HELPFUL LINKS

Message from the President

by Joe Rivellino

Selling your home during winter can be a daunting task; however, there are distinct advantages to selling your home at this time of year. And here are some tips to help with that.

The housing inventory is always lower in the winter months, meaning fewer listings and less competition and by just taking a few simple steps to prepare and stage your home, you can sell your home sooner rather than later. Here is some advice to make sure your house is sold with the least amount of stress this winter.

Keep Your Home Warm it may seem obvious, but make sure that the moment potential buyers walk into your home they can warm up from the chilly outdoors. You will also want to find any drafts in your house and seal them up.

Trips Make sure you plan any trips out of town well ahead of time. Timing is extremely important when selling a home, so you want to make sure that offers arent coming in when youre out of town or that potential buyers show up during your family dinner celebrations.

Decorate for the Season Keep season decorations conservative, but a light and bright or beautifully decorated home with well-placed greenery can give prospective buyers a picture of how their own decorations could fit in the home.

Manage Your Curb Appeal Homes with lights or greenery is still warm and inviting and appealing. Make sure your driveway and sidewalks are swept or shoveled and clear off any decks or patios, if possible. Also remove any potentially dangerous dangling icicles or built up snow on the roof.

Hire a Realtor all real estate is local, so its important to work with a Realtor who is familiar with your neighborhood and community. Realtors know what buyers in your area are looking for and can create a marketing strategy that will help you achieve the best results.

I have a special email Joe on the Go for you to keep in touch with me and sending your questions or comments any time, on any subject 24/7/365.

Economic Conditions in Upstate New York

Register now for the free seminar on the Economic Conditions in Upstate New York on Wednesday, March 25 from 9:00 am 11:30 am to be held at the Millennium Hotel, Walden Avenue. The event is free and includes breakfast. Speakers are Richard Peach, Senior Vice President Macroeconomic & Monetary Studies Function at the Federal Reserve Bank In New York, NY and Jaison Abel, Research Analysis Function at the Federal Reserve Bank in Buffalo. For more information, click here .

BNAR Supports Meals on Wheels

Meals on wheels staff and volunteers are committed to enriching lives and promoting independent healthy living by offering nutritious food and a friendly visit. But Meals on Wheels is more than just healthy food. Meals on Wheels volunteers, who visit with homebound seniors and disabled individuals each day, serve as a critical link between clients and their families, loved ones and neighbors. All volunteers are trained to watch out for troubling developments in each homea recipient who seems out of sorts or ill, an unsafe condition in the house (such as debris or temperature issues), etc.and follow specific instructions for reporting such incidents. This safety check provides peace of mind to clients and caregivers alike. For many of the homebound clients, Meals on Wheels serves, human contact, conversations and laughs may be all too infrequent. In fact, some clients do not interact with anyone other than their volunteers all week, month or even year. The importance of the daily visit is, quite simply, immeasurable.

NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation Grant Program

First time homebuyers may qualify for a grant of $2000 through the NYSAR Housing Opportunities Foundation, Inc. to assist with closing costs and/or down payments. The grants are gifts with no payback requirement and are available to low-to-moderate income families in New York State. Here is the link to the eligibility requirements and application.