Baton Rouge Real Estate Podcast with Darren James: Recent Episodes
Darren James
If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from Darren James- your professional Baton Rouge Real Estate Agents.
Dearman’s Soda Shop – Back In Business since 2017In 1958, a small town pharmacy transformed itself into what is now the famous Dearman’s Soda Shop. Known for their classic burgers, fries and fantastic shakes Dearman’s has always and will forever be a local favorite. Whether you are looking for a great place to eat or an enjoyable atmosphere, Dearman’s is the place for you. They not only pride themselves on their delicious food but also their welcoming and helpful staff that keep the place in good spirits. I sat down with Dearmans manager, Casey who has been with the restaurant for the last 13 years. Casey spoke about how “the name Dearman’s itself carries so much weight that little to no advertising is needed.” The locals’ love for Dearman’s continues to last even after 6o years in business. So, it was not shocking when Dearman’s found itself having the communities full support when a fire broke out in 2016. To everyone’s dismay, it was a long and winding road to get it back on its feet...but…On December 17, 2017, Dearman’s opened its doors with an over whelming amount of love and support from the local community. Casey said “locals were standing outside waiting for us to open that day, even though it was a raining people still came around.” So don’t be shy folks! Go visit your local businesses today because I PROMISE you will not be disappointed. Click HERE to view the full interview!
Happy Birthday Brew Haha!What started off as a simple coffee shop opened by Gabby Higgins in Mid Town, Baton Rouge on September 11, 2004 has now turned into a local favorite. So, buckle your seatbelts ladies and gentlemen! You’re about to meet one of the most determined, strong-willed and charismatic women working in Baton Rouge’s businesses. Gabby sat down with us to talk new upcoming plans, the benefits of hard work in the business and most importantly...cake balls. When Gabby opened the coffee shop she was determined to find a catchy name that was suitable for her business. After going through the options she came to the conclusion that Brew Ha-Ha was the perfect fit, and indeed it was. Locals from all over the city travel to Brew for a good cup of coffee, conversation, art and can I say it again? Cake balls. As said by Gabby “we are known for our cake balls, they really put us on the map.” The loyal employees Gabby likes to call “Bots” have really helped establish the wonderful reputation this shop has. Gabby’s love for her store showed throughout the entire interview with her winning smile and dedication. Congratulations to Gabby on her achievement of creating one of the most loved coffee spots in all of Baton Rouge. It truly is a gem.
Click HERE to view the full interview.
Staging your home is essential for selling quickly and for a great price. Here are our top five staging tips.Click here to perform a full home search
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Many people who place their homes on the market fail to stage the home properly to have it represented in its best light during showings. Here are five easy and quick ideas for staging your home fast and inexpensively:
1. Declutter your home. Most buyers want to envision themselves living in the home with their belongings in there. Remove any items from the countertops, any open boxes, and any large collections. Remove those items and maximize your space to its fullest.
2. Add throw pillows to the couches. Throw pillows serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose. Adding them to sofas, armchairs, and beds is a great idea. They can do wonders for giving your home a staged presence.
3. New bedding. Changing the bedspread and pillows in your bedrooms gives a feeling of freshness and coziness when buyers view your home. It’s very inexpensive, but very effective in the eyes of a buyer.
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Changing the bedspread and pillows gives a feeling of freshness to homebuyers ”
4. Plant some colorful flowers. Landscaping inside and out is an easy addition to any home. Potted plants can add color to an area and are aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, with a vast array and contrast of colors.
5. Add accent lighting. Focus light on a particular area or object to highlight art or other decor. The brighter the light from the accent lamp, the more interest a room garners from potential buyers. It can also enhance the appearance of the space itself.
I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have any other questions or want to know how else you should be preparing your home for the market, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
While I’m out here at one of our Baton Rouge listings, I want to discuss why the process of home inspections is so important.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.In today’s episode of “Makin’ It Happen, With Darren James,” I’m coming to you from one of our listings here in Baton Rouge to meet with a plumber—he will address some of the items that one should expect to come up on an inspection report when it comes time to sell a home.
One of the first steps that comes after a house goes under contract is the buyer’s home inspection. My team is actually representing the seller in this transaction, but since the buyer decided to move forward with an inspection, we’ll address the topic today.
What does an inspection actually entail for today’s buyer?
During the inspection process, the inspector checks on what we in real estate call the “Three S’s”:
1. Structural issues—They look for problems with the foundation, cracked concrete, etc.
2. Systems—Here, they look for problems with your HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
3. Safety—Inspectors will watch for any potential or imminent issues relating to fire hazards, carbon monoxide, gas leaks, electrical problems, pests, wood rot, and water damage.
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Inspections are an important aspect of the home buying process.”
Inspections are an important aspect of the home buying and selling process. Though it’s a completely optional process on the buyer’s part, it is highly recommended, so most sellers should expect one.
If you have any questions about inspections or are looking to sell a home, please feel free to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
A recurring debate in our market revolves around the question of whether it is better to own a home or to continue renting. Though renting has its own perks, overall, it’s far better to own a home in this market. Today I’ll share with you three reasons why that is.
What should you do when multiple buyers show interest in your home, but none of them actually make an offer? Today I’d like to tell you about a strategy my team and I have used many times over.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Imagine this: Your home is on the market and several people are coming by to view it, with some buyers dropping by multiple times. If so many people are interested, why is no one submitting an offer? It’s difficult to pinpoint a reason, but if buyers aren’t making a move, there is something you can do to get things started: make a reverse offer. This is essentially when you, the seller, make an offer to the buyer instead of waiting for them to submit one on their own. Doing this will set negotiations into motion. Our team has helped many clients achieve success using this method. To hear my full message about this, watch this short video.
What is the key to pricing your home correctly in today’s market? Let’s go over some key points all sellers need to know.
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Do you know the true importance of proper pricing in today’s market? Today I would like to highlight this critical aspect of the real estate process.
I was recently working with a buyer whose listing we had just had pre-appraised. The appraiser came back with a range of values, which left my client wondering how we should price their home.
As a general rule, my advice to sellers is to place your home’s price as close to market value as possible. There are some areas of our market where demand allows sellers to price above this point, but this is not always the case. Proper pricing requires you to consider all factors of a given market. Being aware of statistics such as the absorption rate for your ZIP code will be key.
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When listing, be as competitive as possible in your approach to the market.
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There is a big difference between being in the market and being on the market. Anyone can place a property on the market for whatever price they want, but that does not mean it will sell. Homes are only worth what buyers are willing to pay, and properties sell based on four factors: location, price, condition, and proper positioning.
Overpricing is the No.1 reason a home may fail to sell. So when listing, be as competitive as possible in your approach to the market.
If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are interested in putting your home on the market, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Your marriage and real estate have four things in common and they all start with the letter “C.”
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There are four “Cs” in marriage and four “Cs” in a real estate transaction. What are each of them and what do they have in common with each other?
Most real estate transactions fail because four “Cs” need to happen within that transaction and they do not. It is the same thing that you need to have a successful marriage.
The first “C” is communication. You have to have constant communication between all parties, whether it is a husband and wife planning out day-to-day activities, or two people in a real estate transaction. Communication makes the process work.
The second “C’ is compromise. To make a deal get to the closing table, you have to compromise. One party cannot get everything while the other gets nothing.
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I believe that both parties have to give 100% to make it work no matter what.
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Many people think that marriage is a 50/50 deal for compromise. I do not agree with this because I believe that both parties have to give 100% to make it work no matter what.
Consideration is the third “C.” You have to be considerate of everybody’s feelings. A lot of times in real estate you must be considerate of other people’s emotional attachment to the home. There may be monetary objectives which they are trying to accomplish.
You especially have to be considerate when you have a team involved. There will be other people that you have to communicate with and compromise with, so there will have to be a lot of give-and-take. This also applies to marriage because you have to consider your spouse’s feelings.
The final “C” is cash. You have to make sure that you have the cash to close moving forward. You must be pre-approved for a mortgage to be able to close that real estate transaction. Cash issues are also a common destroyer of marriages. Financial difficulties can result in the failure of both.
If you have any questions about these four “C’s” or are interested in buying or selling, please feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to speak with you about our local housing market.
Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, the most important thing you can do in any transaction is to get pre-approved.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
What’s the No. 1 thing you must do in any real estate transaction, whether you’re a buyer or a seller?
Make sure you can buy another home. By this, I mean that you should get pre-approved. If you’re buying a home, your first step should always be to get pre-approved. But what if you’re also selling the current home you live in? Interest rates may have changed since you bought that home and possibly affected your buying power. You don’t want to put that home on the market only to find out that you’re unable to buy another home because you didn’t get pre-approved for financing first.
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Always get pre-approved first before moving forward in the real estate process.
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Not getting pre-approved before moving forward with their real estate transaction is a big mistake that, unfortunately, a lot of people make, so make sure you don’t do the same thing. If you have any other questions or real estate needs I can assist you with, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.
There are five easy things you can do to boost your home’s value when it comes time to sell.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
How can you increase the value of your property or position your property successfully in today’s market?
1. Fix all repairs prior to putting your home on the market. This is especially true if the repair items aren’t all cosmetic. Focus on the three S’s: structure, systems, and safety concerns.
2. Apply a fresh coat of paint. This is a small change that goes a long way and helps you increase your value tremendously. Use neutral colors, since those are the most appealing to the masses.
3. Pressure wash your home’s exterior. This is another easy item to address that will rid your home of mold and gunk that stick to the outside of your home and detract from its curb appeal. Zep is a chemical available at most hardware and department stores that will do a great job of cleaning up your home’s exterior.
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Freshening up the landscaping as much as possible will immediately give buyers the impression of value.
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4. Landscaping. First impressions can do wonders, so freshening up the landscaping as much as possible will immediately give buyers the impression of value. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; it just needs to be welcoming, fresh, and attractive.
5. Lighting. When it comes to the interior of the home, true white light is the absolute best choice. A lot of people are using the LED bulbs, but if not those, you can also try using Reveal bulbs. They’re almost a lavender-colored bulb, but it illuminates with white light as well, so it will add a lot to your home’s ambiance.
Hopefully, these tips will help you as you move forward in the market and allow you to make the most money possible when you do decide to sell.
If you have any questions about real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I'd be happy to help you.
I’ve got a few home inspection tips for you today. Here are three things every inspector focuses on.
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Today I want to talk a little bit about home inspections: what they are, what they do, and what home inspectors are keeping a close eye on as they complete them. It all comes down to the three S’s:
1. Structure. This is one of the most important things that home inspectors are going to check. They want to make sure the foundation is structurally sound and there are no potential hazards.
2. Systems. There are several major systems in each home that need to be functioning properly. This includes the heating and air, electrical, plumbing, and roof. If there is a GFCI that isn’t functioning properly or any other issue for that matter, the inspector is going to find it.
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A home inspector will find any type of safety hazard.
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3. Safety. Any type of safety hazard will be found by the inspector. Anything that could possibly start a fire, make you sick, or damage the integrity of your home, they will find it. These are the types of repairs that buyers typically ask sellers to fix for them.
If you’re buying a home, it’s always necessary for your protection as a buyer to get an inspection done. If you have any questions for us about inspections or need us to recommend a great inspector for you, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
If you’re a home seller, you need to make sure you work with an agent who prices your home the right way and takes all variables into consideration.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
One of the most common mistakes I see agents make when pricing a home is running only one general report for that property, which is a CMA (comparative market analysis) for that individual neighborhood.
Why is this a mistake?
If you have one property in a neighborhood that sold for $100 per square foot and another property in the same neighborhood that sold for $120 per square foot, an agent who just runs a CMA might tell you your house is worth the average between the two—$110 per square foot.
That may not be the case, though, and you may be leaving money on the table as a home seller if your agent doesn’t analyze the entire picture of your home’s value.
Another example of this occurred just the other day when a former homebuyer client of mine called me and told me they thought they had a lot of equity built in their house based on an AVM (automated valuation model). The problem with AVMs is they can’t factor in any improvements you make to your house. They also can’t factor in your home’s location. There are many different factors that determine the value of a home, so while AVMs are useful, they have their limitations.
This is why it’s important that your agent looks at all available variables when determining your home’s value. Most agents will only pull comparable properties within that one neighborhood the home is located in and give you an average from there. That’s a good starting basis, but there are two other factors you should consider, and they’re factors I use in my business that are very effective and lets me sell houses faster.
The first is the above-mentioned CMA. This gives me a baseline of what values are going for in a certain neighborhood. Then I put together a TMO (total market overview), which encompasses the entire zip code for that location. Supply and demand regulates everything within every economy, and I want to make sure when I run a total market overview that I see what the competition is and how it compares to a property I’m putting on the market so it maximizes the value for its seller.
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There’s a big difference between being in the market and just being put on the market.
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Whenever I put a property on the market, I want to make sure the seller maximizes their return, sells the property in record time, and does so with as little inconvenience as possible. Our goal is to maximize the value for our sellers, and your agent can’t do that relying on averages—they have to take everything into consideration.
After I run a CMA and a TMO, I run an absorption rate report, which is the supply of homes on the market and how long it takes to sell off the remaining inventory, provided that no additional homes come on that market within that property’s price range.
Absorption rate reports are very beneficial for developers because they pinpoint the price range that’s selling the fastest and how long it would take to sell off the remaining inventory in the neighborhood. If you’re a developer, you don’t want to sit on that information—you’re paying interest on a property every day that it goes unsold, so you want to sell it as fast as you can and for as much as you can. We can run this report for you and give you a great idea of the best price range to price a property and in which location.
If you’re relocating to a new city because of a job change and need to sell your original home within a certain time frame, we can use all of this information to tell when you can expect to sell your home.
There’s a big difference between being in the market and just being put on the market. These pricing strategies make sure you’re in the market, you’re being competitive, and all of your goals are met so you can transition to your new location with as little inconvenience as possible.
If you have any other questions about the right way your agent should price your home or you have any other real estate needs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.
How long is too long to be on the market? It all depends on the number of showings and offers you’re generating.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
One of the ways we determine whether or not a home on the market is priced correctly is by determining whether the home is “in the market” or just “on the market.” Any home can be put “on the market,” but it’s much harder to get a home “in the market” and generating offers.
If you have a home that’s been on the market for more than 30 days with no showings, the market is communicating that something is wrong. Either the price is too high or the condition isn’t up to standard. You should have a minimum of four to six showings in that first 30 days on the market.
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You should have at least four to six showings in your first 30 days.
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If you’re getting showings but haven’t received any offers, you’re probably pretty close. If we do a slight price adjustment (3% to 5%), we should generate enough interest and activity to get an offer.
The only way to truly know if you’re “in the market” is based on showings and offers. If you have any questions for us about what we do to make sure that the homes we list get lots of both, give us a call or send us an email today. We would love to hear from you.
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Are you looking for a sweet treat this Mardis Gras season in Springfield? Check out Navarre’s Pastries & Famous King Cakes. We’re inviting you inside to show you what this local business has to offer! In addition to cakes, Navarre’s sells delicious donuts.
With the recent flood, many homeowners have asked me when the right time is to sell their house and what they need to do to prepare it to sell. Here's my advice.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
I've had a lot of clients asking me lately when the best time to sell their house is in the wake of the flood. What should you do to your home before putting it on the market?First, you want to make sure you can buy something by getting pre-approved for a home loan. We want to get you in touch with a lender to make sure you're ready to purchase a new home since your financial situation may have changed since you've lived in your current home.
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The first step is making sure you're financially ready to buy a new home.
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After that, you want to meet with a Realtor to determine your best avenue for selling your house. We want to make sure that it makes sense for your to sell and learn what we can do to help you achieve that goal. Then, we'll run a market analysis for your home to determine its value in today's market. Then we can talk about staging and how to maximize your return on your investment. In the end, when you put your house on the market you want to be sure it's priced right, the condition is right, and that it's staged properly. In today's market, buyers want homes in the best condition for the best price. If you have any questions about selling your house or anything else in real estate, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I'm here to help!
With drones, real estate photography has been taken to a new level.
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You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
I’ve got a special treat for you today. We currently have two properties for sale out at the beautiful Mallard Lakes, and we’ve got some exclusive drone footage of both to show you.The first home is 21717 Turkey Creek. This 6-bedroom, 4-bathroom home sits on 6,300 sq ft. and 4.62 acres. The property was built in 2010 and boasts a beautiful great room complete with soaring ceilings and a gorgeous floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. A Sonos wireless sound system, state of the art security system, and smart TV technology are just a few of the high-tech features you can find in this home. The property also has a private pond, feature fountain, and charming courtyard gardens. This property is on the market for $1.15 Million, and you can get even more details about it here.
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These are two of the best properties on the market.
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Next up we have 21313 Turkey Creek. This home is a 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom property on 5,349 sq ft. and a spacious 6.68 acre lot. It’s located just an hour from the New Orleans airport. It is southern luxury at its finest, complete with a large office, library, and a beautiful New Orleans style balcony. The best way to truly see all this home has to offer is to visit it, but you can get more details about it here and check out some of our drone footage of the property in the video above.These are two fantastic properties here in Baton Rouge that we don’t think will last too long on the market. If you have any questions about them or would like to schedule a showing in person, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Technology is constantly changing the real estate business, and in the last decade that has been extremely obvious. Websites like Zillow came along and changed the business forever. Now we have apps popping up that are causing even more innovation to happen.
The app that I'm talking about is Turbo Scan. It allows you to scan a document and it will create a PDF version of it for you. This allows you to scan, save, and email documents all in the palm of your hand. You don't need to use a printer, a fax machine, and a scanner anymore. This will save you an incredible amount of time. I know you're busy, and I know this will improve your efficiency.
Anybody in any industry could use Turbo Scan to their advantage. I hope this was helpful.
Have a powerful day, and as always, contact me if you need help buying or selling a home!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
We have a special property located in a great new development, Sandalwood Estates. This property was built by the premier builder, Roddy Ballard of Roddy Ballard Homes.
I've known Roddy for the majority of my life and real estate career, and he is one of the top-notch builders in our area. Roddy truly builds a fantastic home. He includes custom features you won't find in any other home of this size and in this price range. These features include slab granite counter tops, custom appliances, beautiful light fixtures, and tons of amenities.
You truly will not find a better buy than you can find out here in Sandalwood Estates. There are more homes coming, so if you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.
Recently, a friend called me and told me I was a big innovator. I couldn’t agree more. I like to be fresh and different. I like to be the first! This conversation made me think about the difference between innovation and replication.
The difference between success and failure is implementation. If you don’t implement an idea, it’s still only talk. The same applies to innovation. Like being an innovator, you need to do things differently to be successful.It can be challenging because there’s probably someone out there thinking the same thing. However, they might not be acting on it -- now is your chance! I challenge you to go out there and be different; be the first. Do something positive for the world. Do a good deed for someone today. I think this is the best way to create a positive environment.
I hope you found this helpful! If you have any feedback, please reach out to me by phone or email.
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.More and more, technology is driving the real estate industry. Drones are now buzzing around neighborhoods taking aerial footage, and 3D virtual reality tours are now becoming the norm.
Imagine 'walking through' a home online and getting a good feel of the layout and floor plan without even stepping away from your computer. We think this technology will weed out the uninterested buyers very quickly, so unnecessary showings will be eliminated.
That's why we're proud to be the first real estate brokerage in Baton Rouge to offer virtual reality tours for your property. This technology is dynamic and will dramatically improve the online traffic to your property. We are the only brokerage in the area to offer this, and we believe that it will give you a boost over the competition in the area.
Don't miss out on this new technology! It could be the difference between selling and not selling in this competitive market.
Please contact us now to get more information about our virtual reality tours!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.The holidays are approaching. Today, we thought we'd do something a little different and share this festive video on holiday decorating tips from HGTV. Designer Angelo Surmelis shares several great ideas to spread holiday cheer throughout the home. Here are some of our favorites.
1. Pay attention to the mantle. If you don't have some already, buy some kind of garland to drape over the mantle. Next, use leftover ornaments and candles to add light and texture. When choosing ornaments and candles, ensure they are in the same color-palette. This helps make your mantle a great focal point!
2. Use smaller Christmas trees. Every house has their main Christmas tree. In addition, you can also purchase smaller, inexpensive, eco-friendly trees to place throughout the home. Decorate these trees with strips of fabric from a T-shirt in holiday colors to save money for the main tree.
3. Use what you have. Be resourceful. Adding a plate charge and place mat to your everyday dining set adds some jazz to your table. Fresh-cut flowers and candles will help finish the look. You don't need grand, expensive candles -- a little candlelight goes a long way!
As you can see, it doesn't take much to make your home feel more festive. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.Today, we're going to do something a little different. With football season just around the corner, we thought we'd share a video that I found on HGTV featuring 10 tips for throwing a great tailgate party!1. Be literal. If you or your friend has a truck, use a tailgate as the serving station.2. For lighting, use paper lanterns in team colors. It's easiest to hang them with zip ties. They are better than balloons, and they're reusable!3. Paint a plain cooler with your team colors. For best results, be sure to use spray paint designed for plastic.4. Use a silverware caddy. Use an easy-to-transport toolbox caddy for silverware and sauces.5. Make chip bag tacos. You want to have a simple menu, and walking tacos are delicious and easy to handle.6. Or, try chili and cornbread mason jars. These are a great alternative to the chip bag tacos!7. Don't forget the drinks! Bourbon-spiked hot chocolate is perfect for a cool fall day. Make sure you bring along unbreakable mugs.8. Serve a unique dessert. We recommend pennant cookies. Simply cut cookie bars into pennants.9. Create a hand washing station. Bring paper towels, soap, and water.10. Pre-game activities. Create a DIY ball toss using a drop cloth.Even using just a few of these will make for a memorable tailgate party! We hope you found some of these ideas helpful. As always, if you have any questions about real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.If you are looking to sell your home, your goal is to get the most money possible in the shortest amount of time. One of the best ways to add value and appeal to your home is through home staging. You have a lot of options for how you want to go about it. You could hire a professional staging company, but that comes with a hefty price tag. Most of the time, a few simple fixes is all it takes to transform a living room.Today we are going to go through some of our most favorite, inexpensive home staging tips or you. We hope these will help you save both time and money when it comes time to sell your home.A fresh coat of paint is always a good idea. Neutral, warm colors work best for highlighting the natural light in your home. This will make it easier to punch up the room with some colorful accessories and pull everything together.
A common design problem facing many homeowners is that they have no real entry way, as their front door opens up to the living room. To fix this, you can add a table, some lighting, and a rug to "fake a foyer" and make it feel like the living room and entryway are two different spaces.A patterned rug, some pillows, or bright curtains add a ton of texture and an eclectic layer to the space, which is essential to a well-designed room.In some cases, a "make-under" is just what you need. In the case of most fireplaces, taking some accessories and clutter away enhances the look and feel of the room greatly.You could spend well over a few thousand dollars with a staging company, or you could do these fixes yourself for around $500. That's a small investment considering the value that you add to your home by adding those pieces.If you have any questions of us about staging your home or anything else real estate related, give us a call or send over a quick email. We are always here to help, and would love to hear from you!
There are many great Denham Springs area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (225) 335-7666 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.Renovating your home can be an exciting process, but it's important that you don't get ahead of yourself. You can't just go willy-nilly into a major project and expect it to go perfectly. Planning properly for these types of projects can assure a smooth project, and one that may even cost less!We recommend making a very detailed timeline of your project, including potential things that could go awry and making backup plans in order to prevent these things from happening. Putting your plan onto paper is a good way to start this process.Another major step is choosing a good team of contractors that you can communicate with. If they don't know what you want done, they can't do it. Just remember, there is no such thing as too much planning! If you plan on renovating your home, please contact us. We know great contractors and could also give you advice on what projects will bring you the highest return on your investment. We look forward to hearing from you!