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Since 1996, I have viewed 1000′s of homes with Buyer(s) in Columbus, Ohio as their Exclusive Buyer’s Agent (EBA) and one question I continually get asked by my Buyer(s) is “how to fix squeaky floors?”
Squeaky floors are an annoying problem that can affect both newer and older homes. Typically squeaky floors occur when your wood flooring (plywood sub-flooring or hardwood) dries out and shrinks. The squeak you hear can either be your wood floors rubbing against your floor joists or the flooring nails have become a little loose.
The basic fix is usually just to screw the wood flooring to the joists. But, If you have newer carpeting or hardwood floors then the fix is a little more complicated.
I discovered a few of low costs solutions that might work for most home owners.
- Squeeeeek No More (could you add a few more “e’s”)
- Squeek-Relief
- Squeek Ender
All of these methods are very inexpensive (approximately $10 – $30) and not the hard to do for even for the most “home repair challenged” home owner. You should be able to purchase these items online or at your local hardware store.
Check out the short videos below:
I have NOT used these products and I do NOT endorse them. But, they appear to be a great, easy fix for a very frustrating problem.
Good luck out there! I hope this information is helpful.
Please feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions
Representing People, NOT Property!
Buyer's Agent Map-Columbus, Ohio - A Beehive of Activity!
Most traditional real estate agents tend to “farm” or specialize in a certain areas or subdivisions. As an Exclusive Buyer’s Agent (EBA) I don’t specialize in certain areas. In the past 17 years, I’ve helped nearly 300 clients throughout ALL areas of Columbus, Ohio and the surrounding counties.
I’m a true Buyer’s Agent. A true Buyer’s Agent is an agent that will NEVER will list or sell a home. I specialize in only representing home buyers. My responsibility is to be an advocate & advisor for my buyer client throughout the entire home buying process.
If you are a home buyer that doesn’t want to be SOLD a home, then you need to contact an EBA. An EBA will be your advocate and always look out for your best interest. A smart home buyer’s choice is to use an Exclusive (true) Buyer’s Agent.
For more information check out testimonials: Buyer Broker Testimonials!
Good luck out there! I hope this information is helpful.
Please feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions
Representing People, NOT Property!
ActiveRain is the world’s largest online real estate network. There are more than 200,000+ real estate industry professionals on the ActiveRain network.
ActiveRain has often been described as the real estate industry’s example of FaceBook or MySpace. ActiveRain was launched in 2006 as a networking site for real estate agents/brokers, appraisers, title companies and mortgage professionals.
ActiveRain is NOT just for real estate agents. ActiveRain ”channels” are a great resource for consumers. The channels are loaded with information and advice on every topic involved in a real estate transaction. ActiveRain is very similar to other large real estate web sites, such as Zillow or Trulia.
Many real estate web sites are constantly changing and evolving their vision or purpose. But currently, Zillow and Trulia web sites are “geared” more toward listing properties and providing estimates of value (zestimates) than providing information. ActiveRain has always been a network for real estate professionals and a fantastic information resource for consumers.
The ActiveRain Leaderboard allows members to search for any profession (lender, real estate agent, home stager, insurance agent, home inspector, etc.) involved in a real estate transaction. You can search by state, county, city.
I am currently listed #7 on the ActiveRain leaderboard for real estate agents in Columbus, Ohio (#13 in Franklin county).
ActiveRain Profile – Michael Marshall, Buyer’s Agent
What’s even more amazing is that there are NO other Exclusive (True) Buyer’s Agent in the Top 100 in Columbus, Ohio.
There are many good real estate web sites out there. Make sure, you don’t pass by ActiveRain.
Good luck out there.
Contact me if you have any questions.
Representing People, NOT Property!
Over the years, I’ve really been impressed with my client’s ”home makeovers”. The last few years have been an excellent market for buyer’s to buy at extremely low prices.
Below are a few “before” and “after” photos of some recent client’s home makeovers. The Buyer’s did almost all the work themselves, along with a little help from their families and friends.
I would say, “move over Ty Pennington you might have some competition!”
Kitchen Makeover – Before & After!
A kitchen remodel can bring some good returns when you go to sell. The only problem is that they can be very costly, unless you do a lot of the work yourself. A client in Powell, Ohio did this excellent kitchen makeover. Beautiful job, Scott!
Laundry Room – Before & After!
Bedroom – Before & After!
Living Room – Before & After!
Dining Room – Before & After!
Kitchen – Before & After!
An incredible home makeover in the Hilliard area, this client did a wonderful job on their HUD foreclosure purchase. I’m always amazed how much you can totally transform a home with just new flooring/carpeting, painting and cleaning. Incredible job, Jason & Liz! You have a beautiful home!
Since 2007, the HomeBuyer’s Advocate blog has been featured in “This Old House” magazine and the Columbus Dispatch with 100+ posts and 54,000+ views! The HomeBuyer’s Advocate blog has been a leading resource for home buyers and homeowners in Columbus, Ohio. The HomeBuyer’s Advocate blog has been true to the blog mission statement “real opinions & quick, valuable information for the homebuyer in central Ohio.”
For additional information, we now have a great compliment to The HomeBuyer’s Advocate blog. Check out our company Facebook fan page to stay updated with the latest important news for home owners in central Ohio. Our fan page is loaded with great information, coupons, monthly Lowe’s gift card raffles, contests with prizes and funny home pictures and videos. Make sure you click to “Like”.
Buyer’s Resource Facebook Fan Page!
In January, we will be celebrating the new year (2K11) and reaching 200 Facebook fans with a special, incredible gift card raffle. Check us out and make sure you don’t miss out on this special prize. We are NOT your typical traditional real estate Facebook fan page.
Good luck out there!
Representing People, NOT Property!
A recent Fannie Mae poll of homeowners and renters indicate that 78% of Americans believe home prices have bottomed out.
Is now the right time to buy a home? High inventory levels, low-interest rates and home prices that have bottomed out.
Home Buyer Advocate Mike
“Representing People, NOT Property!”
Like this:
The Commerce Department reports that new home sales in June rebounded 24% from the previous month. You would think this would be good news, but this is very misleading data. March and April homes sales exploded because of the tax credit rush. May was an all time “stinker” month. So, it is not too hard to have a big increase over a previous terrible month. Plus, the June sales pace is the 2nd slowest ever on record since Commerce Department began tracking the data in 1963. Also on Monday, The National Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales fell 5.1% in June.
So what does all this mean? On the same day, we get conflicting data on the real estate market. Home buyers and sellers are frustrated. They don’t know what to think.
So is the real estate market improving? Who knows the answer?
How about Bernanke, Buffett, Geithner or Greenspan….do they know the answer?
The answer is……nobody knows, not even the so called “experts”.
In my opinion, I think we’ve definitely hit the bottom months ago and the market has been slowly improving. But my opinion or “guess” is no better than any other market expert.
But, the 2 things that I definitely know about the Columbus Ohio real market are:
- The real estate market is extremely turbulant and volatile. This is not always a bad thing for home buyers.
- We are still in a Buyer’s market.
Good luck out there!
Please feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions
Representing People, NOT Property!
The guaranteed best representation possible for a home buyer is to hire their own personal Exclusive Buyer’s Agent (EBA).
Exclusive Buyer agent representation for home buyers has recently (Jan. 2010) been endorsed in the new consumer publication from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); “Shopping for your Home Loan: HUD’s Settlement Cost Booklet“. This is HUD’s first major revision in 10 years and advises home buyers to hire a real estate agent that will only represent their best interests. Page 6 of HUD’s Settlement Cost Booklet states, “If you want someone to represent only your interests, consider hiring an ‘exclusive buyer’s agent’, who will be working for you.”
You would think this would be great news for home buyers & exclusive buyer’s agents. But, now the problem is that many real estate agents are calling themselves an ”Exclusive Buyer Agent”, when they really aren’t EBA’s. Real estate agents are just making up their own “titles” or “specialities” just so they can generate more business. But, they are NOT EBA’s or a true Buyer Broker
Quite simply, The only definition of an Exclusive Buyer Agent is an agent that never list property for sale and the company they work for does not list properties or provide any representation for Sellers.
If you are potential home buyer that is interviewing possible Exclusive Buyer Agents then just ask this simple question:
“Do you or any other agents in your office list or sell properties at anytime?” If they answer yes, then the agent is not a true EBA.
Here is what leading national magazines and newspapers say about “true” Buyer Brokers:
”Agents: How to hire one for your side.” Most agents who show you homes don’t represent your interests. They work for the seller, and their object is to sell the house at the highest price.”
“Many people don’t realize that, unless specifically stated otherwise, brokers are legal representatives of Sellers. A buyer’s broker representing only the buyer, may be able to secure a better price and better terms.”
”Unlike the traditional agent who looks out for the seller, a buyer broker acts as your advocate, helping you find the homes you want and then negotiating the lowest possible price. the best buyer brokers are so-called exclusive agents – that is, they represent only buyers, never sellers…”
“Exclusive agencies are best. They remove any conflict of interest, which is the main reason for considering a Buyer Broker in the first place.”
“…A Buyer’s Broker is prohibited from disclosing to a Seller that the Buyer can, or will, pay more than what has been offered… To eliminate conflict of interests, exclusive buyer agents do not take listings. Buyer’s Broker make a great deal of sense”
“Groups such as Consumer Federation of America and AARP recommend using Buyer’s Agents. The reason is they work.”
“Buyer Brokers: agents that buyers can call their own.” “If you real estate agent isn’t a Buyer Broker, he works for the Seller.” Buyers no longer have to fend for themselves.”
“A conflict of interest is more likely when a real estate firm that represents sellers assigns you one of its Brokers as a Buyer’s agents. That’s 
why many people believe, “Exclusive Buyer Broker” is preferrable. Exclusive Buyer Broker aims to get the best deal for home buyer.”
Good luck out there!
Please feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions
Representing People, NOT Property!
Like this:
The clock is ticking down for first time home buyers. You need to act NOW to make sure that you don’t miss out on the $8,000 from Uncle Sam.
Here is the fast, quick information you will need to see if you qualify for the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
- You must be a first time home buyer, defined as not owning a home in the past 3 tax years.
- Tax credit amount is 10% of the sales price of the home up to a maximum of $8,000.
- There is NO price limit on the sales price of home.
- Maximum income to receive FULL tax credit is $75,000 for a single person, the limit for married couples is $150,000.
- You can receive a PARTIAL tax credit for income levels up to $95,000 for a single person and $170,000 for married couples.
- There is no payback or penalty as long as you stay in home as your principal residence for 3 years.
- You must CLOSE on your new home on or after January 1, 2009 or before December 1, 2009.
***IMPORTANT: Congress passes tax credit extension. Must have binding sales contract dated on or before April 30, 2010 and close on or before June 30th, 2010.
This is the quick & dirty information that you need right now for the $8,000 Tax credit. For more detailed information you can go HERE.
It is a great time to be a home buyer. This is the perfect time to by a home, especially 1st time home buyers, as long as your job is secure. If you feel safe in your current employment/job, then there are just so many positive reasons to now buy a home. Don’t miss the “gravy train!”
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Buyer’s market
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Really low mortgage interest rates
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High inventory levels. Plenty of home options
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Depressed, low prices (buy low, sell high)
Please contact me if you have more questions or need help.
IMPORTANT: I’m just trying to help the “average Joe home owner” to understand the new $8,000 tax credit. I have to put this” CYA” disclaimer in my post. Please consult a tax professional or accountant for more details and eligibility questions regarding the $8,000 1st time home owner tax credit. I’m not an accountant or tax professional.
Good luck out there!
Great article in this past Sundays, The Columbus Dispatch newspaper about home inspections. “Inspector aims to open eyes”. Local home inspector, David Tamny of Professional Property Inspections will be the new president of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).
David has been a home inspector on our company approved list for nearly 13 years. His company web site is also on my blog roll link on left. David is a very competent home inspector.
Suprisingly, home inspectors in the state of Ohio are still not licensed. Home buyers have to be very careful when selecting a qualified home inspector. A good option for home buyers to find a qualified home inspector is to check and see if the inspector is a member in good standing with one of the two big professional trade associations.
National Associaton of Home Inspectors (NAHI) and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) are the two largest home inspector trade associations in the United States. David Tamny will be the new incoming president of the 5,800+ member AHSI.
Make sure you take a second to read the article link on home inspections. It is great information for possible home buyers.
Please feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions
NAR Green Designation
Congratulations to Andrew Show for being the only Exclusive (true) Buyer Broker in the State of Ohio that has obtained the National Association of 
Realtors (NAR) GREEN certified designation. (NAR Green Council)
Consumer demand for real estate professionals that are GREEN knowledgeable is exploding. More home buyers are requiring their Buyer Agents to understand Green building principles and the financial advantages of properties that are energy efficient and ecologically friendly to the environment.
Again, Congratulations Andy!
Cool Comments!