John Cordwell with Advance Realty:

Our mission is for you to become our

life-long client by providing outstanding value,

knowledge and customer service that

exceeds your expectations!

John is retired military and has been happily married to Dottie since August of 1968. They have one married daughter. John and Dottie own Advance Realty Group, Inc. and strive to give their customers excellent service. To gain the most from today's sophisticated technologies in marketing real estate, you need a REALTOR that listens to what you want. Serving Military, Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters and Estates and meeting their needs has been an integral part of John and Dottie Cordwell's business. Passion for service controls John and Dottie's entire operation. From the beginning, John and Dottie listen carefully and partner with you to create a custom-designed plan that provides you with a feeling of well being about buying a home or selling a property. Whether you are buying or selling, their commitment to service, will ensure your satisfaction. John and Dottie invite you to sit down with them and explore the possibilities of excellent full service, saving you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

Before you put your home on the market - The preparations you make prior to listing your home and holding open houses can make all the difference in the price you expect for your home. If you can operate from the perspective of the prospective buyer who expects to see their dream home in pristine condition, you will be better able to receive full market value, or even more. There are several things you need to remember:
1. Realize that while you may view your house as a home that you're comfortable with even if it is in less-than-ideal condition, others may not see it that way. If you've lived in your house for more than a few years and have accumulated various items, give yourself a few months prior to the listing date to clean the home.
2. Do repairs and upgrades as necessary. An experienced realtor can assist you in getting the best possible value from your home. I know what the client wants to see and can help you prepare the home for inspections.
3. Providing pre-sale inspection reports can reduce the selling hassle. By providing information to alleviate the anxiety of any prospective buyer, you put yourself ahead of your competitors who haven't taken the time to organize a report. Thus, even if your home has a few quirks, you will be seen as a forthcoming, trustworthy seller.

If you want the most return on your investment, it needs to be CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN.
1. Start by cleaning all your window screens, take them off and hose them down. You can use a bristled brush if you need to.
2. Wash all the walls and woodwork in your home. If you can afford it and it needs it have a fresh coat of paint applied.
3. Have your furniture cleaned professionally.
4. Clean the carpets. Have them professionally shampooed or just rent a machine from your local grocery store. If you have pets, you may need to have the carpets sanitized.
5. Clean out the ashes from your fireplace.
6. Wash and/or dry-clean your drapes.
7. Wash your windows, especially the windowsills and all the window wells to make sure there isn't any built-up dirt in them.
8. Clean out your kitchen and medicine cabinets. Throw away any food and/or prescriptions that have expired.
9. Clean the refrigerator. Empty it out entirely and wipe down all the shelves and drawers before restocking the fridge.
10. Clean out your linen closet.
11. Clean out your own closet. Donate or sell those clothes you know you'll never wear again, even if it's your "favorite sweater since you were a teenager!"

Prospective homebuyers want to see youe home at its best. Over the years as a real estate professional I have seen the difference staging your home can make. Making a few simple changes often increases the number of interested buyers or the selling price of a home. After a few years, a home may take on a "lived in" look that may be detrimental to its selling price. The following are a few tips to make your house look its best.
1. Clean the driveway and remove all cars.
2. Keep the entrance and the exterior of your house spotless and welcoming (consider buying a new doormat). Remove garbage cans, lawnmowers, newspapers, toys, and anything that is lying around the outside of your house.
3. Keep the landscaping clean. Be sure to mow the lawn, trim the hedges and shrubs, and remove weeds.
4. When you are cleaning, don't forget the garage and the basement.
5. Paint the exterior and the interior of your house. Walls should be clean. Use art sparingly, it often makes the room appear cluttered and smaller.
6. Make sure all appliances and plumbing are working.
7. Make sure the roof and gutters aren't leaking.
8. Pay attention to the floors including vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping. The carpets should be new and/or clean, the floors should be shining.
9. Dry clean drapes, replace if needed.
10. Tidy closets and storage spaces. Donate or throw out items that you no longer need.
11. Brighten up your rooms with fresh flowers or small plants.
12. Open windows and let in as much natural lighting as possible. Lights should not be dimmed and the rooms should not appear dark.
13. Get rid of any odors.
14. Remove any personal touches such as extra pictures, collections, or old furniture.

15. If there is furniture in the room that is not being used, you may want to sell it, donate it or put it in storage. This could make the room look larger.