Take A Tip Tuesday-Buying An Ascension Parish Home From Out Of The State.

 

Buying An Ascension Parish Home From Out Of State? Tips To Help You Handle That.

Buying a home in Ascension Parish from across the country has become a much easier task. I would have told you several years back “Anyone buying a home off the internet is crazy” now I’m eating those words. As scary it may sound I’ve had several clients do this recently and it has become more popular with access to video, virtual tours and signing documents with electronic signatures buying across the world has been a piece of cake and all of my cross country buyer have been tickled pink with their new home purchase. Here are some tips that can help you handle the process a little easier.

Investigate Your Ascension Parish Neighborhood.

It’s important to do your homework when buying in Prairieville or anywhere for that matter. A Realtor® can help you with this and the Internet is your friend. You can get neighborhood market reports from your Realtor® and look up crime statistics from a quick Google search. Even if you don’t have children it is important to find out what the schools are like in the area so when you go to sell your home it will be appealing to future home buyers.

Budget Your Travel.

Not only will you need to know your moving expenses but you will need to create a budget to view your future home at least once. I strongly recommend this, even though I have had a few clients that bypassed my advice and follow through the process without ever seeing the home in person until after closing. The reason I recommend this is only because you really can’t poetry a feel of a neighborhood by pictures or video. Unless you have a friend or relative that can help you with this I’d take a trip to see your new digs.

Narrow Down What You Really Want.

To make it easier for yourself its best to make a list of absolute “must haves” in your next home. After you have done your homework on location, price and size you need to narrow down the list to thing like fenced in backyard, 2 car garage, and open floor plan. This will make your choices more tailored to your specific needs and not have to rifle through several listings being sent to you. Working with a local Realtor® is essential with this aspect of cross country home buying. 

Overcoming Cross Country Home Buying.

For some home buyers, the thoughts of buying across the country can be overwhelming. Even with all the technical advances, it does little to settle their nerves. This would be a perfect idea for those clients to consider renting in our area for 6 months to get a feel for the area, traffic peak times and convenient shopping areas. Many people opt for this but please consider how much it will cost to store your items that won’t fit in your rental. Make sure you will be able to break your lease after 6 months with our penalty and be sure to add your deposits to your budget when making this choice. 

For the most part, Internet home buying has become a new way of life for many. Even my 84-year-old Aunt bought a home that she strictly saw in videos and pictures I had sent to her. Be sure to find a Realtor® that will take the time to do this for you so you get the best representation of the home you will be buying.

“Because YOU Matter”

Kristina Smallhorn 

Your Real Estate Whisperer

My Second Website, Click HERE!

eXp Realty LLC

LAKE CHARLES, LA 70601

225-246-1812

Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149

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yrew

Take A Tip Tuesday- Flood Assistance

TAKE A TIP TUESDAY! FLOOD ASSISTANCE.

This comes directly from an email I received and I wanted to get the word out to all residents of Ascension Parish and surrounding areas.

The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program strongly urges all flood-affected homeowners to complete the initial homeowner assistance survey. The survey takes about 15 minutes and may be completed online at http://restore.la.gov or over the phone by calling (866) 735-2001 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The program recognizes that some homeowners may need help completing this survey and has scheduled six outreach events to ensure that those who need assistance can receive it.

These events will be held as follows:

May 16 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Southeastern Louisiana University – Student Union 500 W University Ave., Hammond, LA 70402

May 17 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ascension Parish Library – Gonzales 708 S Irma Ave., Gonzales, LA 70737

May 18 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bill Cockrell Recreation Center

4109 Pines Road, Shreveport, LA 71119

May 23 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Greenwell Springs 11300 Greenwell Springs Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70814

May 24 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Youngsville Sports Complex Gymnasium 801 Savoy Road, Youngsville, LA 70592

May 25 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Denham Springs Old City Hall

115 Mattie St., Denham Springs, LA 70726

The purpose of these events is to help homeowners complete the survey and answer any questions about the program. No formal presentation will be provided, but program information and materials will be available. While no documentation is required, we do ask that you bring your FEMA ID number if you have one.

For all updates, go to restore.la.gov

To be eligible for one of the six phases of the program, homeowners must meet all of the eligibility criteria listed below:

• Must have been the owner occupant at time of the disaster event

• The damaged address must have been the homeowner’s primary residence at the time of the disaster event

• The damage suffered must be a result of the March or August 2016 severe storms and flooding events

• The structure must be eligible as determined by the program, which includes single family homes, duplexes, mobile homes, and condominiums

• The structure must be located in one of 51 disaster-declared parishes

COMPLETING THE SURVEY DOES NOT REQUIRE THE HOMEOWNER TO STOP WORK.

******The description provided comes directly from The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program and does not belong to me. If you would like to see this information please visit the website in the description.******

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

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Take A Tip Tuesday- Clean Your Pantry, Ascension Parish! (Including Me)

Take A Tuesday, May 9th, 2017 Time To OrGaNiZe, Ascension Parish (including me)!

When you are selling your home, now is the time to clean out your pantry and closets.
This is a view from my personal pantry and I know many of you have this in your home or at least seen it.
This may be shocking to you, but buyers open cabinets and they look in the pantry. As silly as it may seem you it could turn off a buyer or even get offered less money because your closets are in chaos. The little time it takes to get this stuff back in shape will pay off in the long run.
I know that some of you won’t be able to go with a professional organizer, so hopefully, this tip will help you home stage your closets yourself. I will be happy to help you prepare your home when listing with me. Please don’t hesitate to ask.

“Because YOU Matter”
kristinasmallhorn.exprealty.com
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0LUzFvtwb5B8EfVCF5uwg
225-246-1812
#yourrealestatewhisperer

Take A Tip Tuesday- More About “Open House” In Ascension Parish.

 

This Weeks, Take A Tip Tuesday.

I take a deep closer look at the depths of an open house (add sarcasm) and how some inconsiderate customers can rifle through your home. Although this is uncommon it can happen. I took a more satire type approach to giving this information only to be humorous but get the point across. Last week’s “Take A Tip Tuesday” (Link is here To Last Weeks Blog Post About Open House) was the more realistic view of what could possibly happen. Just as a disclaimer I ripped off this idea from every more experienced and gifted YouTuber. I am not staking claim to being original to this idea.

I hope you enjoyed it, Please remember to subscribe if you liked this video and would like me to do more like this.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0LUzFvtwb5B8EfVCF5uwg

Your Real Estate Whisperer
Kristina Smallhorn
eXp Realty LLC
225-246-1812
Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR® with the state of Louisiana

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Take a Tip Tuesday, Tips for Ascension Parish “Open House” Sellers

Take a Tip Tuesday

Tips for Ascension Parish “Open House” Sellers

It’s an exciting time when you put your home on the market. The news of your first upcoming open house may make you a little nervous. You’ll have images of people swarming in your home to preview it.  The truth of the matter is, that in Ascension Parish Sunday open house is popular, but rarely do you get an offer from them.  And the swarms of eager buyers putting in offers over asking price are only on TV shows.  Even in this HOT market, an open house is just an introduction, almost like an opening act to a play.  Buyers come through and at a later date, they come back with their agent to get a better feel for the home, if they liked it at the open house.

How To Get Buyers To Like Your Ascension Parish Home Best?

Like I said, this is the opening act, so you want to make the best first impression. I know you’ve heard to de-clutter.  But what does “de-clutter” really mean? In the real estate world, it means to remove and store away any personal items like family photos, or shoes lying around. Hide your dog/cat bed and toys, remove any shoes by the door, hanging towels that aren’t decorative and make sure all your laundry is folded and put away.  Prior to the open house would be a perfect time to tidy up those closets, and that garage you have been ignoring for years should be swept out and organized.

Prepare For Your Safety

For the most part, the buyer’s coming through your home are there to just look at your home to possibly purchase it.  On occasion, you’ll get people who are there for a completely different reason. I’ve heard stories of people taking valuables, prescription drugs and even worse, firearms have been stolen from a home.  A REALTOR® does follow buyers through a home but these types who are there to steal know how to manipulate their way into getting what they want.  Usually, there is only one agent in a home during an open house and they cannot be in all rooms at all times. Your best plan or action is to hide, remove or store any and all valuable items.

Prepare Your Head

Like I mentioned before, you can get caught up with the idea of an open house, but you really shouldn’t stress over it. Take the four hours that possible buyers are walking through your home to go out to the park, or go watch a movie.  You don’t really want to dwell on what’s going on in your home.  When it’s time to head back to the house, check with your agent to see how the open house went to ease any anxiety you may have and get feedback. Your agent should have some good info to give you from the people who walked through.  This is extremely helpful when you have a future showing so you can address any problems.

Good luck with your open house!

If you’d like some more information about selling your home, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to being a service to you and your housing needs.

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

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Ascension Parish Coffee Talk #6 Your Customers Shoes

 

This week I was able to catch up with the owner of Your Customers Shoes, Elle Robertson. She has been a big part of my transformation into the social media marketing world and really has transformed my view of business on the internet, The best part about it, she’s LOCAL!. She has focused her expertise for businesses of Ascension Parish.

To see the full interview of  “Your Customers Shoes” Click here

Elle Robertson dropped her busy schedule to discuss her new business she has started. Even though this is a new business for Ascension Parish she has been in the business world for some time. She was the owner of a million dollars company that she single-handedly built from the ground up and she’s able to pass along her great skill in social media, website and personal branding onto you the customer.

What’s In A Name?

Her clever name for her business came from the simple concept of looking into a business she is working with and seeing it from the customers’ viewpoint. With that information, she is able to tailor a website, social media, and branding for your company. In the sea of the internet, Your Customers Shoes will find your businesses “niche” by locating your target customers for your area. Letting your customers feel more connected to you and your business.

When you hire “Your Customers Shoes” how much is it?, (From the Owner, Elle Roberson)

********It takes 6-8 weeks to complete this adventure, depending on how quickly you respond to things like your new logo, slogan, and website design. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can reach more of your local customers and increase your revenue.

How much does a single paying customer bring to your business? For example, if you are a local daycare in Ascension Parish, then your weekly rate is somewhere between $120-$250. We will use the lower figure for this example.

Each new customer brings in roughly $480 per month ($120 x 4 Weeks Per Month). This translates to $5,760 per year ($480 x 12). This is just for one customer. As we all know, we refer people to the businesses that we know, like and trust. Let’s assume that this one new customer ultimately brings three new families to your daycare over the course of the few years that their children attend your daycare. This is a very realistic situation, as I myself have referred at least three families to my children’s daycare center.

Those three customers each bring in $5760 per year, and that’s if they only have one child each. Children typically attend their daycare center for 4 years, so this one new customer will ultimately contribute $23,040 ($5760 x 4). When you add in the other three families, the new increase in revenue is $69,120 ($23,040). The total is $71,420 ($23,040 + $69,120). That’s roughly a $70,000 increase in revenue for gaining one new customer.

I take care of everything on the list below, so that you can focus on running your business. I am not a ‘website designer’. I am a trained and certified Customer Experience Designer with more than 13 years of experience. I live locally here in Ascension Parish, so I am a part of your community.

If you are interested in connecting with more of your local customers to grow your brand, my greatest joy would be to have the opportunity to serve your business in this way. I love connecting local businesses with their ideal customers to grow a dedicated and loyal customer base. Let’s find your local customers together.

************via,  yourcustomersshoes.com*********************************

If you’d like to connect with Your Customers Shoes visit their website @ yourcustomersshoes.com or email them at [email protected]

I can say from own personal experience that “Your Customers Shoes” has reshaped my whole business plan in an exciting way. I’m so happy to have someone local to Ascension Parish that can help our community in this way. If you are looking for examples of what she can do for you, you can always visit my website @ yourrealestatewhisperer.com.

“Because YOU Matter”
Kristina Smallhorn
Your Real Estate Whisperer,
for Ascension Parish.
eXp Realty LLC.new cover EXP

How To Make The Most Out Of An Open House In Ascension Parish.

Open House tours have been around forever. Even with virtual tours, splashy professional photos, and interest marketing, nothing can beat the feel of a home like walking through it.   Open houses are here to stay for the long term which you will need to know so you can get the most from them when you tour on a Sunday afternoon.

Take This Time To Learn

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When going out looking at open houses it is the perfect time to take some notes. You can see features that stand out and quickly after seeing a few, you’ll know when one feels overpriced or one is updated correctly. You will be able to compare home to home and be in a better position to gauge the local Ascension Parish market.

Best Way To Interview For A Possible Buyers Agent.

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If you haven’t picked a REALTOR® yet, what better way to meet potential buyers agents than at open houses. You can shake hands, talk and get a feel of how your potential Ascension Parish REALTOR® will work with you. You will not connect well with all REALTOR®n and this is one way you can interview them before you take the leap to hire one to represent you.

If you are not feeling right about signing in at an open house here in Ascension Parish, there is nothing saying you have to. You can just fill out the seller feedback form as a courtesy to the seller and never give your name and information to the Ascension Parish REALTOR®.

Fallen In Love With A Home At An Open House?

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If you walk into an Ascension Parish home and it’s checked off all your boxes, it’s best to stick around and watch the other potential buyers. Look for body language; see if they are just as smitten. This is a good way to size up your competition.  You can learn a lot just by hanging around admiring all the details of the home and take note of others who may be interested.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions.

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The Ascension Parish Agent’s job during an open house is to answer any questions, within reason. They can’t tell you how much the last offer was that wasn’t accepted. But they can tell you if the seller is negotiable. The REALTOR® can’t tell you how much the seller is willing to come down but they can tell you what other homes in the neighborhood sold for. Be sure to have your questions ready prior. It’s always good to ask how long the home has been for sale or why the seller may be wanting to sell. Knowledge is power when negotiating an offer.

When Is Open House Ascension Parish?

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I’ve seen open houses happen every day of the week at virtually any time of the day. Generally, for the most part, Sunday between 1-6 you can find many listed homes have the Open House flags flying in the yard. Don’t be afraid to walk in and say “Hello” and take a peek around. Even if you are not in the market currently, it’s always a good idea to see what your neighbors are selling their house for.  Be sure to keep an eye out for the pending sign and/or sold sign to gauge how quickly housing is moving.  It may be the best time to list your home if the market is HOT!.

If you are currently interested in listing and want to know more about your home’s value, comment below, or better yet just call me and I can show you what homes are selling for in your neighborhood. The market is very good for sellers; the volume of homes is low, and the demand is super high.  Now could be your best opportunity to get the most money out of your home.

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

eXp Realty LLC

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Is Your Neighbor Killing The Sale Of Your Ascension Parish Home?

If you have lived in a house or an apartment here in Ascension Parish, you may have had some neighbors. Some neighbors are awesome; some, well, not so much. If you have the latter of the two described neighbors, and you are looking to sell, it may be the perfect time to bury the hatchet. So how do you go about that?  Below I’m listing a few tips to help you with the selling of your Ascension Parish home.

It’s Time To Talk

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So you have lived in your Ascension Parish home for the last 8 years and you have only spoken to your neighbor to ask for him to stop letting his dog poop in your flower bed.  Unfortunately, the response wasn’t exactly the best reaction you had hoped for.  Since then, you haven’t said two words to one another.  Well, this is a perfect time, before you throw the sign in the yard, to make peace.  Let bygones be bygones, as they say!  Just walk over and let them know your plans and how this may be the perfect opportunity for them to get a new (and better?)neighbor.

But The Neighbors Yard Looks Like H#$% !

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I know, I have had one myself, and it could be a deal killer for sellers. My best advice for this, since you have now buried the hatchet, you could suggest, at your own expense, for a lawn company to freshen up the yard. I would do this tactfully just by saying, “Hey Neighbor, I was just about to call the landscaping company to spruce up my yard. I’ll pay for your’s to be done too as a courtesy if you would like?”  Many people will take you up on the offer, especially since time and money will not be an issue on their end of the deal. If they refuse and the yard is really that bad, you could amp things up by getting your homeowners association involved, but I would strongly suggest you go the civilized route.

The Fence On Their Side Is Rotting.

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I had a listing several years back where the neighbors shared a fence. The sellers were not on speaking terms with the next door neighbors.  I wasn’t completely sure of the reason, but I did know something needed to be done about that rotting, panels missing, eyesore of a fence. According to the sellers, they had made several attempts to remedy the fence issue to no avail, including offering to repair it themselves. So I went over to the neighbors home and asked if it was possible to get the fence repaired, They grumbled for a minute but before they said a flat out NO, I said: “You can pick the fencing company and we will foot the bill!” This seemed to satisfy the neighbor and within a week new panels were being put up and the sellers were able to move on with their lives.

What If This Doesn’t Work?

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Some people are just not happy unless they are making others miserable, I get it.  So, I understand sometimes you can’t just change a bad relationship overnight. If you have exhausted all your resources, and you really need to move, you can always add an incentive to the buyer to sweeten the pot. What I mean is, buyers can often overlook a sour neighbor if they feel like the deal benefits them, so simply add incentives into the listing such as, some additional closing costs or lawn care for a year or even possibly a reduced price for a serious buyer.

Your best approach is to try your best to improve the relationship with the neighbors for the sake of getting your home sold for the most money.

“Because YOU Matter”

Kristina Smallhorn

(Your Real Estate Whisperer)

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Cell 225-246-1812 Office 225-744-2610 Fax 225-744-2910
[email protected]
yourrealestatewhisperer.com
Villar & Company Real Estate,37283 Swamp Rd.,Suite 102 Prairieville LA, 70769
Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR with the state of Louisiana, USA.

What Color Should You Paint Your Ascension Parish Home?

This weekend I took it upon myself to paint the inside of my home. I had it the same color in this home as in my last home, so I was tired of Sherman Williams – Utterly Beige. (Which totally looks grey on the walls). I switched to a lighter looking grey called “Shiitake,” again, a Sherman Williams color.  When I started painting,  I began to wonder what the new trends in paint are for 2017,  so I looked it up and now sharing that info with you so you don’t have to slave over the Internet like I did.

So What Color Do I Pick For My Ascension Parish Home?

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The trend for this year is not to pick just one color or even one texture of paint for the whole house. Gone are the days of every room being the same boring beige.  Create an accent wall in any large room to give it a pop of color.  Dusky blues seem to be a new color for this year.  If you don’t want to use paint, wallpapers have been a trend for some time.  If you’d like to tackle that project I’d either have a partner help or hire a professional.

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I’m not talking scream in your face PINK! This a very light, soft, romantic pink. It’s a trend that has picked up steam recently.  Again, we are not talking about changing every aspect of a room to pink, just the wall color and adding some pillows and decor to compliment the walls.

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Many, will turn their nose up to pink walls in a home so why not go to the opposite side and try a dark mineral grey? These cool greys look amazing in a well-lit office, or as an accent piece in a kitchen island.  Another trend here in Ascension Parish is to paint the island a different color than the other cabinets.

Feeling A Little Green?

Well, you are in luck as two types of greens are carving a path into 2017. One color that really got my attention was a green that reminded me of years past, but this has a cleaner spin on it adding more of a blue-green cast. If you are bold, daring and love green it really does look amazing against dark cabinetry in a kitchen.  Once I saw it, I thought it might be something I might want to try.  After all, It’s just paint!

The second green that it trending is like the sage green of just a few years back, but this one has a more creamy look; almost a pastel sage. I have personally always preferred colors like this in bathrooms.

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When I heard this was a trend I nearly screamed “NOT ME!” but I would have been eating my words after I saw how they used this color in a room. They tied this bright sunshiny color with soft grey’s and creamy whites, making the room cheery and inviting.  I loved it so much that  I will be experimenting with yellows in my home,  mostly with accents, and painting the walls a soft grey.

A trend is just that, a trend.  Don’t think because its the newest and latest it’s a must for your Ascension Parish Home.  If you are thinking about selling your home in the next couple of years I would hold off on painting with a particular “trendy” color.  With that said, If you are going to be staying put for some time, PAINT AWAY!!

I tell you all this “Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhornyrew

[email protected]

yourrealestatewhisperer.com

        

Villar & Company Real Estate,37283 Swamp Rd.,Suite 102 Prairieville LA, 70769

Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR with the state of Louisiana, USA.

Why Photos Are SO Important When Listing Your Ascension Parish Home.

Not too long ago, we as real estate agents would tell our sellers that curb appeal was the most important thing when putting your Ascension Parish home on the market. When the sign went up, we wanted the people who drove by to be sufficiently enticed to want to see inside.  Now, photos are the new curb appeal!  If you have photos taken with a cell phone camera that are blurry and too small for the MLS, they immediately turn off potential buyers.

Photos are the single most effective way to feature your Ascension Parish home in the best light to buyers, but you will need to work with your Ascension Parish listing agent to prepare your home for the photo shoot so you can capitalize on its features.

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(As nice as picture two may be, with a clear sky, Picture one takes away all the shadows and show the home in the correct way for listing your home in Ascension Parish)

NEVER List Your Home Without Professional Photographs.

I don’t care how good the market is right now; I don’t care what your home’s value is; there is no excuse for poor, sloppy photographs of your Ascension Parish home or piece of land. In today’s world of text messaging, email and social media, your Ascension Parish home or Land can be shared very quickly, and the photographs make your home appeal to buyers.  Bad photos will not be shared except between people telling each other how bad the pictures look!

I know the market is extremely HOT right now but in order to sell your home quickly and for the best price, your Ascension Parish Realtor® MUST take professional photographs!

Prepare Your Home Prior to The Shoot.

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The simplest way to make your photographs turn out their best is to declutter by removing all extra items from the countertops in bathrooms and kitchens, and making sure to put away your coffee pot and toiletries. These items in photographs can make your spaces appear to be smaller than they actually are.  As a rule of thumb, if you don’t really need it, pack it away.  A clean field of vision for your photographer makes for better pictures, which will stimulate your future buyer’s imagination of making it their next home.

The Number Of Photos Counts.

Statistics have proven that the more photos you have, the more likely your Ascension Parish home will sell faster. Don’t think a good picture of the front and back of your home is enough. You should have an ample number of pictures starting at the front of your home, then going into the foyer and through the entire home, ending in the backyard making buyers get a good feel of how the home flows. I believe a minimum of 8 photos should be used for a home and a minimum of 4 photos for a piece of land. As a side note, the MLS allows for many more than 8 photos, so please take as many pictures as necessary to capture all the features of your home.

There is no excuse for not hiring a professional photographer for your Ascension Parish home, and the cost to have them done should not be paid by you, the seller. This should be a part of selling your home and paid for by the agent or broker.  If your Ascension Parish realtor refuses to hire a professional photographer, then I personally would find that unacceptable.  It is not a rule or a law but just something that is not difficult to have done, and the expense should never be a factor.  This is YOUR home and you want it sold fast, and for the MOST money.

If you would like to see some homes with professional photographs that I have listed in the past, please feel free to call me at 225-246-1812.

“Because YOU Matter”

Sincerely,

Kristina Smallhorn (Your Real Estate Whisperer)

Cell 225-246-1812

Office 225-744-2610

Fax 225-744-2910

[email protected]

yourrealestatewhisperer.com

Villar & Company Real Estate,37283 Swamp Rd.,Suite 102 Prairieville LA, 70769

Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR with the state of Louisiana, USA.