Today, I got to spend some long overdue time with my friend Dan Threlkeld. Many of you know him as the Chief Meteorologist for KJRH Channel 2.

I sat down with Dan at his office at KJRH on Brookside and we talked about many things, including what his family does to keep their home cool in the summertime and what he loves most about Oklahoma weather.

Mario: Hey Dan, thanks for meeting me today, it’s been way too long! So, let’s get started. What do you like most about the weather in Oklahoma?

Dan: I love the seasons. I love the fact that you can shovel snow to make a walking path, and then a few months later you’re mowing the grass. The variety of our weather makes it very appealing.

Mario: Dan, what are some things you do to keep your home cooler during the summer?

Dan:  We try our best not to use our oven. We eat differently. We eat a lot of salads. When we do cook with our oven, we cook in bulk. I have a son in college, and we don’t cook just for ourselves. For example, when we make lasagna, we make double the amount. We eat one and save the other in individual servings to eat later. Also, when we do cook, we prepare our meals in the earlier part of the day when it’s cooler. That helps to keep the house cool in the summer.

Mario: What are some other things people can do to keep their home cool in the summer?

Dan: Most people have ceiling fans, but a lot of people may not be using them properly. During the summer, people should reverse the direction of their fans. Warm air rises and your ceiling could be as much as 5-10 degrees warmer than the rest of the room. By reversing the direction of your ceiling fan, you help suck up the cooler air and blow down the warmer air.

Mario: Thanks Dan, that’s great advice. Now what about people that are new to Oklahoma. I’m sure they’ve heard of tornadoes. What should they do to prepare and stay safe?

Dan: Well first, they shouldn’t be scared. There are many people who have lived in Oklahoma all their lives and they’ve never been affected by a tornado. I would encourage people to stay informed. You should have a weather radio to keep informed and you can also get apps now for smart phones. The main thing people can do is have a plan. Know where to go in an emergency.

Mario: We’re almost finished Dan, but I still get asked all the time about your health. There were a lot of people in Tulsa thinking about you when you were going through your ordeal.

Dan: I’m getting better. It’s still a process, but I’m expected to make a full recovery. Tell everyone I said thanks for asking.

Mario: Thanks again Dan, I really appreciate your time. For anyone reading this, you can watch Dan Threlkeld weeknights at 5, 6 and 10pm on KJRH Channel 2. You can also download the KJRH and KJRH Weather apps for your iPhone.

With home prices and interest rates dropping to historical lows,  we are seeing more and more people trying to decide whether to buy a new home or remodel their current home. Homeowners come to us needing more space for a growing family or desiring home features that their current home just doesn’t have.

This question is more pertinent than ever this year. Home prices are dropping, meaning that although you will not get top dollar for your home, you are almost guaranteed a good deal on the new house.

Mortgage companies are reporting interest rates that are below 4 percent, after the Federal Reserve said it will back mortgage-related bonds. On the remodeling side, those same low interest rates apply to refinancing your mortgage for a remodel.

In addition, many contractors are feeling the pinch and are ready to make better deals for people.

Hiring an architect can also help you make your decision. An architect can draw a plan for you, and you can use that plan to then help you determine the actual cost of remodeling an existing home.

A good plan will also help you on how to set the parameters of your project so you can control the cost of remodeling before construction begins.

We recommend homeowners faced with the moving or remodeling question also consult with real estate agents. A Bedlam Realty Team real estate agent can help determine the value of your current home and the value cap for the area in which your home is located. You don’t want to put a lot of money into a home, and make your home the biggest most expensive home in the neighborhood. The smaller homes around you will bring your value down, making it harder to recoup your cost of construction.

We can show you what is available to buy and estimate the cost of another home with your wish list of features. There may be good enough deals available that may cost you less than the cost of a remodel.

It is also important to remember the “hidden” costs of remodeling. Beyond the basic cost of construction, additional remodeling costs to be considered include architectural design fees, structural engineering fees, demolition costs, permit fees, the possibility of unforeseen conditions (such as needing to replace old wiring or plumbing), and the cost of additional furniture and window coverings for the new space.

Also, home remodeling can be messy and noisy and force you to live without a certain part of your house during the remodeling process.

Finally, weigh the emotional costs. Are you willing to give up your current location, neighbors, schools and local congregation in order to move? Or would you rather deal with the inconvenience of remodeling?

Whatever you decide, remember to be wise in the decision process. Consult as many professionals as you can. Visit with an architect, a real estate agent and loan officer. Now is definitely a great time for low interest rates and competitive contractor bids if you decide to remodel.

If you’d like more information on what your home is currently worth, and a free market value report,

contact us at 918-274-HOME.

“Like” us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/bedlamteam

There are many reasons why you should price your home correctly.

As illustrated in the diagram above, the higher your home is priced above market value (the average sales price for your neighborhood), the smaller the percentage of people who will make time to view your home.

Some sellers make the mistake of starting high with their sales price, so they can “have room to negotiate.”

The problem with that is by pricing your home too high to begin with, you are preventing some people from ever seeing your home. If they are searching for a certain price range, and your home is listed above their range, they may not ever consider your home.

A better strategy would be to list your home at a price that is at or just below market value. Rather than starting high and leaving yourself room to negotiate, start lower and be firm on your price. You will get more people to look at your home and ideally create a bidding war with multiple offers on your home.

We have seen many times where a home priced correctly will get multiple offers and can sometimes even sell for more than the original asking price, because a buyer doesn’t want to lose the house to a regular full price offer.

Keep this chart in mind when selling your home. It can help you determine how many people you can miss out on if you don’t price your home correctly. If you would like to know the current value of your home, or have any other questions please feel free to contact us at 918-274-Home.

The real secret to real estate is no secret at all. You make money when you BUY a home, not when you sell it.

You’re shopping for a new home, and want the very best deal possible, right?

The best way to insure your great deal is to get as much equity in your home when you BUY it.

At The Bedlam Team at Chinowth & Cohen Realtors, we are happy to help you get a great deal by sending you an updated list of homes that have been reduced by 30% or more.

We can customize your list based on the areas you are looking for. We can send you a list of homes in Tulsa, Owasso, Jenks, Broken Arrow or any other area you are most interested in.

With that much equity in your new home, you can bet that when you decide to sell your home, you are more likely to make a good profit.

Whether you’re planning on living in your new home for two years or twenty years, we want to help you get the very best deal you can. Call us today at 918-274-HOME or email us at info@bedlamrealty.com.

Gone are the days of driving by a home, opening the flyer box, only to realize that the flyers are gone, or have been so badly damaged by the weather that they are illegible.  There is a new way to get home information without having to leave your car.

Chinowth & Cohen has a great texting program that helps both sellers and buyers alike. For sellers, they don’t have to worry about constantly running out of flyers. Color copies can be very expensive and replacing them due to a bad rain storm can be costly.

For buyers, the program works great. They can text CCHOMES to 59559 and receive information about the home they are parked in front of. The system works because it recognizes your location via GPS and will send you lots of details about the home. In addition, you will also receive information about the nearest five homes that are listed for sale.

Now you are able to get the property information you need wherever you are, whenever you want. You’re able to connect with agents to schedule a showing if you’re interested in seeing the home. The texting program gives you real-time listing updates as you move!

It includes ALL of the listings in the MLS and is updated daily. If you haven’t tried it yet, I urge you to use this new tool that will make your home search easier.

And remember, if you’re looking to buy or sell a home please consider using The Bedlam Team.

918-274-HOME

New Listing in Owasso Schools!

412 South Birch Street  Owasso, OK 74055

Cash Only Investment Propoerty

3 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 1 Car Garage Home

1,227 Square Feet

$47,500

Great ARV (After Repair Value) for Section 8 rental investment

Call Mario to schedule a showing at 918-261-0622

mario@bedlamrealty.com

Here are some helpful hints if you are considering selling your home over the holidays. Whether you have your home on the market is completely up to you. Do you want to keep showing your home or relax during the holidays?

Either way, here are some helpful do’s and don’ts to remember:

If You Leave Your Home on the Market

Should you put out those large stockings that will hang from the fireplace? What about hanging a wreath on your door or showcasing a Christmas tree in front of a window? What’s overdoing it? What’s not?

Try not to overdo it when it comes to decorating. Don’t block major walkways or any windows that will make a room look a lot darker. Remember, you want a buyer to feel at home, not like their in YOUR home. They can’t do that if you have too many Christmas decorations all over the place. Keep things clean and simple and it will make the home look festive without giving off the impression that they are buying from the local Clark Griswald!

• Tone down the size of tree. In place of a 10-foot tree, try decorating a table-top, four-foot version. 
• Stack wrapped presents in a closet or in one corner. 
• Use more splashes of red than green because red is an emotionally appealing color. 
• Resist the urge to hang banners and use greenery instead such as evergreen or rosemary garlands. 
• Display centerpieces made from pine cones or other wintry pieces of nature. 
• Never leave candles burning unattended. 
• Set a plate of cookies on the counter, next to festive paper napkins for guests. 
• Simmer spicy apple cider on the stove, and set out cups and ladle.

So there you go. Be festive and have fun, and most importantly, Happy Selling! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Bedlam Realty!

This past year we have had the priviledge of helping many people and we look forward to helping many more!

Please take the time to reflect on everything we have, and think about those less fortunate.

Donate your time to help a local charity and know that anything you do for someone else will pale in comparison to what it does for you.

Thanks again and have a great Thanksgiving!

For the next interview in our series, I had the opportunity to talk with former Oklahoma State University basketball standout Brian Montonati. After helping lead his OSU Cowboys team to a Final Four appearance, and playing professional basketball overseas, he currently lives in Owasso. We talked about his newly found interest in real estate investing and he shared some great insight and advice. Here is a highlight of our conversation:

Mario: Hey Brian, so tell everyone… how did you get started in real estate investing?

Brian: I always wanted to get into real estate. My best friend started first, and then he got me into the real estate game. I’ve been at it now for a year and a half.

Mario: In a nutshell, describe what you do when you find an investment property you’re interested in.

Brian: Checks and balances. I always ask myself, does this make sense? Will it cashflow? Am I going to flip it or rent it? I also set a goal for the property, then I make the offer.

Mario: What is the most challenging thing you’ve run into?

Brian: Patience. My first deal took forever to get done. There were so many little things that I hadn’t thought of. From forming an LLC, finding an inspector, real estate agent, etc…

Mario: Have the changes in lending affected your ability to finance your investment properties?

Brian: Actually no. When I first got started I interviewed lots of banks and they couldn’t or wouldn’t finance on investment property because they had too many of those loans go bad. I met with First Bank of Owasso and went over my business plan and goals with them. They were great to work with and we were all on the same page. They finance all of my deals and they’ve been phenomenal.

Mario: What’s been the best part about real estate investing?

Brian: Obviously making money, but more than that it’s got to be the adrenaline rush. It’s also been great watching my company snowball from the very beginning into a bigger company.

Mario: Do you think your experience in college and professional sports has helped you succeed in real estate investing?

Brian: Yes, it’s very competitive. Not wanting to fail, and setting my mind to it. I’ve been around people who’ve said they want to do this and didn’t see it through and couldn’t make it work. It’s not for the weak hearted.  Sports helped me learn to set individual and team goals, allowing me to look back and see what I did to meet those goals and if not, what I could do next time to meet my goals.

Mario: Any plans for investing in real estate in Stillwater?

Brian: Most definitely. I want both of my kids to go to school there, so it would be great to own a nice house they could live in while they go to school.

Mario: What are your immediate goals with investing in real estate?

Brian: My goal is to buy six homes this year. Every time I flip a house, I use the profits to fund my next deal. Rental property is where is where I want to be. That’s where it’s at.

Mario: What advice do you have for new people getting started in real estate investing?

Brian: Get educated. Talk to people who know what they’re doing. Find a Realtor, inspector and a contractor. The game is always changing. What was good two years ago, isn’t good today. Be passionate about what you’re doing.   

Mario: Do you offer any coaching for new people getting started in real estate investing?

Brian: Yes, a few people have approached me. If someone shows me their passionate about it and willing to put in the work, I wouldn’t hesitate. They have to want to do it and be aggressive.

Mario: Any final thoughts?

 Brian: Rental property. That’s the key right now. It’s unlimited in its potential. It’s harder for people to qualify to buy a home and the rental market has exploded. You can do anything from Section 8 all the way to a $2,000 / a month rental home. There are so many different avenues.

Mario: Alright, thanks Brian. I appreciate your time.

Brian: No problem Mario, anytime.

Visit us on our Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/bedlamhomes

and download your FREE copy of the e-book “101 Tips For Selling Your Home”

Give Me 45 Minutes And I’ll Make Sure You’re Armed With Insider Tips, Tricks, And Tactics For Selling Your Home FAST For The Best Price Possible!

Thinking about selling your house?

It can be done and the truth is, many people do it very successfully. But there’s a trick to it that not everyone grasps.

What’s the secret? Just like in anything else: knowledge is power! Soldiers don’t go to combat without orders, plans, maps and guns. Entrepreneurs don’t create profitable businesses without knowledge of the market. Surgeons don’t go into the operating room without knowledge of their patient.

And now – you’ll be able to sell your house armed with the knowledge of a professional real estate agent. I’ve got over one hundred tips that will be your ammunition. The housing market is coming back and it’s time to make more money with…

101 Tips For Selling Your Home!

Who else wants to sell their own home quickly, cheaply, at the best price possible without making any of the common rookie mistakes?

If you’re like most people, your house represents your life’s work! Your life-savings! But the market is rebounding and you’ve decided to cash in. Good decision! Thousands are literallylosing money because they don’t know how to properly sell their home.

So don’t worry! Selling your house won’t be a nightmare if you follow the right information from the get-go. If you’re even THINKING about selling your house, make sure to keep reading to find out how you can start the process armed with the tips, tricks, and tactics of the pros.

Within Bedlam Realty’s FREE e-book, “101 Tips For Selling Your Home,” We’ll teach you how best to present your home to buyers, how to think inside their shoes, and leave the negotiating table with the best deal possible for both parties!

Armed with this insider knowledge, you’ll be itchin’ to get started selling your home for massive profit. Just take a look…

…here is just SOME of the information you will find inside:

• The very first thing you should do when planning to sell your home.

• Who you should be listening to for advice.

• The perils of overpricing your house and how to think realistically.

• The secret “deal-clinchers” some homeowners forget to advertise.

• What information homebuyers are likely to want to know about transportation in your area.

• The secret ingredient in your cities water that may help sell your house. Does your area have it?

• How to add romance to your advertisements – work’s great on newlyweds!

• Why your yard matters, and what to do about it.

• The list you should carry around with you when showing your house. Believe me, it will help you sell your home.

• One simple change to a house that seemed to have no hope that instantly transformed it into the cutest house in the neighborhood (and helped it sell for $900,000).

• 4 reasons NOT to sell your house (if deep down you really don’t want to).

• How to prepare yourself mentally for selling your house.

• When to bring a professional in to inspect your house for hidden problems.

• The test you should have performed on your house to impress potential buyers (and put them at ease).

• How to bring up recent repairs to prospective buyers in a positive way (that doesn’t make them worry).

• How to put yourself in the buyers shoes.

• 3 things the law requires you to fix.

• How simply changing these two things in a room can liven up living areas.

• How making repairs can actually decrease your profits.

• How to find out what questions prospective buyers are likely to ask – before they do!

• How to use word-of-mouth in ways more powerful than you thought possible.

• The secret to using your company to help you find a buyer.

• The 5 ingredients to selling a house according to Mario Avila, a highly successful realtor.

• The secret to being successful with honesty.

• 6 tips to placing an ad (including how to write one).

• The truth about Internet ads versus classifieds.

• How the perfect ad should look.

• 4 simple words that can double the response to your ad or better.

• Find out which day is best to run your ad on (to have the best success).

• 4 tips for preparing and taking phone calls from prospective buyers.

• 3 simple tips for preparing your home before people start showing up.

- The little known trick successful sellers use to answer commonly asked questions effectively.

• How to be firm in negotiations when buyers try to talk you down (by insulting your house).

• How to legally transfer ownership of your house to the buyer (without making any critical mistakes).

• 7 items every contract should cover.

• The power of the “down payment” in protecting you as the seller.

• 4 reasons why deals sometimes fall through.

• And there’s MUCH more – guaranteed!

“Will You Make These Mistakes When Selling Your Home?”

Do you know what the homebuyer is looking for these days? A buyer who has really done his or her homework can be a headache if you’re not ready for them.

But if you do the proper research ahead of time, not only will you impress prospective buyers, you’ll also attract many more who might have overlooked your house!

Inside my guide, you’ll know exactly what inquiring buyers want to know about your house. 

Again, all this information is FREE. Just visit our Facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/bedlamhomes

and download your FREE e-book today! Best of luck and happy selling from Bedlam Realty!