First-Time Home Buying Seminar

Join us on November 19 for our home buying seminar and taco Tuesday!

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On Tuesday, November 19 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. we’re hosting our First-Time Homebuyer Seminar! We'll be located at 6849 E Genesee St. Fayetteville, NY 13066. Come learn valuable information for first-time homebuyers; we’ll present tons of information you need. We’ll discuss the whole home buying process from start to finish; the home search, affordability, how to write an offer, negotiation, and the closing process. We’ll also have a mortgage lender, home inspector, and an attorney here to explain their roles in the process. Mark your calendars, because it’s Tuesday, so we’ll also be providing tacos from XO Taco! We look forward to seeing you all there! To see our full message, watch this short video.
If you would like further information or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us by phone or email. We would love to help you!

3 Ways to Avoid a Landscaping Disaster

An accomplished professional landscaper can get your yard in tip-top shape, but there ways you can avoid needing one to begin with.

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Good landscaping can transform the look (and price) of a home, which makes it an important, though sometimes overlooked, facet of homeownership. I’m here today with my most trusted landscaper, Eric Chamberlain—the only person I recommend for landscaping. Eric went into landscape design around 35 years ago, and since then has traveled to 45 countries to study techniques such as Oriental and European garden design. With all the knowledge he’s gathered from throughout the world, he’s created a business in Syracuse that truly stands out.

It’s important to calculate what a plant is going to do over time so it doesn’t become a nuisance.

As such an accomplished landscaper, Eric can point out the biggest mistakes he sees homeowners make: 1. Overplanting: Overplanting can cause problems down the road. It happens by, essentially, putting the wrong plants in the wrong places. It’s important to calculate how (and where) a plant will grow over time so it doesn’t become a nuisance. 2. Drainage: Without adequate drainage systems, water can run into the house or create puddles throughout the landscape. Professionals like Eric can put plants in the right places, grade the earth correctly, and ensure that water moves away from the house. 3. Pruning: You need to prune at the right time of year to maintain your plants’ health. Pruning at the wrong time can cause a plant to lose its colors and flowers. Certain plants need to be pruned at certain times, so it’s important to be familiar with your flora. Eric can do a whole review of your landscape, determine what you need, and execute a plan to make your backyard flourish. Give him a call at (315) 569-1214 and have your home treated by a seasoned professional. If you need any help with buying or selling a home, have any questions, or need some information, feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Veterans: You Could Be Missing out on a Key Tax Exemption

30% of our nation’s veterans are missing out on the tax benefits they have earned.

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Are you a United States veteran? If so, I would like to share a statistic that may interest you. Did you know that 30% of veterans in our country are not taking advantage of their property tax exemptions? This equates to thousands of dollars left on the table. So if you or someone you know would like more information about this, please reach out. To hear my full message, watch my short video.

What Are the Benefits of Owning a Second Home?

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When you're thinking about buying a second home, you might be wondering how to shop around for it. How can you look at homes in Colorado and Vermont when you're here in Syracuse? It's a great question.

One thing you can do is have your real estate agent assist you in doing research on finding a good agent in a particular area that you're searching in. You need an experienced agent like myself to find you another good agent. I can check their credentials and ensure you that you'll be in good hands.

It's really important to have the right agent because you probably don't know the areas where your second home will be. A reliable agent will be able to steer you in the right direction and get you an excellent price on a home.

If you have any questions about how to start this process, or if you have any questions about Syracuse real estate in general, please don't hesitate to contact me!

The Key to Great Exterior Photos of Your Home

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Right now is the time of the year when your home looks fantastic. The grass is as green as it's going to get, the flowers have bloomed, and the trees are full of leaves. If you plan on selling your home anytime in the near future, now is the time to get the most stunning outdoor photographs of the exterior of your home.

Take pictures of the front of the house, from the side of your house, and from as far back in your backyard as you can go. If you have a deck, you want to be sure to get great pictures of that as well. If you plan on listing your home in March, April, or May, your landscaping won't be looking as pristine as it does now. When the time comes, having photos from this time period to market your home will make your home stand out next to the others.

If you need any real estate assistance of any kind, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We're always available to help!

Where Can You Find Expert Advice For Current Real Estate Trends?

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central, New York? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (315) 449-6685 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.  

Hey there, I just wanted to stop by today and tell you about a great program coming up on February 6. If you are a fan of the ABC show "Shark Tank," or real estate in general, you already know who Barbara Corcoran is.

What you may not know about Barbara, however, is that she is a real estate guru. She has been extremely successful in the business for many decades, and is one of the top agents in the world based out of New York.

Coming up on February 6, Barbara will be featured on an episode of ABC's 20/20. Barbara is going to be talking about the dangers of the real estate market, from both a buyer and seller's point of view. This is sure to be a great talk with some really relevant information for anybody who is looking to buy or sell real estate in the near future.

Just wanted you to be aware of this program, I think it will be very informative for you. If you have any questions, I am just a phone call away. Talk to you soon!

Thank you for everything

   I recently received a letter that I could not be more excited about. It was from our CEO and Owner, Peter Hunt, congratulating my team and me. The Chip Hodgkins Team was recognized as the #1 real estate team for the ERA franchise system in the State of New York, and 22nd in the Nation. 

  First, I would like to say thank you to Peter Hunt for his recognition. My team and I would not have been able to achieve the level of success we have without your help, and your belief in us.

  Second, I would like to congratulate my team. The hard work you put in every day has resulted in our team being recognized among the top producers in our industry. This is an award for each one of us.

  Finally, I want to offer my sincerest thanks to all of our great clients and friends. Without you putting your trust in my team and me, none of this would have been possible. We are thrilled to have been able to serve you, and we are committed to operating with the same professional level of service for years to come.