Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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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Spring is finally here, and it's time to breathe new life into your outdoor spaces. After a long winter, your yard and flower beds may be in need of some TLC to look their best. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, here are five essential tips to help you clean up your yard and flower beds this spring:

1. Assess the Damage: Before diving into any cleanup efforts, take a walk around your yard to assess the damage caused by winter weather. Look for areas where grass may have died, flower beds that need refreshing, and any debris that needs to be cleared away. This will give you a clear picture of where to focus your efforts.

2. Prune and Trim: Spring is the perfect time to prune back any dead or overgrown branches from trees, bushes, and shrubs. Use sharp pruning shears to make clean cuts, removing any damaged or diseased growth. Additionally, trim back any perennials that have died back over the winter to make way for new growth.

3. Weed Co...

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The old saying about "location, location, location" — and how those are the three most important things when buying a home — certainly has its merits. Location plays a huge part in the value of a property… not only when you buy it, but also how much you can get for it in the future, and how easily you can sell it. So the location of one property versus another is likely to be a topic of conversation you and your real estate agent will have when you're house hunting.

In addition to the actual location of a property, there are probably some other location related things your agent has to consider while showing you houses that they won't think to talk to you about! Don't worry, they won't affect the value of a property, or whether or not you should buy it…

But it might be fun to get a sneak peek into what goes on in your agent's head while you're looking at houses! So here are 5 behind-the-scenes things agents are worried about the location of while showing you homes:

1) The Location of the Lockbox

In order to get into most houses, agents use a special keypad or phone app to unlock what's called a "lockbox" which contains keys to the house. Usually they're hanging right in plain sight on the front door. But every once in a while, for whatever reason, the listing agent decides to switch things up and get creative with where they hang it, and your agent will have to pull off looking cool, calm, and collected while trying to find it.

2) The Location of the Light Switch

It's pretty standard for light switches to be located just to the right or left of a doorway, but agents show plenty of houses where the word "standard" doesn't apply. The worst is when the agent is showing a house later in the day in the winter months, and you can hardly see a thing until you find a light switch! Actually, the worst is when it's a bank-owned house that has the electricity off, so it doesn't even matter if you find a light switch…

3) The Location of the Alarm Pad

If a homeowner has an alarm system, your agent is usually given the alarm code ahead of time. But they aren't always given a detailed description of where the alarm keypad is! Even if it's within sight of the entry door, just getting their bearings and over to the alarm before it goes off can be nerve wracking.

But sometimes it's hidden behind coats on a hook, or across the house and it's a mad race against the clock to get to it. There probably isn't an agent in the business who hasn't lost this race at least once in their career, resulting in setting off the alarm and giving their clients the opportunity to meet the local police before buying a place in town!

4) The Location of a Growling or Barking Dog

Ideally a homeowner could get their dog out of the house for every single showing in order to avoid any mishaps, or just the distraction of a barking dog, but it's not always possible. While many homeowners "assure" agents that their dog is friendly, and not to worry if their dog barks or growls, agents are always leery until they lay eyes on the dog and assess the situation for themselves.

5) The Location of a Silent Cat

Cats, on the other hand, are often stealthy and you may never see them once during a showing! That's just fine, except that agents are also often instructed to make sure that the cat doesn't get out while they're showing the house. That's hard to do when you haven't seen the cat! It leaves many agents wondering if the cat somehow slipped out without them knowing, and trying to at least catch a glimpse of it before they leave.

In a recent speech about lowering housing costs for American families, President Biden said:

"In addition, last week the National Association of Realtors agreed for the first time that Americans can negotiate lower commissions when they buy or sell their home. (Applause.)

On a typical home purchase, that alone could save folks an average of $10,000 on the sale or purchase.

I'm calling on Realtors to follow through on lowering their commissions to protect homebuyers."

That probably sounds pretty amazing...

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