YES - We still advertise properties in newspapers and magazines

Articles on marketing trends take the position that any company who spends money on print advertising is wasting money. There is also the theory that “old-fashioned” print ads make sellers feel good but that they really don’t sell houses.

You may call Jaret & Cohn Real Estate slightly “old-fashioned” because we still advertise properties in newspapers and magazines. We know that not everyone who buys a house (or who is helping someone look for a house) is actively online or tech savvy (Not everyone has a computer or smart phone). There is still a significant segment of buyers who still finds homes for sale in newspapers and magazines. Why would we would we want to ignore an entire group of potential clients by refusing to reach out to them in a way that appeals to them?

According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers a vast majority of buyers begin their home search process online. These statistics do not mean that the Internet is the only way buyers search for properties or that online marketing should be our only source of advertising.

Selling a home, piece of land or commercial property takes a combination of marketing tactics that are specific to the property and target buyer audience. We listen to our client's needs, work our large network of Jaret & Cohn agents and community connections, leverage our experience, advertise online and YES – we still place ads in newspapers and magazines.

Spring Road Postings

Each spring, the municipalities and the MaineDOT evaluate potential damage to local roads and highways to determine whether weight restrictions should be imposed to prevent damage due to freeze/thaw action.

This time of year we find that these road postings can affect the real estate transaction and moving process. Keep in mind that large vehicles such as moving trucks and septic inspection/pumping trucks can not gain access to certain roads/areas. Think ahead and plan certain inspections and moving time frames so that they occur after the road restriction(s) have been lifted.

For further information about local road postings you can contact the appropriate town office.

December 2010 Top Producers

Congratualations to the top producing agent for the month of December 2010 from each of our offices!

Camden office - Jarmila Volena

Rockland office - Carleton Johnson

Waldoboro office - Kirstie Ransdell

Belfast office - Mary King

Four Jaret and Cohn Ladies Take Leadership Roles

This month, four of Jaret and Cohn's REALTORS took on leadership roles within their local council of REALTORS. Congratulations ladies, we look forward to your service and leadership in 2011!

Nancy Hughes of our Camden Office is now the President of the Coastal Mountains Council of the Midcoast Board of REALTORS.

Kirstie Ransdell of Jaret & Cohn's Waldoboro Office is now President of the Lincoln County Board of REALTORS.

Nicole "Nikki" Bland of our Rockland Office is now the President of the Saint George River Council of the Midcoast Board of REALTORS.
And Melanie Butman of our Rockland offfice has been elected Vice President of the Saint George River Council of the Midcoast Board of REALTORS.

Arsenic in Maine Well Water

Buyers are always encouraged to due their own due diligence when purchasing a home. In fact one of the items in the inspection subsection of our Purchase and Sale Agreement is the option to test water for high arsenic levels.

A couple of resources for buyers and for sellers (It is smart to be proactive and test for arsenic prior to putting you home on the market):

The general informational pamphlet from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/wells/documents/ASBROCH3.pdf

- and -

A recently released report from The USGS in cooperation with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Assessment of Arsenic Concentrations in Domestic Well Water, by Town, in Maine, 2005–09

Overboard Discharge

If you are interested in purchasing or own a residental or commercial property with an overboard discharge system in Maine then you should take note that The Maine Department of Enviornmental Protection (DEP) has created a new fact sheet on recent changes to the Overboard Discharge Laws

FMI: www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docstand/OBD/fs_laws.htm

Turkey Boxes

Each year the owner of Jaret and Cohn, Ellis Cohn has graciously purchased turkeys for all of our real estate agents. And for the last several years the agents in the Rockland office have "re gifted" their frozen turkey and purchased other holiday dishes/ingredients to create turkey boxes.

These turkey boxes are then donated to local needy families that can not afford to have he holiday feast that many of us are privileged to have.