Home buying stress? You are not alone!
Posted: September 28, 2011 Filed under: Advice | Tags: buyers agent, first time home buying, first time homebuyer, home buying, home buying advice, home buying help, home buying montgomery county md, home buying olney maryland Leave a comment »
It is not easy being YOU
It is another day in your quest to buy a home. Depending on the length of your current journey, at times you are feeling like that tiny bit of dust caught between a very solid rock and hard spot. You know all the things that are bothering you and nobody else seems to get it. You are not alone.
There is a very old saying “an apple does not fall far from the tree”. You hear it when folks are describing how children seem to have many of the characteristics of their parents. People chuckle and give a knowing nod and the moment passes. Most of us do have some characteristics that seem awfully similar to our parents. Oh sure, we strive to be better. We secretly fear that we are becoming our mother or father. We all want to be in individual, viewed on our own merits. But still, we are all slaves to our up bringing and the world that formed us.
You may be wondering, what does this have to do with your current stress level? Everything. You see, the world that you grew up in was as large as the universe you understood and as small as the invisible barriers you did not realize existed. Your world was shaped at your dining room table. Dining room table worlds are like snow flakes, no two of them are exactly alike. Your experience and understanding are what you bring to the home buying process. It may be the biggest piece of the puzzle (after all, you are buying the home), but yours is just one piece that has to some how smoothly interact with all the other pieces.
They all apples and none of them are exactly alike.
Your real estate agent, your lender, your home inspector, your appraiser, your spouse or co-buyer (if any) are all apples in their own right. They all have fallen close to their own tree. They bring their background, belief system and personal style to your journey. Just like you, every single one of them believes what they are saying and doing is the right thing. Often, they use language from their industry that is comfortable to them but entirely foreign to you. You have to add to the mix that they are interpreting every thing you say based on their understanding of the words and phrases you use. In the effort to make sure everyone is on the same page, at the same time, the process may seem to slow down or come to a screeching halt. It is still moving forward, but it sure can feel like progress is not part of the equation.
Your stress is a direct result of the difference between your expectations and your perception of the reality of the moment. Whether anyone wants to accept it or not, perception is your reality. How well your expectations are being managed will directly impact your stress level. Something that may be overlooked is the fact that everyone else involved is dealing with perceptions, expectations and stress. You are not alone.
How do you take all these apples and make the best pie?
You can’t. Individually, your agent, your lender, your home inspector, your appraiser, your spouse or co-buyer can not do it alone either. This is one case where too many cooks can not spoil the broth. Everyone has to work to understand where each person is in the process. Even if everyone has an understanding, stress will exist. You can lower your stress level if you calmly express your concerns and make sure that your concerns are understood. Once your concerns are expressed and understood, you can get answers. If the answer is not understood, ask the question again, and again and again until you hear and understand the answer. Knowledge can help alleviate the stress.
Sure, you will get answers that compound your problem at times, but if you know the problem, you can search for a solution. Seeking a solution will bring stress, but it should be eustress. Feeling out of the loop only generates distress.
One thing you can be sure of in your situation. You are not alone. If I can be of any help in your home buying journey, I promise you that I will do my part of focus on you and do my best to make sure you understand the process.
Wet basement, do something about it now!
Posted: September 20, 2011 Filed under: Advice | Tags: flooded basement, home maintenance, home owner tips, how to keep basement dry, wet basement Leave a comment »
Even a small amount of water can be a big problem
Living in the metro DC area has it’s own set of problems. One of them is the “wet basement”. Now, I am not talking about a wet basement that is caused by a plumbing problem, i.e. hot water heater leaking, pipes leaking, faucets leaking, etc. This is also not in reference to a leaky roof or window or door. Those issues are of a different nature but if you have water coming in the house, they may be the culprit. If you eliminate them, the source is the area I am covering. If you have a wet basement, do something about it now. Water is a temporary problem, mold is forever.
Every home that has a basement in the DC area was constructed in pretty much the same fashion. A hole was dug in the earth and a foundation was poured or built. The foundation is necessary to support the home. The problem arises when water seeps in the home around the foundation. It usually does not occur in the early years of a home. You see, once the foundation is complete, the dirt that was removed is back filled in the empty space around the foundation.
This is an example of the area around your home.
This is the area that you can deal with without the help of high priced professionals. Let me be clear, you may not be able to solve the problem, but chances are you can do enough to prevent basement flooding. You have to do your best to prevent water from spending time on that loose soil area. Most of the water that finds it’s way into your home does not fall directly from the sky into the loose soil area surrounding your home. The biggest culprit is the roof over your head. If you have a home that is 20 X 50 with a standard pitch roof, there is approximately 1200 square feet of surface up there. Every inch of it is covered when it rains. Think about that for a moment. If it only rains 1/10th of an inch, you have to multiply that 1/10th by 1200 square feet. That is a a lot of water. Of course it runs down to the gutters. If the gutters are clean, the water travels to the downspout and down to the ground.
IMPORTANT FACT:
If you keep your gutters clean and downspouts clear, the system in place will work.
DANGER !!!
Where the water drains is the most important piece of the puzzle. Most homes have splash pans beneath the downspout to disperse the water that comes out. The splash pan is not a solution that works. Water from the downspouts must be moved away from the home by at a minimum of 6 feet. You have to move the water away from the loose soil area so it will not seep back into the area around the foundation. It will find a way into your home if it is allowed to drain there.
ONE SOLUTION
You can use a downspout extender. You have to be sure that where it ends is a lower point than the side of your house. There is no point dumping water up hill, it will just run back to the lower point. No yard is perfect, but with a little ingenuity you can move the water away from the foundation.
ANOTHER SOLUTION
Rain barrels
If all else fails, you can capture the rainwater from your roof using rain barrels. The water collected can then be used watering the lawn or plants. It is a “green” way to reduce your wet basement problem.
Regardless of the method you choose, if you have a wet basement, do something now!
Sandy Spring Maryland…city close but country quiet
Posted: September 9, 2011 Filed under: Neighborhoods | Tags: home buying montgomery county md, homes sandy spring maryland, montgomery county homes for sale, olney theatre, our lady of good counsel high school, sandy spring friends school, sandy spring maryland, sandy spring maryland homes, sherwood high school, woodlawn Leave a comment »Sandy Spring Maryland is located just east of Olney. The town center is located on route 108 a few miles past the intersection with Dr. Bird Road. Sandy Spring doesn’t have much of a town center, it is city close but country quiet.
Sandy Spring has a storied history that includes a prominent place in the “Underground railroad” used by slaves moving north during the 1860′s. Information about the history can be found at the Sandy Spring Museum. There is also information abut the “Underground Railroad” available at the Woodlawn Manor Museum, also located in Sandy Spring.
The area has several neighborhood developments and remains high on the list of those moving to the DC area while seeking the comforts of a community lifestyle not found closer to the city. Sandy Spring Meadow is a beautiful community located off Route 108 in Sandy Spring, Maryland within a short distance from Olney, Ashton, Cloverly, White Oak and Silver Spring.
The 52 unit community consists of 25 townhouses and 30 single family homes. All town homes have two bedrooms and a bath, and family homes have three or four bedrooms with 1.5 to 2 baths. The homes are spacious with wall-to-wall carpeting and washer and dryer.
Ashton Manor, Ashley Manor, Ashton Preserve, Ednor Highlands, Ednor Woods, Olney Estates, Sam Rice Manor, Timberland Estates and Quail Hill are other communities located in and around Sandy Spring Maryland. All of these neighborhoods feature beautifully designed single family homes.
Location and schools…schools and location; these are two large motivating factors when people are choosing a neighborhood. Sandy Spring may be a quiet community, but it does offer easy access to Washington DC, Baltimore MD, Columbia MD and Bethesda and Rockville MD as well. The new inter-county connector has access points within minutes of Sandy Spring.
Sandy Spring is home to the Sherwood High School Warriors. Friday nights in the fall find packed bleachers for the home football games. Sherwood High School is truly a community centerpiece. Their annual musical “Rock n’ Roll Revival” has been sold out annually for 40 years.
If you would prefer to avail yourself of the private schools, Our Lady of Good Counsel is right down the road on route 108. Sandy Spring Friends School is also nearby. Sandy Spring offers location and education.
Sandy Spring Maryland is also just minutes away from one of the county’s longest running summer stock programs. The Olney Theatre has been a landmark for years. I remember visiting there with my father back when Father Hartke from nearby Catholic University was involved with the theater. In addition to the summer stock, the theater offers shows year round. Patrons usually follow up the evening with dinner at the Olney Ale House or one of the fine dining establishments located in the Fair Hill area.
Speaking of food, Sandy Spring is located close to the full range of culinary delights. The downtown area has Urban Barbeque and delightful den of sinfully good pastries located at the French Confection. The shopping center just to the east of town has Dempseys and El Andariego. Dempseys will take you back to the days when neighbors met for coffee and breakfast and shared local news and gossip. El Andariego will delight the palate of anyone seeking true Mexican or Salvadoran cuisine.
Other choices with in reasonable driving distance include Lee’s Kitchen Chinese Restaurant, Rays the Classics, the Mannequin Pis and Ricciutis. There is really good food nearby.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the recreational areas located near Sandy Spring. The Triadelphia Lake and Reservoir are close by. The area is a magnet for those that enjoy a day with nature. Amateur photographers, artists, wild life enthusiast, boaters and those just wanting to get away for a day find this area a Godsend.
If you enjoy a day on the links, there are courses that meet every ones skill level. Hampshire Greens is just down the road, Northwest Park is just around the corner, Blue Mash and Laytonsville and Lake Needwood are just minutes away. The Olney Golf Park is over on Georgia Avenue and offers a full pro shop as well as a heated and lit driving range. Courses within an hours drive include Whiskey Creek and PB Dye. The fact that Montgomery County is a golfer’s paradise is well known.
Sandy Spring Maryland is that rare place that combines the best of yesterday with the nuances of today. If you would like to find out more about the community or nearby areas, I work and live here and would love to share the information with you. You can use CONTACT ME or phone me at 301-509-5111
About the Author: Mr. MacArthur won the JD Power Award for customer service in 2011. Re/Max Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger offered congratulations saying “It truly reflects your professional excellence, your enthusiasm for education, your commitment to distressed sellers, your individual drive and many other qualities that serve the interests of your clients. Your effort to change lives and those people have spoken.”
Mr. MacArthur is licensed in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Maryland Association of Realtors. His broker is Remax Realty Centre located in Olney, Maryland.
Dave Stevens, the former Assistant Secretary-FHA Commissioner shared “John is a true real estate professional who combines passion, integrity, and deep knowledge of real estate to produce outstanding results.”
MacArthur receives J.D. Power Award!
Posted: September 6, 2011 Filed under: Home Buying, home selling | Tags: 4.5% listing service, buyers agent, first time home buying, first time homebuyer, home buying help, j d powers awards, WHY PAY MORE TO SELL YOUR HOME Leave a comment »
John MacArthur receives J.D. Power Award for customer satisfaction
RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger offered congratulations saying “It truly reflects your professional excellence, your enthusiasm for education, your commitment to distressed sellers, your individual drive, and many other qualities that serve the interests of your clients. Your efforts change lives, and those people have spoken.”
Home buyers and home sellers used a 1,000-point scale. Consumers used the following categories:
- Overall satisfaction
- Agent/Salesperson professionalism
- Variety of additional services
- Real estate office
- Real estate company marketing (seller survey only)
