Posts in category 'Real Estate Life'

Think you've got a good eye for real estate? Listing photos can reveal a lot more than just square footage and staging, especially if you know what to look for.

Agents are trained to catch the little things that others might miss—the kind of stuff that can hint at a home's true condition, value, or quirks.

Take this quiz to see how your instincts compare. You might be more real estate savvy than you think!

The Rules:

For each question, pick the answer that feels most like your gut reaction—and note the point value. At the end, total up your score and check your results!

1) What's the first thing you notice in a listing photo of a bathroom?

1. The outdated 1950's tile. (2)
2. The toilet seat was left up by the photographer. (3)

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For those who think the real estate grind slows down in the cold, think again. Winter doesn't stop buyers, sellers, or agents—it just makes the process a lot more… interesting.

To be fair, it's certainly not as extreme as some jobs can be in the extreme cold! But when the temperature drops to face-numbing levels, even the simplest of real estate tasks can turn into unexpected adventures.

Here's a peek at 3 surprising things agents have to deal with when it's bone-chilling cold outside:

1) Frozen Lockboxes

Years ago, agents had to fumble with combination dials like they were cracking a safe in the Arctic in order to access the keys to a house. Fortunately most lockboxes work electronically now, but sometimes the key dispenser gets frozen in place which can take a fair share of banging from a nearby rock in order to get it to budge.

But even then, the fun isn't always over… Sometimes the key is frozen inside the lockbox and you have to chisel it out of a block of ice!

2) Frozen Front Yards

When front yards freeze, good luck getting "for sale" signs in or out of the ground! New listing? That "For Sale" sign isn't going anywhere. Closing day? The buyers may be stuck gazing at that sign on their front lawn until the first signs of spring.

However, there are some weathered agents (pun intended) who actually carry around drills in order to make starters holes for their signs.

3) Showing Houses That Feel Like Walk-in Freezers

Agents often have to show bank-owned homes that are completely vacant and have the utilities turned off because they were foreclosed. Somehow these houses can feel even colder than it is outside! The upshot is that it can actually make it seem tolerable outside… at least for a few minutes.

Toledo, OH - July 22, 2024 – Key Realty is excited to announce Jay Mattlin as the new Regional Manager for Key Realty of Lancaster, Ohio. Jay's dedication to professional development, passion for people, and commitment to community service have made him a top-producing agent and a respected leader in the Lancaster area.

Jay Mattlin, a lifelong resident of Lancaster, OH, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his new role. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 2005, earned his Bachelor of Science in Network and Communications Management from DeVry University in 2010, and his Master of Science in Information Technology Management from Kaplan University in 2015. Jay's professional background spans various roles in government Information Technology, including Systems Administrator for Fairfield County, Computer Support Specialist for Bloom-Carroll Local Schools, and IT Director for the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

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What's the first thing you think of when you think 4th of July?

Probably fireworks, right?

Okay, maybe you think about barbeques, pool parties, or parades first.

The point is, the first thought for most people isn't about the nitty-gritty that we're actually celebrating — our independence as a nation.

Deep down, we all know that's what it's all about. And we respect it. But, we're also human. Who can blame us for enjoying our freedom watching fireworks, without giving all that much thought about everything our founding fathers did to get us here?

So it is in real estate…

There's a lot of focus on the "fireworks" in real estate. The big, glorious, flashy, exciting moments. Like…

• The moment your house first hits the market.
• Seeing the pictures of your house all over the Internet.
• Throngs of people walking through your first open house.
• Receiving offers from buyers…maybe even multiple o...

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Jay Mattlin, Key Realty Wins RateMyAgent's Fairfield County Agent of the Year Award 2024

RateMyAgent – the easiest review marketing platform for real estate agents – has announced as the winner of the Agent of the Year Award 2024. 

The sixth annual awards ceremony was held last night (February 15) virtually over Zoom, with RateMyAgent EVP of Strategic Partnerships Bill Risser and VP of Sales Shanna Lockhart as hosts. 

The RateMyAgent Awards recognizes the nation's top real estate agents and Realtors® and celebrates their dedication to the highest standards of customer service.

The event is the only real estate industry wide awards where customer satisfaction is the cornerstone of the selection criteria, ra...

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