the congregation.  Rev. Tommy Henschel at Cornerstone Baptist Church on Hwy 315 in Ellerslie,  Harris County, Georgia, makes a point to personally welcome and shake the hand of every visitor each Sunday morning during worship services.  And his opening prayer always includes a prayer for our military, especially those deployed and in harm’s way.

Harris County subdivisions that are currently being developed with new home construction include Timberland, South Haven, Madison Woods and Ellerslie Place.   Choose your lot and your house plan and be in your new Harris County home by Christmas!  Contact Bob McLain, New Home Specialist, for more information on these properties.   334-524-8200 cell or 706-565-7479 home

The best form of advertising….FREE!

The Best form of FREE Advertising!

Nothing goes further than a personal recommendation or testimonial and here’s why:

1) It comes from experience. This customer has seen how we operate and likes what they saw. They can share firsthand knowledge about us and our reputation as a Realtor.

2) It is unsolicited. They are sharing this information with anyone interested in finding a Realtor in our area. Just like they would give out the name of their favorite restaurant, barber or doctor who has given them good service, they are recommending us as the best to work with in buying or selling a home.

3) Our prospective buyers/sellers can identify with them. They share something in common, whether they are relocating from another area of the country, employed with a large company or a member of the military, or just someone who needs to upgrade or downsize from their current home.

4) It adds a human aspect to our advertising. In other words, our ads aren’t just listing all our credentials and achievements, it is explaining why and how we achieved them and it is in the words of someone besides us!

So how do we get good testimonials?   We give great service and then we ask for them! Although now and then some really nice client will take the time to write  a thank you note, rarely do they write out a recommendation and mail it to us for publication.  Our clients mostly use the internet, not the snail mail.

Therefore, we have learned to ask them to comment on our website or facebook page or on Zillow.  Working with military families who have received orders to pcs to Fort Benning, Georgia, we know that they rely on the recommendations of other Military personnel when choosing a Realtor.  So we really want to send a Special Thank You to all our past clients who have taken the time to write a comment or review and who have recommended us to their friends and co-workers.  It means the world to us!

The WOW factors of a home!

As Realtors in Columbus, Ga., we have been inside a lot of homes and we know WOW factors when our clients see them. The problem is that sometimes they are good WOW factors and sometimes they are bad. As a seller, you need to know your WOW factors and what to do with them. It all boils down to the old saying: “Accent the positive, eliminate the negative and don’t mess with Mr. Inbetween”. Here is our advice for doing just that:

Step One: Invite an honest friend or relative to meet you at the street in front of your home. Have a pen and notepad ready for each of you. Draw a line down the middle of the first page and at the top lefthand side, write “Negatives” and on the righthand side write “Positives”. Now start walking toward your front door and write down what you see in the appropriate column. For Example: Negative column: bushes need trimming, front door needs paint, take down that tacky wreath, remove the twinkle lights from last Christmas. Positive column: Clean sidewalk to entry, freshly painted mailbox, well kept lawn, inviting appearance from street, I want to see inside.

Step Two: Open the front door and step in. Now flip to the second sheet of paper in your notepad and write down your immediate reaction to the home. Was it a positive or a negative? For example: Negative WOW: bad smell, too dark and gloomy, too much clutter, could they hang any more things on the walls? I’ve seen enough, let’s get outta here. Positive WOW: nice smell, light and open feeling, roomy, spacious, not too many nail holes, my furniture could fit in here, can’t wait to see the other rooms.

Step Three: Eliminate the Negatives. Walk thru the entire house writing down the positives and negatives. Then compare your negative list with your friend/relative’s list. Discuss ways you could begin to eliminate the negatives immediately. For example: Bad smell? Locate the source and get it corrected. Animals? Old carpets? Smoking in the home? Another example: Too dark and gloomy? Paint a brighter color, remove or change window treatments, add a brighter light fixture.

Step Four: Accent the Positives! This is the fun part! Compare your positive lists now and think about ways you can make these into even greater WOW factors! For example: Spacious and roomy? remove some unnecessary furniture to make the rooms look even more spacious. Light and open? remove or open draperies and blinds to let in more sunlight. Lots of windows? make sure they are super clean and sparkling. Lots of cabinets and counter space in kitchen? remove all small appliances and knick knacks from counters to show off the space even more. Just remember that sometimes less is more when showing off your home! Buyers need to be able to imagine their stuff in your house and not be overwhelmed by all your stuff.

Step Five: List your home with an experienced and professional team of Realtors, Gail Dunn McLain and Bob McLain, highly recommended by our past clients!  Enjoy showing off your “model home” to prospective buyers! Be prepared to hear a lot of WOWs! Good luck and happy selling!

Columbus is HOT, HOT, HOT!!

100 Degrees of HOT today in Columbus, Georgia, and we were sweating BIG TIME!  But what a gorgeous day it was and what a great time to be in this HOT, HOT, HOT real estate market!   With rates still well below 5% on most loan types and plenty of homes available for sale, now is the PERFECT time to BUY!

Below is a simplified Step by Step explanation of the homebuying process for those who have never been down this path before:

Step 1) Call Bob or Gail McLain, 334-524-8200 or 706-888-4063 and tell us you are ready to get started with the process of buying a home.

Step 2) Contact a lender (we can recommend a few that have treated our clients great and provided fast and professional service) to get pre-approved.  This will let you know how much a lender is willing to lend you based on your income and debts and credit history & score.

Step 3) Once you know how much you can borrow, then simply add the amount you have available for a down payment to determine the maximum house price you can afford.   This will help you narrow your search.  Just think of it this way, when you are car shopping, you don’t want to look at Jaguars when you can only afford a Chevy….. or HUMMERs when you can only afford a Ford Truck.   The same is true of homes.    We will only show you the homes in your price range so we don’t waste your time or get you excited about a home you can’t afford.  On the other hand, we will do our best to help you find a home that meets or exceeds your expectations and stays within your budget!

Step 4) Have FUN!   Make a list of what you want in your new home…number of bedrooms?, baths?, style?, brand new home?  which rooms are most important?, what about the yards?, and location?….close to shopping?, schools?, Ft. Benning?, Columbus?, what about special needs?   Once you have made your wish list, now go back and prioritize the items…what is most important, least important?   Now let this be your guide when searching thru the homes listed for sale in your price range.   Bob & Gail can send you photos and details of homes that meet your criteria.    After looking at the homes online, try to narrow your search to 5 to 8 homes that most interest you and let Bob & Gail know when you will be available to preview these homes in person.

Step 5) Meet with Bob & Gail to preview homes in person and narrow your search by comparing each home to the next one and eliminating those that don’t appeal to you.   Soon you will have 2 or 3 top choices.   From these you can choose which one is your first choice and the one that you would like to make an offer to purchase.

Step 6) Bob and Gail will assist you in writing the offer to purchase and presenting it to the seller’s agent along with your earnest money (usually $500 to $1,000).   Once the offer has been accepted and a closing date has been established in the contract, then you will need to proceed with your loan application with the lender who pre-approved you.

Step 7) Once your loan has been approved and the home has been appraised and any repairs/inspections have taken place, the closing attorney will prepare all documents and set the date/time of the closing.   This is usually within 30 to 45 days from the date of the contract. 

Step 8 ) Attend the closing, sign all the necessary documents, pay all the monies due at closing, and become the new owner of a home!

Step 8) Move in and celebrate!

This is a very simple explanation in a nutshell, but just know that we will walk you thru it step by step and be there for guidance and advice along the way.   Our goal is to have more than satisfied happy customers, we want to have RAVING FANS!!   In order to do that, we have to WOW you with our service and commitment to your goals!   Please give us the chance!

Now go get a TALL DRINK OF WATER and STAY COOL!!

Bob & Gail McLain, Realtors

Solid Source Premier Realty