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Glenville, NY Real Estate News

By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
It's back to reality today...  After two weeks off, the buses are running again & the kids are back in school.  While I worked during the holiday season, today is the day to get back into the "real" swing of things. It's time to find that groove again that can make our goals reality in this New Year.  So this year, how about you Settle for More? Hopefully your 2014 plan and goals are in place.  More so, hopefully you'll look at them on a regular basis, tweak them as needed and continue to look within to find the drive and motivation to acheive them.  In the words of Kurt Hahn, "There is more in us than we know.  If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less."   Now get out there and make it a great day... & a great YEAR! SETTLE ...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
It's been VERY cold the past few days here in Upstate NY but that doesn't keep the wheels of real estate progress from moving.  I showed a couple of homes to an investor yesterday. One was empty and as is common in vacant homes, some belongings were left behind.  I wish I took a picture but my phone claims to not have enough storage left in it despite me having cleared out all kinds of apps & messages & photos (oops! Off topic there but i do welcome any tips on that one!!). So you'll just have to imagine "Encino Fish".  Yup... the tenant moved out and left his/her fishtank behind.  It was probably blazing hot when they moved out and I'm hoping they never imagined "Fishy" becoming a popsicle but there it was... an orange sphere, suspended in ice, 2/3 of the way from the top of the tank. ...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
We had 4 homes to see in one short evening with my first time home buyer. I had heard it earlier in our outing but at the last home, I heard it again... "Wow. These guys are serious!".  I was intrigued.  As a Realtor, I alawys tell my sellers "to effectively sell your home, you have to think like a buyer".  SO... What was this buyer thinking of these sellers?  When I asked him what he saw to prompt that response, he noted that the lights were on and the home was nice and neat...  These are things we often take for granted that our sellers will do.  Sellers - take note - they CAN & WILL make a difference!   And when YOU'RE serious about selling your home, call me.  I won't rest soundly until we find the right buyer! Enjoy your day! Brenda   www.brendamayette.com    
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
The opinion of others should be important to prospective clients. Our broker/owner received this note from a recent seller client of mine and what I appreciated most is that I didn't ask her to write it.   Anyone in the market for a buyer or seller's agent should be asking for feedback from prior clients (including some scenarios from ones who didn't take the time to write glowing reports!).   Just a note to say thank you to Miranda, and especially Brenda Mayette, for the quick sale of my home....  This was a very difficult time for me.....  I spent a lot of years there and the memories are priceless.  I want you to know that Brenda's professional, honest and friendly assistance made this decision a lot easier for me.  Thanks to Miranda, and Brenda, I am starting a new chapter in my lif...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
It was late August & the closing was 2 days away. My buyers were excited to get into their new home & start tackling some cosmetic updating projects.  Then Mother Nature, wearing the cloke of Tropical Storm Irene, paid our region a visit. While my professional concern laid with a listing surrounded in trees, I got the call from one of my buyers, "Brenda! There's like 8 trees ON the house!!!!".  So I swiftly assumed the role of "fire fighter" (we agents are constantly putting out fires!), offered the buyer some encouragement, and took a deep breath. My husband (the type who takes a drive in big snow storms) didn't skip a beat when I asked him to join me and check out this reported damage. So off to the nearby home we drove. Now quite honestly, I didn't know what to expect. Anyone who saw...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
How can February break possibly be almost over? I've seen many Facebook posts calling for a "re-do". I know I have strugged with carving out some quality time with the kiddies vs. balancing work demands and of course, trying to accomplish something on the homefront too. But alas, there arent' enough hours in the day! At the end of the day -- & vacation -- though, quality family time is what matters. As we savor the last couple of days of Feb Break here are some ideas for Schenectady County activities that'll keep everyone happy: * Maple Ski Ridge DOES have some snow! Close to home and inexpensive. Check out www.mapleskiridge.com for current conditions and more information. * Take in War Horse or Alvin & the Chipmunks this weekend at everyone's favorite theater, Scotia Cinema. At $4.50 f...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
I wish I could write some eloquent piece on the economic & political intertwine that is our gas prices. Unfortunately (or maybe it IS a blessing!), I don't know enough about that to even try. So, I only have one thing to say.... "OUCH!!!!!"
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
Wondering what's REALLY happening in the Capital Region's real estate market?? Here are the latest stats from the Greater Capital Association of Realtors. Of course, this information is for our region as a whole... Individual communities had their own experiences. Remember, a professional Realtor is your best resource to know what's really going on in the housing market. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aLyqp0o0J34 Ready to buy or sell in Scotia-Glenville or beyond? Brenda is the key to success!
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
It's been awhile since my last post and well... that's another topic for another blog. This post jumped to the top of list because, quite simply, it deserved to & I hope I do it justice as to why.  A family in our area lost their home to a fire on Friday evening. What started out as just another day, anticipating another post-holiday weekend complete with to-must- dos and to-want-to-dos quickly turned into a life changing event. With everyone at their respective Friday evening activities, a quick stop home to let the dog out turned into that dog's safety net. The owner found smoke and well... without knowing all of the details, the bottom line is that in a very short amount of time, they lost everything. So now a family of 5 is homeless. It's terrible to hear it happen to anyone but it...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
Preparing real estate purchase offers is an interesting part of the business. It’s when the rubber hits the road, true motivation is exposed & game play along with emotions can easily interfere with effective resolution.  As an agent, when you find “the one”, here’s what I do to help you decide upon an initial offer:  I run a 6 month, comparative market analysis of like homes… similar style, age & characteristics in the immediate area of THE home. The goal is to get an “apples to apples” comparison of homes that are in the active, pending & sold stage of the market.  From there, we review the results & decide upon an initial starting point for negotiations. Everyone has a different style for deciding on this starting point. I encourage keeping your focus on the desired outcome.  I gues...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
The grocery store isn't the only place to reconnect with your neighbors!! While Scotia-Glenville continues to battle with Mother Nature & the ongoing impact from Tropical Storm Irene, plans are underway for the Glenville Oktoberfest. This annual, family-friendly community event will be held on Saturday, Oct 1 at the Schenectady County Airport, Richmor Aviation Hangar from 12 - 9 pm.  Admission & parking are FREE!!!! For more information, visit www.glenvilleoktoberfest.com.  See you there!  
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
Something in the air last night brought me right back to childhood... A nice summer evening with a tinge of fall brewing in the air. It was that smell that, as a kid, made me realize that the return to school was near.  Ahhhh! The power of smells!  If you're are trying to sell your home, do not underestimate the power of odors! Good smells... People generally respond well to smells of baked goods, cinnamon/spice, & "clean" smells like fresh laundry. Luckily there are many candle companies who have "bottled" this right up for us -- no baking or laundry required!  :)   Remember though, that too much of a good smell can be a turn-off to some people. Bad smells... Most buyers don't like the smell of cigarette smoke, fish (think dinner choice!), diapers, mutsy smells, dirty litter boxes, an...
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By Brenda Mayette, Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!
(Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc.)
Imagine my delight in receiving the following text message today:  "we caught this extremely freaky bug for kelly's bug project this year so if u c a bug in the freezer, that's what it's 4". What??? I didn't see a bug on the school supply list!!! This got me thinking though... You never know what you'll find when you're not looking for it.  Finding your new home typically isn't something that happens when your not looking... (although it HAS been known to happen). But how about checking out a home style that you might not have considered? Square footage can be utlized in SO MANY different ways... Explore your options & you might come across something you didn't know would fit your needs... In a better way than a "freaky bug in the freezer"! :)  To start your search today, visit www.bre...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
I am not a computer geek. Nor do I play one on tv.  Neither is my Broker, Ron DiDonna.  For the past few weeks we've had random sprays of color reminiscent of tie dyed t-shirts splatted across our screen often when we opened Internet Explorer or attempted to open many of the websites we frequently use. Ron's wife, Mary said she thought it started when we "upgraded" to Internet Explorer 9.  We called our usual computer guys who said they wanted to remove our hard drive, bring it back to their office and completely erase it and start all over again. That sounded terrible - and terribly expensive.  Then we tried calling a repair firm we heard advertised on the radio. First we called a NYC number, which said they were merely a call center and gave us a local number to call. We did. We got a...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
Yesterday, I stood in the yard of my featured listing - 1014 Cheyene Road, Glenville, NY - talking to the lawn maintenance guy - Michael, of Reliable Lawncare (who I highly recommend, by the way!) - when suddenly both of us stopped talking and started looking around the yard trying to figure out what the noise was that we were hearing.  It took a couple of seconds before we both whipped our heads around and stared at the acres of woods behind the house, then said at the same time - It's raining over there! We actually had time to turn and run towards our cars and grab our umbrellas before the rain reached us at the driveway, about 100 Feet from the edge of the woods. When I told my husband about the experience - labelling it my new kind of "Active Rain" - he wasn't impressed.  He said h...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
My level of online advertising exposure has REALLY improved in the one week I've been blogging here on ActiveRain.  I googled a few of the topics I've written, and came up on the first page several times - often my blog appeared twice on the same first page of the google search! If you want to learn, the people of ActiveRain have the information here for us.  It may take a little digging to get it, but they really do a great job of telling you how to best utilize the system so that you are appearing when people google things that pertain to your blog. If there's something you don't know how to do - keep searching on here, because it's likely someone has written a great post on it. I'm not sure who actually "works" for ActiveRain - or if it's just helpful blogger members reaching out to ...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
If you are one of the unfortunate Schenectady County homeowners who filed a tax grievance with the Board of Assessment Review and were either denied or received an adjustment you think was too small, the deadline for filing the grievance with Small Claims Court is the end of July. You can only file this grievance if you filed a tax grievance before the Board of Assessment Review this year.  If you didn't file with the BAR - you'll have to wait until next year. If you did file with the Board of Assessment Review and you want to contest their findings, filing with Small Claims Court (SCAR) is quite inexpensive ($30) - but the paperwork must be filled in with no errors - and delivered to a very specific number of offices by a very specific date with very specific enclosures.  It's not hard...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
I have to say - there are a lot of encouraging people on AR.  (You will note, I've already learned to abbreviate it :-)  I'm sure with 210,000+ members, there are some bad apples in here, but I haven't "met" any, yet. In a few short days my bank of available resources has taken a quantum leap forward.  I love helping people relocate - and as I've read through piles of other ActiveRain blogs, I've felt a sort of "connect" with several of the bloggers. Enough so that, if I have a client moving to their area, I would at least give them the member's name as a starting point in their Realtor search.  I'm hoping that happens in the reverse, as well.  And I guess I'm kind of expecting that it will, because that is the whole point of networking. I do realize that I'm in the "newbie" starry-eyed...
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
For those of you with clients who filed Tax Grievances that were denied, make sure they file for Small Claims Court - the deadline here in Upstate NY is fast approaching. As you're probably all aware, Small Claims court can only be filed if the home owner previously filed this year with the Board of Assessment Review and were either denied, or the reduction was less than they thought it should be. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office - my Broker, Ron DiDonna, is also an Appraiser with an outstanding record of successful Tax Grievances.  Call or Text 518-858-9421 this week. A lowered Tax Assessment is a GREAT help in selling properties.
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By Jean Singleton, Specializing in Your Special Needs
(Capital Realty Experts)
This is great!  I am really enjoying blogging.  I guess I thought I might - I do love to write - but I didn't realize that I'd have to practically pull myself from the computer everyday, to the sounds of my husband calling, "Honey - are you still in there?"  (He's standing behind me now...) The thing is - I feel like I'm actually accomplishing something when I blog here.  Unlike the "farmville" type things or games some people spend solid hours on - I'm networking and gaining connections in my work world, as well as improving my online advertising reach.  All that, AND I get to get out some of the 50,000 words that I have stored in my brain each day just waiting to come out.  (That part, my husband is loving!:-) Of course, with ActiveRain, I have a whole new topic to talk about...  I am...
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Glenville, NY Real Estate Professionals