What Does a Buyer's Agent Do?

What Does a Buyer's Agent Do?

A buyer's agent is simply a Realtor who is there to serve YOUR best interests when purchasing real estate. No matter if you are building new construction or buying a resale home, a buyer's agent is a good idea for several reasons.

Lets take a look at a new construction example. You go into the new home sales site and you meet with the builder's sales associate. They know their community inside and out from floor plans to amenities. You love the place, feel confident in the associate, and are ready to buy. Here is the thing: that sales associate represents the SELLER- the builder. They are looking to make the best deal for the builder, not for you as the customer!

Having a buyer's agent allows you to have someone who is looking to make the best deal for YOU. When you obtain a buyer's agent you will receive a trained professional who will help you determine your wants and needs, negotiate the price for the home of your choice, explain the contract and clauses, and be there every step of the way to hold your hand, including through home inspections and closing. And, a good Realtor will be there after closing, just in case you need them.

Ready to begin your search for real estate in Richmond Virginia? Contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, and let me light your way to home sweet home!

PS: And, remember, if you would like a Realtor representing YOU for a new construction home, it is important to know you must first obtain your real estate agent BEFORE viewing a new home sales site. Many builders will not allow you to select a real estate agent if you have already toured their site without representation.

What's In Your House? And, What is it Worth?

What's In Your House? And, What is it Worth?

The other day a friend called seeking some advice on a problem they were having with their home. Long story short, they sustained some extensive damage to some beloved items they were storing in their basement. These items can not be cleaned or repaired. One of the first things I asked her was "do you have an inventory of the items in your home and their value?" I bet you know the answer, as it is what many people would say: "No."

No matter if you have just moved into your new home or have lived there for years, it is important that you take inventory of all of your prized possessions in case of an emergency such as fire or water damage. Below is a blog I wrote last year on the subject and I thought it was worth repeating:

Be Prepared - Inventory Your Home

Having recently moved into our new Glen Allen home, I realized how much STUFF we have. And then it occurred to me just how much we have to lose!

Over the years, people accumulate a lot of things. Everything from televisions to furniture to precious heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. But, in the event of a catastrophe, like a fire, would you have the proper documentation to make a claim on some of these items? I don’t. And I am sure many of you don’t either.

But, no worries! The Insurance Information Institute has you covered with a FREE online software program that allows you to take inventory of all of your treasured items! Know Your Stuff Home Inventory® is easy to use and it’s website even has informative videos to help guide you through the process. What I like most about this inventory system is that it is online and can be accessed from anywhere! If you have an inventory sheet but it is in your home, will it still be there after the disaster?

I encourage you to take a look, sign-up, and start taking stock of your items! You never know when this information may come in handy!

Ready to see the inventory in the Henrico County Real Estate and surrounding Richmond Real Estate market? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, today and let me light your way to home sweet home!

To start your home search, please click here: Real Estate-RichmondVA.

New Construction in Glen Allen? Check Out Ryan Homes Holladay Hill!

New Construction in Glen Allen? Check Out Ryan Homes Holladay Hill!

If you had been looking at the beautiful single family homes being built by Ryan Homes in the Ridge at Hunton Park, you must be disappointed to know that they have all SOLD! But, there is no need to worry! You still have a great opportunity to purchase a Ryan Home in Glen Allen, and it's just approximately one mile from Hunton Park.

Let me introduce you to Holladay Hill. Come home to lovely wooded home sites with large back yards and floor plans to satisfy every taste and budget. Options include up to 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and square footage reaching over 6,000sqft depending on your selections. Abundant luxury features are included such as side-entry garage, G.E. Appliances, Timberlake cabinetry, partial brick exteriors, and so much more! Plus, did I mentioned each home in Energy Star Qualified?!

Located just off Staples Mill Road and Mountain Road in Glen Allen, commuting is a no-brainer with I-295 and I-64 just outside your door. In addition, shopping is convenient with Target, Martin's Grocery Store, and several restaurants just minutes away including Nuevo Mexico, Little Szechuan, and even McDonalds!

Entertainment is also close by with the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, the Meadow Farm Museum, Crump Park, and the Henrico County Library all within reach!

Want to learn more? Contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, and let me light your way to home sweet home! Remember, if you would like agent representation when building new construction, you must obtain your Realtor prior to visiting any sales center and be sure to give the new homes sales associate your Realtors information!

Shannon Milligan with Keller Williams Realty Richmond West, Richmond VA

Your Realtor Richmond VA

Big Thanks to Henrico Animal Control

Big Thanks to Henrico Animal Control

Sometimes life takes you on a path and you don't know where you are going until you get there. That was my last week or two!

For the past year, I have been BEGGING my husband to add another to our family. Now, if we were talking of the human kind, he would have been all over it. But, no. I wanted a new fur ball. I can't explain WHY I wanted another dog...I just knew I had this deep desire to take care of something, to share our good fortune with.

After a year of looking on Petfinder, I found a sweet dog in a rescue. I contacted the Henrico Humane Society to inquire and was told to visit Petco that Saturday as that particular dog would be on display. I convinced my husband and kids (no real convincing the kids, lol) to go take a look at it and off we went. When we arrived 5 minutes after opening, "our dog" was already being picked by another family. I was told that I could put in an application and that if our home was deemed a better fit, the dog would be ours. But, after hearing the other family say their dog had just passed away and seeing the love they already had for this one, we decided to leave. It wasn't meant to be.

Since I had my husband "in the mood" we made a trip to the Richmond SPCA. WOW! That place is incredible and such an amazing facility to care for helpless animals. After viewing several dogs, I fell in love with the ugliest of faces, a Pit-Bull mix. He had a face only a mother could love but a heart of gold. We were interested so we had them bring in a cat to "test" him. Lets just say it didn't go so well. Sorry buddy, my cat still has about 5 lives left. There was another dog we liked as well, an 8 month old black lab. We tested him with a cat and he passed with flying colors. We were seriously considering him, but were told another family put a "hold" on him so they could bring in their dog and test to make sure they would make good companions. That's probably a good thing as I really wasn't prepared for an 8 month old, 65 pound puppy! It wasn't meant to be.

On Martin Luther King Day, I talked my husband into visiting Henrico Animal Control, the pound. We didn't think it would be open, but to our surprise, it was! I had my eye on this beautiful Golden Retriever that I viewed on their website. We went in and met him in cage number 8. Beautiful dog, but in about 10 seconds I just knew it wasn't the dog for us. It wasn't meant to be.

As we were about to leave, one of the workers at the Henrico Animal Control said, "you know, just about 15 minutes before you came in, a man surrendered his dog because he is moving and can't take him with him. He sounds like what you are looking for. His name is Jake."

She brought Jake into the viewing room and it was pretty much love at first sight. He loved my kids, he didn't jump...he just whimpered with joy. It didn't take long for us to snatch him up. He did have to spend one night in the facility as they have a policy that the dog must be fixed before leaving. So, we set up the surgery for the next day and went and retrieved our new love about 24 hours later.

To wrap up this ridiculously long story, Jake is a FANTASTIC dog. I can not believe someone gave him up! It turns out he does have a very bad ear infection which needed some medication as well as a procedure to start the healing process. And, we noticed Jake is a little scared of men. But, since my husband has showed him nothing but love for the past two weeks, he has become my husbands shadow!

I now feel our family is complete. And I know this dog was destined to be with us. When I look into his eyes I can almost hear him say "thank you" and to show us how grateful he is, he makes his nightly rounds to check on the kids and then sits at the front door on guard. My hero! It was meant to be.

If you are looking to add a new fur baby to your family in the Richmond area, please consider a rescue or shelter animal. Below is a list of just some of the places where you can get started on your search!

Richmond SPCA
Henrico Humane Society
Henrico Animal Control
Hanover Animal Control
Hanvoer Humane Society
Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond
Richmond Animal League
PetFinder

Looking for a home of your own? Contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, and let me light your way to home sweet home on the Henrico County Real Estate and surrounding Richmond Real Estate market!

How Do I Know Which Richmond Neighborhood to Select?

How Do I Know Which Richmond Neighborhood to Select?

Choosing where you live is a big deal, especially when you are making such a large financial investment in that very choice! Below are a few tips to finding that perfect place to call home in the Richmond Virginia area!

·         Do schools matter? If public education is of importance to you, then you will want to take that into consideration. Check out sites such as Great Schools and School Digger for test scores and evaluations. (Moving to the Richmond area? Email me! I have a PDF of how local schools rank amongst each other.)

·         How is the commute? Want to be minutes from your work, or do you want to get away from it all? Being further out can sometimes net you more bang for your buck. Being closer in can maybe subtract from your square footage, but will allow for more personal time. Neither is right or wrong, it just depends on your wants and needs.

·         How are the amenities? Would you like to have access to a community pool, tot lots, and exercise facilities? Or, do those things not impress you? Determining this will greatly help point you in the right direction!

·         What are the neighbors like? Once you narrow down your community choices, you may want to do some detective work! Knock on a few doors and ask the people who actually LIVE there what they think of the neighborhood. Go to the local police department and check out any crime statistics. (Henrico County Crime Database) Paint the picture and see how it looks!

These are just a few tips on how you can begin to narrow down your home search. Other factors will also come into play such as price range and home size, but having a general direction of where you want to live will make your home journey much more enjoyable!

Thinking about buying in the Henrico County Real Estate or Richmond Real Estate market? Contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty, and let me light your way to home sweet home!

Should I Put My Home on the Market Now, or Wait Until Spring?

Should I Put My Home on the Market Now, or Wait Until Spring?

The last few years have been somewhat of a roller coaster ride in the real estate industry, so I can understand why people ask this question so often. They want to get the most money out of their investment and don't want to sit on the market any longer than they have to. So, when confronted with the idea of moving in the Fall or Winter, some wonder if they should sit out and wait until the "hot" season in real estate, Spring.

What I tell clients and customers is this: sell your home when you need to, period. Don't worry about what month it is. If you do everything right from hiring a real estate agent you are confident in to selecting a price range according to the market and not your emotions, you will be just fine in ANY season.

In addition, I personally believe a home can be a stand out in the Fall or Winter months! Tasteful decorations and warm scents can make a buyer feel instantly at home. A roaring fire in the fireplace may actually encourage a potential buyer to linger just a little longer in your home to take shelter from the cold. See where I am going?!

People buy a home when they need to buy a home; a work related transfer often doesn't wait until a specific time of year and I don't believe sellers should wait either.

Thinking of putting your home on the Henrico County Real Estate or surrounding Richmond Real Estate market? Then contact me, Shannon Milligan at Home Sweet Henrico with Keller Williams Realty today!

Remembering 9/11

Remembering 9/11

It's hard to believe that is has been 10 years since that beautiful morning turned into such a horrific day. I remember where I was like it was yesterday. I was one month shy of turning 25 and on top of the world with my wedding just a few short months away, college almost complete, and fear was something that really wasn't in my vocabulary.

As I was heading to my first class of the day, I was listing to the radio and heard about the first plane striking the World Trade Center. I immediately thought "terrorist attack" if only because I could not fathom a pilot making THAT kind of error. Once I reached my school, it was there in the middle of class that we learned of the second plane hitting the other tower. You could just feel the room fill with uncertainty and confusion. It wasn't until the third plane hit the Pentagon that my teachers cancelled classes for the rest of the day.

I headed home to get my fill, and then some, of news coverage. I think this is the first time I ever really felt ravenous for information. Up until that day, the news was something for my parents...not for me. I watched in disbelief as I channel surfed looking for any new information to make sense of it all. Ten years later, I still can't make sense of it. No one can.

In the past ten years I have married, had children, traveled, worked...LIVED. So many others did not. I amazingly didn't know a single soul who perished in the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Yet, the events have changed me. They have changed our world.

I am now in a position of having to decide if I should fly, with my family, on the 10th anniversary of September 11th. Our tickets are booked and paid for, yet I am having a hard time making the choice to fly or drive to our destination. When we booked the flight, I didn't give much thought to the date...it was just another day. But, now that the media coverage has once again filled our television screens and I remember the devastation of that day, I am conflicted. Such a contrast to September 10, 2001 when fear was for other people, not 25 year olds who felt immortal.

What decision have I made? Well, yesterday it was to drive and just eat the cost of the tickets. Today, it is fly and not let "them" win. Tomorrow? I'm not sure. What weighs most on me right now is that I have knowledge about the evil that lives amongst us. Those who went to work, boarded that plane, or were visiting the twin towers for vacation had no idea that terrorists could dream up a plan so unimaginable. They didn't have the luck (or curse?) of knowledge of what COULD happen if they chose path A over path B that day. Many of them were just "25 year olds" who had the freedom and carefree living that youth brings.

To those who lost loved ones on that day, you are in my thoughts and my prayers and may peace have found you.