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Tackling these five simple tasks now gives you a head start on spring. That leaves you plenty of worry-free time to enjoy the warmer weather. #1 Tell Insects to Bug Off Early spring warmth awakens insects, so start to protect your home now. Seal openings in eaves, decks, and other structures to keep out carpenter bees. Nix mosquitoes by eliminating standing water or treating it with larvicide. Call a pro to destroy wasp and yellow jacket nests, unless you’re experienced enough to engage in a bee battle. #2 Prep Tools for Lawn Care Ladies and gentlemen, start your mowers.  April’s the month to get this vital piece of equipment ready to roll.  An unmaintained machine can cost money, slow you down, and leave your lawn vulnerable to disease. So, before you pull the starter rope:  Replace spark plugs and the air filter. Change the oil and sharpen blades. Fill the tank with fresh gasoline. While you’ve got your gloves on, clean, sharpen, and repair your garden tools. When your azaleas are re

It’s that time of year when homeowners who’ve been through a few winters know that to be at the top of their game, they have to be proactive. Here are four things they always do: #1 Patch Up the Bare Spots in the Lawn That’ll keep both mud and water out of your house as snow and ice continue to melt and spring rains arrive. #2 Inspect the Roof and Siding  Your home’s outer coat (its roof and siding) takes a major beating during severe cold weather. March’s slightly warmer temps make it an ideal time to look for early signs of roof problems before they become money-gobblers. Grab some binoculars (it’s safer than climbing on the roof and a time-saver) and start looking for signs of damage: Loose or curling shingles Damaged gutters Peeling paint Cracks in the foundation And start scheduling repairs before the damage gets more extensive. #3 Put Up Window Screens They last longer if you remove and store them for the winter... plus windows without screens will let in more warming rays of sun

February is typically that dark time of year when winter just won’t go away... like that friend who can’t take a hint to leave. Give it a push with these four easy tasks that will help usher in spring. #1 Deep-Clean Your Entryway Snow. Salt. Boots. Shovels. Your entryway floors, baseboards, rugs, and more have had a rough couple of months. Give that smallest of rooms some deep cleaning love now, before the salt crust becomes a permanent part of your entryway decor in spring. #2 Make an Anti-Mud Plan Mud may be the least of your frozen worries now, but it’s coming. Be prepared with a remediation plan. With your yard in its frozen-tundra state, you can easily see the troublesome spots. Research potential ground cover, like gravel, a rain garden, decorative rocks, or the right grass that’ll soak it up. Then you’ll be ready to execute your anti-mud plan the moment it’s warm enough — and do it in time to keep the mud at bay. #3 Organize Your Cleaning Closets and Laundry Room Before the madn

Sales of single-family existing homes in Maine continue a double-digit increase trend.  The Maine Association of Realtors show 1,613 homes changed hands across the state in May 2021—a 28.32% increase over May 2020.  High buyer demand continues to impact home values.  The statewide median sales price (MSP) increased 28.21% to $305,000 in May 2021 compared to May 2020.  May 2020 was the low point for Maine’s residential real estate market due to the COVID shutdown. Since then, the numbers have rebounded and continue to show strength.  These reported numbers reflect a comparison to the May 2020 COVID shutdown statistics.  May 2021 sales volume was comparable to pre-pandemic sales volume levels, about one percent above the May 2019 figures. We continue to see swift market conditions with most transactions navigating multiple offers.  Statewide, the days-on-market for May 2021 was only 6 days, compared to 17 days a year ago, and 20 days in 2019. The month of May brought additiona

If you're facing foreclosure, don't panic. Take steps right now to save your home or at least lessen the blow of its loss. Foreclosure Moratoriums Could Be Extended Foreclosures may be banned until 2022 if a new rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau goes through.    The rule — which the CFPB says would benefit both underwater homeowners and mortgage servicers — would prohibit servicers from initiating the foreclosure process until after December 31 of this year. This  would allow for streamlined loan modifications to help post-forbearance homeowners get back on their feet.   If you are facing foreclosure, call your lender to determine your options, which can include loan modification, forbearance, or a short sale. When Will Foreclosures Resume? There’s no word on how quickly foreclosures would pick back up after the December 31 deadline passes.  In fact, the CFPB says there may even be situations when it will “permit earlier foreclosures” if the servicer has made c

You may be selling a home in a competitive market — for example, with low inventory and high demand. And you may be thinking “Yay!” or at least “Whew.” You know you’re likely to have more interested buyers, better offers, and a quicker trip to contract than you’d have otherwise. But along with that good news comes the need to manage your expectations by understanding what determines house prices and home sales. Factors include the right real estate agent, local market conditions, buyer preferences, seasonality, and mortgage rates versus inventory. Work with the Right Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home What is going on in the U.S. as a whole is different than what’s going on in Austin, Texas.  And both are different than what’s going on in your neighborhood.  You might hear that it’s a strong seller’s market, but your home may be in a micro buyer’s market. Research your market on your own, then interview real estate professionals to find the best person to work with. Sellers should ap

Highly motivated buyers of single-family existing homes continue to pursue Maine real estate.  Maine Listings show a 35.68% sales leap in April 2021 compared to April 2020.  The statewide median sales price (MSP) reached $276,000—an increase of 17.05% comparing April 2021 to April 2020. Maine’s residential real estate market continues to be fast-paced.  The April 2021 statistics reflect a comparison to one year ago, when the state of Maine was in COVID shutdown status.  Last month’s sales volume was strong—13% above the pre-pandemic April 2019 figures.  As homes come onto the market, buyers are waiting and ready.  Statewide, the days-on-market for April 2021 was only 8 days, compared to 25 days one year ago, and 46 days in 2019.  We expect that improving COVID metrics and back-to-the-office vs. telework decisions may help stabilize the market urgency and upward pricing pressures that we’re experiencing. A REALTOR® is your best resource to navigate these market conditions, wheth