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      • Settlement >
        • Documents needed to close
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  • My Listings
  • Explore Annapolis
    • Places to visit >
      • Architecture
      • Alex Haley Memorial
      • Banneker-Douglas Museum
      • Eastport Walking Tour
      • Hammond Harwood House >
        • Pumpkin Walk
      • Lighthouses
      • Paca House & Garden
      • Maryland Inn
      • Naval Academy
      • Parks >
        • Dog Parks
        • Leon Wolfe Park
        • Quiet Waters Park
        • State Parks
      • Severnside Farm Tour
      • St Anne's Church
      • Tiffany Stained Glass
      • State capital building
      • Wall Murals >
        • Design District Murals
        • Historic, Murry Hill & Eastport
        • Others Out & About
    • Events >
      • Annapolis Cup Croquet Match
      • Art Walk
      • Boatyard Beach Bash
      • Bourbon Bowties Cigars
      • C.R.A.B Cup
      • Crab Feast
      • Puppy Plunge
      • US Powerboat Show
      • US Sailboat Show
      • Waterfowl Festival
    • Runs
    • Holidays >
      • Memorial Day
      • Labor Day
      • Halloween
      • Christmas
    • Festivals >
      • Anne Arundel County Fair
      • Art in the Park
      • Beer & Wine Festivals
      • First Sunday Arts
      • Irish Festival
      • Homestead Gardens Fall Festival
      • Kegs and Corks
      • Maryland Seafood Festival
      • Renaissance Festival
      • West Annapolis Oktoberfest
    • Markets >
      • AA County Farmers Market
      • Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
      • AA Medical Center Farmers Market
      • Diehl's Produce
      • DNR Farmers Market >
        • Annapolis Farmers Market
      • PA Dutch Farmers Market
      • 2017 Farmers Market Guide
    • Concerts & Shows >
      • All Saints Concert
      • Annapolis Town Center Concerts
      • Fast as Lightning
      • FOQWP Summer Concert Series
      • Middletons
      • Rams Head On Stage
    • Tours >
      • Ghost Walk Tour
      • Red Trolley Tour
      • Circulator
    • Places to stay
  • Gardening
    • Composting
    • Fruits and Veggies >
      • Apples
    • Gardening Clubs
    • Native Plants
    • Insects >
      • Friends or foe
    • Trees
    • Where to buy plants
    • Butterfly Garden >
      • Butterflies in Maryland
      • Location
      • Plants for Butterflies
      • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Monarch Butterfly
    • Spring >
      • Seed Starting
    • Summer
    • Fall >
      • Preparing your yard for winter
      • What to Plant in the Fall?
    • Winter
  • Resources
    • Important Numbers
    • Maryland History & Resources
    • Schools >
      • Annapolis Public Schools
      • Private Schools
  • Blog
All About Annapolis

Blog

You know, I didn't think I had a lot to say, but apparently I might!!  :-)

It's a Sellers Market... What does that mean for you?

1/30/2018

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If you listen to the news, you'll hear that interest rates are expected to rise this year.  They've already gone up a tiny bit and January isn't over yet.  What I'm seeing (and hearing) locally is that we are definitely in a sellers market.  If you are planning on buying or selling your home, this will mean different things to you and you may need to adjust accordingly.

If you're buying...well.... if you've been looking you can see it's tough out there.  You see a house, you arrange to take a look at it, only to have your realtor tell you it's already under contract!  WHAT??   Or, all you see are homes that aren't really you,  they need a lot of work, or they're in a neighborhood you don't want to consider (like it's too far to work/school/activities).   What are you supposed to do?

If this is you,  you need to change the way you are looking at buying a home.  If you find the perfect home, you need to be making an offer as soon as possible.  Not just any offer... YOUR BEST OFFER.  Homes going on the market now are receiving multiple offers.  You can't put in an offer and wait for the seller to counter.  With multiple offers, a seller is going to pick the best one.  And if you don't make your best offer up front, you may lose the home.  If you're concerned about the price (i.e. you think it's too high/too low, etc), isn't that why you have a realtor?  Ask them to run the comparables for that neighborhood and they will tell you what a fair price is for that home.  

Speaking of funds, have you gotten preapproved yet?  When a seller gets an offer, they are also considering how you're paying for the home.  You definitely don't want to give the seller any reason to pass over your offer on their home.  Consider being flexible on those less than perfect homes.  Your realtor may know a contractor who can fix the flaws that you don't like, maybe even give an estimate of how much it would cost to change it.  You can then factor that cost into your offer on the home.  Being willing to do some of the cosmetic work may get you a great deal on a home!

What if you are selling your home?  How does a sellers market affect you?  

First off, this is the ideal time to be selling your home.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't fix up the small things in your home that need fixing, or declutter so your home looks more spacious.  If your home looks ideal, so much so that buyers can see themselves living in it, you will be getting top dollar for your home!   If you choose not to, and buyers see repairs that need to be done and less than ideal living conditions, you're going to get offers that are lower than what you want.  You definitely want to get as much as possible, so still do your homework before listing your home.

Also, be aware that in a sellers market, buyers may be more demanding in regards to sellers incentives and concessions, so be prepared for the challenges.  Holding your ground past the point of being realistic may leave you with your home still for sale and having to find another buyer.  Future buyers may wonder what went wrong, and it may affect the price they offer on your home. 

A sellers market definitely has it's advantages and disadvantages, depending on what side of the transaction you are on.  If you are thinking of jumping into the market soon, please call me!  I can start looking for your ideal home in the location your looking, so if one does come available, I can let you know!  Having a good realtor on your side definitely can help everything go smoothly!



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maryland smoke alarm law for 2018

1/16/2018

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Effective January 1st, Marylanders now have a new law that affects the smoke alarms in their homes.   You know how every time we "spring forward" or "fall back", the Fire Departments are forever telling you to change the 9 volt batteries in your alarms?  And if you're like me, you're looking around your home saying "where's the 9 volt batteries" only to find out your child used the battery for the remote control for their new toy.   So, you put it on your shopping list and do you ever pick it up?  Maybe, maybe not.

The new law is to help keep all of our homes safer.  All alarms more than 10 years need to be replaced with the new types of alarms that have sealed in batteries that last 10 years.  No more hunt for the 9 volt batteries!  HOORAY!

You can find the manufacture date on the back of your existing alarm. The law also requires home-owners install alarms on every level of a residence. Maryland Smoke Alarm Law requires those with battery-powered smoke detectors and those with no detectors to install tamper-resistant alarms. 

Under state law, in new houses constructed on or after July 1, 2013 residents or owners must install smoke alarms in bedrooms, areas outside bedrooms and common living areas. These alarms must run on an AC electric power supply, with a battery backup. If there are two or more alarms, activation of one must trigger activation of another.

In some older homes, specifically those built before July 1975, and in homes where fire alarms did not exist, tamper-proof battery-powered devices are acceptable.

What if you don't want to install these new alarms?  Unfortunately the penalty is pretty stiff.  If state or local fire officials find a home or residence without the proper fire prevention devices, the investigating authority will issue a smoke alarm installation order. The building owner or resident must comply within five days or face a misdemeanor charge, punishable up to 10 days in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

In Anne Arundel County, you can call (410) 222-8303 for some help.  The Fire Department in conjunction with Anne Arundel Fire Safety Foundation can provide assistance to any citizen who cannot afford to purchase one and they can provide installation as well!  Win win!

Also, the True Value on Forest will give 10% off through January if you purchase 2 approved smoke alarms. 

Just think, your family's safety comes first, but there's also the added benefit of not having to keep track of those 9 volt batteries.  Junior is just going to have to do that himself!  LOL!

What do you think about this new law?  Take the survey below!




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rules about snow in annapolis

1/4/2018

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Snow is one of those weird beasts here in Annapolis. Some years we barely get any.  Last year we had one big blizzard in January and then nothing.   A few years ago we had snow practically every day for MONTHS it seemed and it would just NOT GO AWAY. And now we're coping with a 'Bomb Cyclone'.   It's a snow term I've never heard before!

What's an Annapolitan to do?

Last year's blizzard aside, did you know there's rules to follow when it comes to snow here in Annapolis?

The City of Annapolis is going to make every attempt to keep the city streets as clean as possible for essential vehicle travel.  When it's icy, they'll put down de-icing agents.  Be aware that salt doesn't melt ice as effectively when it gets colder than below 20 degrees outside.

As for your sidewalks?  Well, that's another story.  City Code Section 14.24.010 requires that property owner to clear the public sidewalk of snow and ice within 3 hours after the snow or sleet has stopped falling.   If it's falling between 3 PM and 6 AM, then you have until 11 AM to clear it.   

If you choose a de-icer for your driveway, make sure you choose the pet safe one (even if you don't have pets).  The pet safe version is also safer for our waterways, as once it melts and drains away, it won't alter the bay waters any.

When weather is bad, do a safety check on your elderly neighbors and make sure they're OK.  And if you need a recommendation for a plumber or a Heating/AC guy, please call me!  I have a few great companies I use that may have openings to help you.



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    Author

    My name is Susanne Kneeland and I'm an Associate Broker for Long and Foster in Eastport Annapolis. I'm a wife, a mother of 2, and to 2 furbabies, a dog Maggie and a cat Marty

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