Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! The real estate market saw huge activity in 2013 and we expect great things from 2014, so don't wait to make your move. If you're thinking about buying, get ahead of the game. Don't get caught in a bidding war. Watch my latest video to find out how you can ahead of your buying competition!

7 Fire Safety Tips

Welcome back. Thank you for joining me today. It’s the holiday season and that means lots of lights, candles, decorations and cooking. Who doesn’t love all those things?

While these are all fun and festive, it’s important to keep in mind your safety. Many of those things are the leaders in accidental home fires. I want you and all your loved ones to be safe this holiday season and the rest of the year. I have a list of tips to help protect your home and your family from fires.

1. Change the batteries in your smoke alarms. There is a new fire alarm that has a special warranty battery in it that you don’t need to change for 10 years. Look into setting those up in your home.
2. Never leave cooking unattended. I’ve seen a lot of fires started by cooking something low in the oven and leaving for church, or heating up a pan of grease and leaving the room.
3. Never leave candles unattended. Kids, pets and even just a breeze can knock a candle over.
4. Have multiple fire extinguishers in your home. The two most important areas are the laundry room and kitchen.
5. Arrange a family meeting place. Set a designated spot your family will meet in case of emergencies, that way you can get a headcount and immediately leave.
6. Teach your children fire safety. Make sure your children know to check doorknobs before opening doors, go out the second window rather than trying to jump across flames.
7. NEVER go back into a fire. Do not reenter your home to collect items; this is dangerous and potentially fatal.

These are seven simple tips, but they could ultimately save your life, your families’ lives and your home. If you have any questions, please give me a call. Thanks for watching and have a safe holiday season!

Bill Barker
Liberty Mutual Insurance
703-229-9128
William.Barker@libertymutual.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

The holiday season is here and I wanted to take this time to thank you. Because of you and your referrals we've had a great year. I can't wait to help you buy, sell or invest next year. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

10 Reasons Why Now is a Great Time to Sell Your Home

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10 Reasons Why Now is a Great Time to Sell Your Home

Traditional school of thought dictates that selling a home during the holidays is a bad idea. People are busy celebrating with their families and will hardly go shopping for a home, right? Not so! There are numerous advantages to listing a home during this season and below are ten great reasons to put a home on the market now.

More serious buyers – Less time wasted
These are people who are interested in buying so there is a far greater chance of actually selling the property. Nothing is more promising to a seller than a motivated and qualified buyer that knows what they want and is actively seeking to get it.

Fewer Homes On the Market
The less competition there is, the higher the chance there is for homes on the market to sell. Where during the peak season sellers might be dealing with some interest from buyers on their home, nonetheless there is more selection for buyers to choose from and they can stray to another property.

In January Inventory Increases – Chances of Selling Decreases
With so many homeowners assuming the holidays is a taboo time to sell there is a plethora of new listings in January, resulting in a diminished chance of your home selling. Also, there is a risk that the price you may receive on the home can be less.

Decked Halls Look Great!
Homes are very appealing to prospective buyers when they are decorated for the holidays. With all the festive décor, lights, greenery and added beauty of the season – the home shows very well and attracts buyers faster than if shown during other times of the year.

More Time To Browse Homes
Buyers have extra time off from work and are on vacation, which translates to a more aggressive buying pattern and more chances of your home being viewed.

More Emotional Buyers
Because of the high stress of the holidays, buyers tend to be more emotional during this time than in the summer months. A more emotional buyer will tend to pay more for a new property, so selling your home during the holidays could make you more money.

Show The Home With Flexibility
Sellers that have their home listed prior to the holidays have the added advantage to be able to “pause” the process so they can celebrate the holidays, essentially not showing the home during a period of time during the break. When the festivities die down, things can pick up again and the seller has not only managed to save potentially lost time but can also jump right back into the market.

Transferred Employees
January is typically the month where employees are transferred into new position. In order to capture this demographic of buyers, your home must be on the market since these buyers cannot wait until the spring to buy.

Sell Now For More Money Then Delay Closing
Extended occupancy can be negotiated, leaving both parties the leniency to get through the holiday season and past the New Year so that all sides can rest assured the deal is done but it can follow through at a more convenient time. For sellers this option is great because they are able to secure a higher selling price on the property before the market is inundated with new listings come January when the selling values drop.

Fewer Foreclosures On the Market
Many banks will suspend foreclosure listing during this time of year, especially on properties where there are still families occupying the home. As a result of this, some of the competition that arises for sellers from low-priced foreclosures can be avoided during the holidays.

Keep in mind that the idea of your home’s value increasing significantly over the next several months is a myth. The truth is that housing values likely only go up when consumer income rises. Pay rates increase at a rate of three to five percent each year and that is about the maximum yearly increase we can expect to see in a home as well. So if you are wondering whether or not to put your home on the selling market now, or to wait – one important factor is that waiting will not provide much benefit.

I work to protect you

Welcome to my video blog. As your real estate expert, I am always looking for ways to improve my service for you. I'd like to introduce you to my insurance lender, Bill Barker. In his years of insurance experience as both an adjuster and insurance agent, he has gained a lot of insight into the industry and the details of insurance policies. Bill has traveled from Santiago, Chile to Detroit, Michigan, helping families with their insurance claims. With this experience, we want to help make sure you are protected. Find out more about how Bill works to protect you, your family and your home!

Bill Barker:

I wanted to tell you a little about what I do. I first started in the insurance industry in January of 2007. I was a sales agent at Liberty Mutual in Fairfax, VA. After two and a half years, I wanted to gain more real world experience.

I moved over to the homeowners department and worked as a claims adjuster. I only handled claims of $50,000 or more, the most extreme cases. Instead of hail damaged roofs, I saw homes that burnt down. My eyes were open and I received an education I could have never dreamed of.

Once my kids were born I couldn’t travel as much so I went back to being a sales agent in Fairfax. When I prepare a customer’s insurance portfolio, I want to make sure I am giving them what they truly need.

My goal isn’t to sell you insurance, it’s to make sure you are protected. Talk to an agent in your area. We have dedicated our lives to protecting your and your family.

If you have any questions, please give me a call. I’d love to help. Thanks for watching!