Heather Embrey's Blog

OK, I confess.  Even though I am SFR, I am still unsure if finance & home inspection contingencies should be basedupon ratification of the contract or third party approval. I have found that a bank will lean towards accepting an offer IF the contingencies are based on ratification of the contract...

As I grow older, I find it is getting harder & harder to remember everything.  Of course, this nasty Northern Virginia heat isn't helping.  I needed a simple way to educate my buyer clients during our first meeting so I created a power point presentation and trademarked it "Buyer Bootcamp".  This...

Lenders have begun demanding payback from borrowers whose homes have sold in a short sale.  In Virginia, they have the right to file a deficiency claim within 5 years and take up to 20 years to collect.  Lenders are keeping a close eye on strategic REO & short sales realizing some will rebound fi...

OK, I realize I am probably the last one to have figured this out, but I recently discovered the Hallmark Greeting card software.  Last year I volunteered to send birthday cards to the residents of a local nursing home and at the end of the year I realized just  how expensive that project was!  I...

While this is too short for an blog, I wanted to share a quick tip for cheap staging.  When it comes to guiding your sellers on staging &  the "in" paint colors, just send them to the Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn  or Restoration Hardware websites and have them check the furniture section.  See al...

Back in the old days, agents here in Northern Virginia all represented the Seller.  I would drive buyers around for weeks (or months) and learn all about their hopes & dreams (and what fast food joints they liked) so I could help them find the house of their dreams.  I would  then write an offer ...

One of the biggest gray/problem areas in our contract is the word "normal".  Who decided what normal is?  I'm referring to our "paragraph 7" items for equipment that conveys with the property.  In Northern Virginia, we break down home inspection items into two catagories: 1. Our contract includes...

Have you taken advantage of the Lowes Realtor Benefits program?  It is a great way to cross brand - and save YOU money.   You can order gift cards for 5% off!  I plan to buy a dishwasher in the next few days and printed off a 10%off coupon from their website.  I then ordered $600 in gift cards th...

While I have no official statistics, I honestly believe that when I wear my name tag during an openhouse I get better responses to my follow up marketing.  I notice during the open house how  visitors glance periodically at my name tag and refer to me by my name during conversations.  Each time t...

Well, I wasn't sure.  Turns out Virginia doesn't have one - phew!  Why is this so important?  Apparently, as of May 27, Fannie Mae will no longer offer loans until the redemption period has expired.  In California, Alabama and other states,  this time frame is 365 days!  You can look your state u...