Don't let the pics fool ya!

In this day of technology we are finding that more and more people are looking at houses. And never leaving their house(apartment)!

Today's buyers want a link... a website... a URL... They want to "sneak" into your home without you knowing it. They want to take a look without inconveniencing you. So your Realtor hired a really good photographer/videographer to post your home to that wonderful resource, the internet.

Don't get me wrong here, because I absolutely LOVE the internet. But I have seen on more than one occasion a young couple walk into a house that they had seen pics on line and turn to me and say, "Wow! It looked a lot better than this on line!" But I have also heard this: "Wow. I wasn't sure I wanted to see this house based on the pictures, but you know what? I'm glad we came..."

You see my point right?

I think the best way for you to make a decision on a house is to GO LOOK AT IT. And don't eliminate it solely on the pics or video you saw on line. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Think about this. It's a big buy. You're not buying a stereo system or even a car. It's going to be your home! Your castle! You are going to be there every day for quite a while.

Take the time to go look. You don't have to stay a long time, but you might!

REDUCE YOUR RE TAXES

Around the Albany, NY area it is that time of year that you can have a talk with your local tax department and discuss your taxes.

From May 1-26 you can go through a process known as "grieve your taxes". This is process designed to allow property owners to approach the assessor's office, look at other property owners' taxes and assessments and make a case to have their assessment (taxes) lowered.

Now, don't get the wrong idea here. You aren't going to gouge The Man here. It's a process to promote fairness. So what you are doing is looking at other properties that are similar to yours... think: square footage, number of bedrooms, closeness of proximity to you, improvements such as garages , pools, decks, sheds. Then if you discover that there are many homes assessed less than yours, well, you may have a case. Then the onus is on you to fill out the proper forms and submit them to the assessor's office. Different areas have different procedures. You may be able to meet with a representative from the assessor's office directly to plead your case, or you may just send the form in. I have gone in on a few occasions and met the assesor's rep in person. I like the one on one approach. Although sometimes I felt like the rep was taking it personally!

Anyway, you might look into the tax situation and find out that your tax assessment is fair! Or better yet... you might actually be low! By the way, if you just bought recently you should know about the WELCOME STRANGER ruling. I'll tell you about that later or you can contact me as to how the courts view re-assessing properties that were just acquired!

Bottom line is this... save yourself some money... look at your assessment. May is usually the month to do it!

Peace out!