Toni Hogan's Real Estate Blog

Yesterday, I was looking at me cell phone thinking I really need to replace it. That made me think of the transition I normally go through when I get a new phone. Luckily, I have a data back up plan so I won't have the hassle of repopulating my contacts. However, I started using my cell phone's m...

I understand the excitement a buyer feels when they make an offer on a home and it's accepted. They are anxious about moving in. They tell everyone they know they are buying a home. They want stop by every other day just to see it and make sure it's really real. However, if the property is occupi...

Has your home or listing been lingering on the market? I know, I know. I've already said it. You heard lots of others say it. But, it's worth repeating until you get it. Staging sells! And, "staging on steriods" is even better. What is staging on steriods? It's just the moniker I've given to home...

In a market with a lot of competing inventory I wonder why I see more "Bonus to Selling Agent" or BTSA incentives, than seller contributions or allowances for buyers. It's a logical question and I am sure there is a logical answer. If I were a listing agent with an aged home in a market competing...

The great debate, to stage or not. Well maybe not that great of a debate, but it has come to question many times. We've all heard or read that furnished homes offer the opportunity for the buyer to envision themselves living in a property. It gives them "perspective" on where they would actually...

My 12 year old daughter is a phenomenal artist. I'm not just saying that because she's my daughter. I am very proud of and impressed by her talents. It's a talent she began developing when she was about 8 years old. At the time she wanted to be a fashion designer, so she would sit for hours in fr...

Being a Listing Agent doesn't necessarily put your business on auto-pilot. Stick, click and go won't sell a house. I just read Margaret Rome's post on how she uses a waiting list in her business model. While I am eager to read all of the linked posts she including, a comment by Virginia Hepp insp...

Awesome! If you have never stayed at a bed and breakfast inn before, consider it before making your next hotel reservation. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, a B&B is definitely the next best thing to being at home. For our WeddingMoon this past weekend, my new husband and I sta...

In addition to our traditional real estate business, we offer a home tending service for vacant listings. Recently, one our newly placed Home Tenders complained about a terrible smell in the kitchen. She thought it might be a dead rodent (I'm thinking mouse) in the wall. We have been fortunate to...

Whenever a prospective home buyer hears the words "lease-to-own" or "rent-to-own" the think it's an easy way for someone with bad credit to buy a home. That couldn't be further from the truth. While lease-to-own is an option for those with less than perfect credit, a tenant/buyer must still meet ...