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December 31st, 2007 Categories: Holiday Wishes
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Archive for December, 2007
As I sit and ponder what the new year has in store for me on a personal and professional level, I have to take time and reflect on the past.
I don’t want to dwell on what could have been or regret my actions. Instead I want to learn and grow and hope that as the new year approaches that I will be able to take the time tested lessons and integrate them into my everyday actions.
The new year to me represents a chance to write a new chapter in the book of life.
I am not an expert on profound wisdom or claim to be an inspiration to anyone. I am however a realtor from New Jersey, who follows her own path and is pursuing her passion using real estate as a vehicle.
As 2007 comes to a close and 2008 is quickly peeking over the horizon, just a few of my wishes for the new year are as follows: 
- Take Action
- Laugh More & Cry Less
- Achieve Greatness (personally & professionally)
- Make New Friends
- Honor old Friends
- Get Truly Inspired
- Be Grateful
The Bandy Group would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year and hope that all your dreams whatever they may be come true!
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If you are looking for an Investment property, a vacation home or just plain looking to retire than look no further than Roatan.
Roatan forms part of the Bay Islands of Honduras. The island is surrounded by an amazing barrier reef and warm waters. Roatan has the second largest barrier reef in the world next to Australia. I have personally had the privilege of scuba diving outside the reef wall and highly recommend this as a scuba destination.
With the cold weather upon us, vacation homes are often in the forefront of our minds. If you would like more information on how Roatan living can become part of your life than please do not hesitate to contact Sarah at The Bandy Group.
We are currently working with overseas agents in Roatan to bring incredible value to our U.S. clients. You can still find a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condos for under $199,000 and beach front lots for $180,000.
With average yearly temperatures of 82 degrees it is the perfect remedy for winter blues.
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From our Dog House to yours, Sarah and I would like to wish you a barking good time this holiday season and hope that Santa will bring you plenty of dog bones to keep you smiling all year long.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!
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- Great opportunity for an investor to own one of Colts Neck’s premier commercial properties.
- High quality construction with many upgrades is evident in the beautiful 6000 sq.ft. office building located in the heart of Colts Neck Business district.
- Property has great exposure to Highway 34 & Highway 537, Route 18 and the Garden State Parkway.
- One of a kind building with prestigious tenants makes this a Great buy.
- Special Financing Available.
- Offered @ $2,575,000
For more information or a private showing please contact Sarah Bandy @ The Bandy Group.
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I feel it a privilege to be a Realtor and honestly I feel honored to be part of a company such as Keller Williams Realty.
Aside from the fact that Keller Williams is the fourth largest real estate company and setting aside all the educational advantages we receive through Keller Williams University, the culture that is set in place and almost mandatory to abide by is what makes us different. We are culturally instilled to not only do right by our clients but also never feel the need to have to put down other realtors.
So where am I going with this you might ask?
My question is, “How far do we as realtors go to get a listing”?
I recently came across an agent from another agency who was asked 
straight forward from a potential client about how they handle canceling a listing agreement. The potential client wanted to know about an unconditional withdrawal.
Prior to this conversation I had explained about my “Easy Exit Listing Agreement” which sates that with The Bandy Group you may cancel your listing at any point and not be responsible to pay a commission to my agency. This also means that you may relist your property with another agency and we still would not receive any compensation for time invested or advertising dollars that may have been spent. Basically you can cancel your listing at anytime for any reason.
So back to the other realtor, he stated to this potential client that my Easy Exit Listing Agreement was nothing new and that it was the clients right under real estate law to be able to cancel your contract at any point in time so they should just list with that agency. This agent was trying to double talk to try to confuse a potential client.
By law you can cancel your listing at any point if you are not happy with your agent or agency but you may still be liable to pay a commission to that agent. The difference will be if you have a Conditional or Unconditional Withdrawal.
The Bandy Group will always give our clients an UNCONDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL because we stand behind our services. If you are not happy for any reason, we will never hold you hostage to your contract.
If you would like more information in regards to this topic, please feel free to contact me directly. I am always available to answer any questions you may have.
Please remember the following:
Win – Win Or no deal
Integrity Do the right thing
Customers Always come first
Commitment In all things
Communication Seek first to understand
Creativity Ideas before results
Teamwork Together Everyone
Achieves More
Trust Starts with honesty
Success Results through people
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What is the solution when you want to sell your New Jersey home and you want to sell now?
Let me share my top 4 with you so that you not only become an informed client but a happy one as well. I want you to see the ins and outs of the real estate business as I see it.
My Top
1. Pricing
We are past the days of bidding wars. There are fewer buyers out in the market place right now. Pricing your home appropriately is crucial to your success. If you are priced too high you may just miss that serious buyer that is willing to purchase NOW.
2. Curb Appeal
It’s time to get to work and make that home look beautiful starting with the outside. Try placing seasonal flower pots on the front porch. Pick up debris that may have formed around your bushes or underneath window panes. Paint touch ups are always helpful. Loose railing or broken windows are a must to fix. Try standing outside for a moment to get an objective view of your home. Would you want to buy that house?
3. Terms
Your realtor gives you good new and bad news: Good news you got your asking price, bad news they want you to move out in 30 days or they love the home and your pool table and your exercise equipment too and the offer is contingent upon those two items being included in the sale. It is always bitter sweet when you hear what you want but you can’t make it happen. Be flexible. Look at the terms and analyze what you can and can’t live with.
4. Hire a Great Realtor
It is extremely critical to hire someone who understands your needs. Someone you feel comfortable with so that the selling process runs as smooth as possible. Make sure that your realtor has a marketing plan in place. The sale of your home should be more than just placing a for sale sign outside and hope that someone will call. Talk to your agent about advertising, Internet exposure, Multi-Media, flyers, brochures and open houses just to name a few.
I hope you sell your home at the best price with the least amount of headaches. Good Luck!
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I just got Meme’d by Justin Smith, who just shared 5 interesting things about himself over at http://hismove.com/blog/ahhhh-active-rain-memes-are-back/, so make sure you take a peek over at his site when you get a chance, number 3 really surprised me!
What are Meme’s? If you don’t know what they are, don’t feel bad. I didn’t know what they were either until Justin showed me this link, try this.
Basically, Meme’s are a high tech version of the old fashion chain letter. I am not one to break tradition so here goes:
For all of you that do know me, you know how hard it was for me to come up with 5 things to share with everyone. I’m basically an open book. I share my successes as well as my failures. My past makes me the women I am today so I never get offended when someone wants to ask me a personal question.
After much thought and consideration I came up with the Fab 5.
1. Purple Is My Favorite Color.
Don’t ask me why Purple is my favorite color because I don’t have purple clothing, I don’t own anything Purple, I don’t have Purple art work but I just seem to gravitate towards that color. Always have since I was a child. They say that Purple is the color of Royalty, hey, maybe in a past life 
.
2. Halloween Is My Favorite Holiday.
I love Halloween. I’m like a big kid. I decorate the entire house. I enjoy dressing up and hosting Halloween Parties.
3. I Love When It Rains.
This is not a good thing for someone in my profession as clients do not like to view homes in the rain but I love it. I like to keep my windows open and just hear the sound it makes.
4. I’m A Neat Freak.
Not to the point where I’m OCD about it but I like things in their place. I feel that I think more clearly when things are clean and out of the way. If my desk gets cluttered which it often does than I have to put it on my “To Do List” and make sure everything is in its place. The same goes for my home.
5. I Have An Annoying Neighbor.
Won’t take “No” for an answer. Enough Said. 
Meme’s are like a game of tag. I was tagged by Justin Smith now its my turn to tag the following players:
Tim Schwartz Century 21
Perri K. Feldman NJ Real Estate Wire
Janis Gagliardi Port Orange Juice
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To Sell or Not To Sell Your NJ Home During the Holidays?
December 4th, 2007 Categories: Selling Advice
I have been asked this question so many times recently that I am completely exhausted from repeating myself.
Should You Take Your Home Off the Market During the Holiday Season????
The simple answer is that there isn’t a simple answer. Hey! Wait one minute, “You’re a Realtor”. “You’re not going to convince me to sell?”, you say…. NO I’M NOT!
I am here to tell you that I completely understand your position. Although I am a realtor, I am also a homeowner and a homeowner that has had her own home listed in the past so I completely understand the pressure to keep a home in tip top shape for showings.
My advice is to first talk to those most important in your life, your Family. Then I would talk to your Attorney and Accountant and lastly I would talk to your Realtor. Together, I’m sure you will come up with the right answer that suits your lifestyle.
If you still need help, take the following into consideration:
1. Do you need to sell?
If you don’t and your tired of cleaning the house and have too much going on with the kids and holiday parties then I would say “Take it Off”.
2. Are you just testing the market?
If you are not serious and just wanted to see if you would get your asking price then I would say “Take it Off”.
3. Are you Relocating?
If you “Need” to move, lets say you have a job offer and you have to be somewhere within a certain time period then I would say “Keep it On”.
4. Are you unhappy with your real estate agent?
If you have talked with your realtor and expressed how you are feeling and have tried to make your partnership work and you still are not happy then I would say “Take it off”.
5. Are you in financial distress?
If time is of the essence and you have to sell because you haven’t paid your mortgage or you know that soon you won’t be able to pay or you feel that the burden of the payments are too much for you to handle then I would say “Keep it On”.
I will say this; I personally like showing homes during the holiday season. I love to see the homes in all their glory with the beautiful decorations. Whether it be for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, I love to see all the different decorations that represent each culture and to see all the love that has gone into the children’s art work that is displayed throughout the home.
I do believe that the people that are out looking for homes during this time of year are serious buyers.
I wish you all the best of luck. It’s a tough decision. Please feel free to contact me personally if you should have any questions about selling your New Jersey home during the holiday season.
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Below you will find the statistical data provided by the Monmouth County MLS in regards to closed sales for the month of November from 11/01/07 to 11/30/07, based on single family home status.
If your town is not listed and you would like to receive a Free report for your particular area please contact The Bandy Group at 732.407.5713 and we will be happy to provide that report to you.
Area # of Sales Average Sales
Colts Neck 9 $890,000
Freehold 15 $517,167
Holmdel 3 $804,167
Howell 22 $462,500
Manalapan 12 $603,750
Marlboro 17 $571,880
Red Bank 3 $334,333
Rumson 7 $1,274,629
Spring Lake 4 $3,478,250
Tinton Falls 7 $453,786
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Hi! I'm Tyler.
I'm always sitting under my Mom's desk as she does her Real Estate work.
No one knows who I am so I thought I'd create this blog and introduce myself.
I am a 4 year old Pomeranian. I share my home with my sister Tinkerbell, who happens to be a 3 year old T.Cup Pomeranian.
T.Cup is just a fancy term for “midget”. Tinkerbell is 3lbs; full grown; I know, I know, how cute, right?
I live in Colts Neck New Jersey and my mom is Sarah Bandy, a Real Estate agent who works for Better Homes Realty, the Colts Neck office.
Please check in often as I will be blogging all about the upcoming news and life underneath my Mom's desk! Plus Sarah herself and some contributing writers will also be hanging around to talk Real Estate. Hope to hear from you soon.
BARK BARK!
