Posts made by author 'Jay Mattlin'

An appraisal is an important part of the home selling process; you want your appraisal to accurately reflect your home's value and your listing price. But if your home appraisal comes in lower than expected, it could cause issues with your home sale and put the deal at risk.

Which is why, as a seller, you want to do everything you can to get your home ready for the appraisal. But what projects should you be focusing on?

A recent article from Forbes covered the home projects sellers should tackle before their appraisal, including:

• Curb appeal. You only get to make a first impression once—so your home's curb appeal can go a long way in adding value and setting the tone for a great appraisal. Keep any trees, bushes, or shrub...

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June 10, 2020 – Jay Mattlin of Gorsuch Realty has successfully completed NAR's e-PROÒ Certification Program and has been awarded the e-PRO® certification, the official technology certification program offered by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Jay joins nearly 40,000 real estate professionals who have earned NAR's e-PRO® certification and dedicated their time and effort towards learning how to use the latest social media technologies to create an online presence and reach today's hyper-connected consumers.

NAR redesigned the e-PRO® curriculum to better meet the challenges of today's real estate market. The new e-PRO® program has been expanded to include data security and strategies for safeguarding clients' private information.

Social media is evolving every day, so it is vital that REALTORS® embrace the new technology and online resources that have become an integral part of the home buying and selling process. Agents who...

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More people are working from home than ever. And if you're working from home, you need a space that not only allows you to focus and be productive, but also feels inviting, warm, and like a space you want to spend your time in.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined quick, simple DIY projects to spruce up your home office and make it a more productive, inviting space. Some of the projects outlined include:

• Hang a wall organizer. If your desk is covered in mail, reports, and miscellaneous papers, a wall organizer is a great way to organize your excess paper (and also add a chic focal point to your wall). A few pieces of wood and leftover scraps of leather make for a stylish (and functional!) wall organizer for your office.
• Frame a dry erase board. Dry erase boards are helpful for keeping track of deadlines and appointments—but they're not the most attractive item. Adding a stylish frame arou...

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Television channels like HGTV and DIY have truly changed residential real estate for the better. Thanks to these channels, buyers and sellers today are more educated about their homes' structures, décor, and remodeling costs. Everybody's expectations are higher and most buyers and sellers' creativity is too. Have you wondered about how these shows are made? What is real and what is not? Here are some fun facts.

First, for the remodeling or fix and flip shows, the remodeling budget is truly the homeowners' remodeling budget. If the homeowners have wanted more than their budget will allow, the producers usually bring the buyers back to reality long before the remodel is started. If there is some unforeseen cost, other changes are omitted or downscaled.

The inspections are real inspections, too. When you see a show host presiding over a sewer inspection (yuk!), they are really checking it out.

The programs need true action in addition to just o...

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Ah, spring! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the windows are finally open! Now is definitely the time to take a realistic look at your home's exterior (and all that goes with it), and do the necessary cleaning, or make repairs or replacements. Winter can be harsh, but springtime is all about renewal!

1. Roof and shingles

Winter storms, snow, and wind can take a toll on your roof shingles, and the summer sun doesn't do your roof any favors, either. If you can, get up on a ladder and really take a good look at the condition of your shingles. Are they loose? Do you see any cracks or wearing? If so, you may want to begin to budget for a replacement roof by next winter. While you're up there, make sure you check any skylights, and clear away debris. Examine the flashing around your plumbing vents and chimney to see if they should be repaired or replaced (by a qualified roofer, of course).

2. Gutters

Make sure your gutters are intact, and...

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