Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Add-On Front Patios

A New Home Trend Front Patios

Front porches and back patios have joined forces. The result is the emergence of the “front yard patio.”

A front yard patio is inviting, which might herald a reversal of a 70 year trend towards hiding out in our houses and entertaining only in our backyards. This condition was a direct result of the age of the automobile, when garages gradually crept to the front of the house at the expense of our porches.

For those of us with garage-dominated or porch-less facades, the front yard patio is a welcome feature—a decorative, as well as functional entertaining space that says, “Hello.”

Front patios can look like almost anything, and be constructed of any material that can be made weed-free and level, including brick, stone, gravel, or wood. They can be attached to the home, wrapped around the front door, or set off on their own. And they can be enhanced by such things as:

  •   A fire pit or heat lamps.
  •   A small side fountain.
  •   Low shrubs or low walls.
  •   Tea lights or lanterns.Front patios are more than simple functional changes in our space and lifestyle. They’re also a smart move for home sellers as they gain traction with buyers who see them as inviting and desirable features that add value to the house.

For more great tips and interesting articles download Matt’s Home News February edition here:  February Newsletter – Matt

Best wishes,

Matt

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Healthy Pets Save Money

If your like me your pets are part of the family.  We love our pets, but they can be expensive to care for, especially as they age. You never want to have to choose between your pet and your bank balance, so consider these simple tips for saving money while keeping Fido or Fluffy healthy and happy:

Our Family Springer Spaniel Marta

Our Family Springer Spaniel Marta

 Get regular checkups. The money you spend on vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and

routine medical care will pay off in preventing more expensive illnesses later.

 Groom at home. Lots of grooming—brushing, washing, clipping claws—can be done

on your own. Also learn to do the unpleasant tasks of cleaning ears and anal glands.

 Get annual dental care. Talk to your vet about keeping your pet’s teeth clean and

preventing infections. Dental problems are one of the leading causes of dog or cat

health problems as they age.

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Clean Dryer Vents to Avoid House Fires

Did you know there are approximately 25,000 dryer fires every year in North America, and most of them occur because lint builds up in the dryer or the exhaust duct?

A lint-clogged exhaust duct can also push warm, moist air into your wall cavities and attic, encouraging mold growth and potentially starting a fire! Here are some tips for preventing lint fires.

 Remember to clean the lint screen before or after drying each load of laundry.

 Using a vacuum attachment, vacuum out the lint screen housing.

 Carefully pull the dryer away from the wall and remove the duct that connects your dryer to the duct in your wall. Vacuum out the back of the dryer, the dryer duct, and the wall duct as much as possible, using a long vacuum attachment. Take care when reattaching the duct and pushing the dryer back into place that the duct does not detach from the wall or dryer, and that it doesn’t kink or crush.

 Clean the dryer vent cover on the outside of your home by removing any blockage and lint. Vacuum out the vent as far as you can using a long vacuum attachment. Turn the dryer on when you are finished and make sure that you feel the exhaust air from the dryer exiting your home.

 Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter. If you suspect the vent has built up lint that you can’t get out, remove and replace the vent with a new piece.

To view and download my September Newsletter full of great tips and articles click here:  september-newsletter-matt

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What Do Baby Boomers And Millennials Share?

Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you and the people you feel comfortable introducing me to.

This year there are more healthy and happy baby boomers over 65 than ever before. At the same time, there are more millennials than ever before, many of whom are well-educated, but paying the price in terms of high student debt, which keeps them living with their boomer parents longer.

Despite their financial and age differences, both these groups want the best for themselves and each other. For that reason, they appreciate the input of family and friends when choosing a product or service. Both prefer an enthusiastic introduction over the thought of working with the unknown.

Baby BoomersMillennials (1)
It’s important you know I skillfully work with people of many income brackets.

Whether you know a person with a lot of student loan debt or someone who could pay cash for their next home, I love helping people make good financial decisions. The next time you notice someone who would benefit from my help, call or text me immediately. I promise they’ll be delighted you introduced us.

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132

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What Makes A Great Experience?

Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you—or anyone you feel comfortable introducing me. Many people have a favorite restaurant, a place to enthusiastically recommend their friends because of the great experience they have there. Part of the experience comes from great food. But it’s more than just that. The experience is about how they feel there, which is a process of friendly service, attention to detail, consistency, etc. This restaurant is always hopping, and probably doesn’t do much advertising.

What Makes A Great Experience?Most of its business comes from repeat customers and referrals.

So for a moment, can you imagine that I am just like your favorite restaurant?

Like your favorite restaurant, my purpose is for you to be so outrageously happy with both the product and process—the complete experience of buying or selling a home—that you enthusiastically introduce people you care about to me so that they can have the same kind of experience.

So for a moment, can you imagine that I am just like your favorite restaurant?

Like your favorite restaurant, my purpose is for you to be so outrageously happy with both the product and process—the complete experience of buying or selling a home—that you enthusiastically introduce people you care about to me so that they can have the same kind of experience.

The next time you’re in a conversation with a friend, family, or neighbor, and they mention they’re thinking of moving, would you mind taking out your cell phone, looking up my number, and calling or texting me immediately? I’ll make sure they have an experience they’ll want to rave about.

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132

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5 Crucial Reasons for an “Annual Home Review”

Here’s a quick note to let you know how I can help you or the person you feel
comfortable introducing me to.

Just like an annual physical, it’s important to do an “Annual Home Review.”
Your home may be your biggest investment so it’s critical to keep up-to-date on the
answers to these five crucial questions:Annual Home Review

1. What homes near you have sold, and how does this impact you today?
2. What new tax laws give you deductions or credits on home improvements?
3. What’s happening in your neighborhood that will impact the value of your home?
4. What changes have occurred in your life that alter your goals for the next 5 years?
5. What’s occurring with your current mortgage? What changes could benefit you?

The next time you are in a conversation with a friend, family member or
neighbor who is talking about their home’s value, remember the future belongs to
those who prepare, and I am prepared to help you and the people you care about. Call
or text and we’ll start right away. Together we’ll make the future better than ever!

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life
Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132

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How to Get the Most from a Great Situation

Here is a quick note to let you know how I can help you or the person you feel comfortable introducing me to.  According to CareerBuilder.Com, the three most common months people receive promotions are January, July, and September, which means someone you know might be getting a promotion next month. Once that happens, increased responsibility, extended working hours, and longer commute times can be offset by moving to a house closer to the office.

Who do you know that's getting a promotion? They may need my help.

Who do you know that’s getting a promotion? They may need my help.

Experience shows that many people do just that—moving into their next home within 6-12 months of getting a new job or promotion. Moving quickly after a promotion lets family and friends enjoy well-earned financial rewards together.  The next time you’re in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor and they tell you they finally got that promotion, please don’t keep me a secret—take out your cell phone, look up my number and call or text me immediately.

My service is designed to help people find the home that fits their life best.

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life

Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132

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What People Are Really Looking For – At Home

272 Deerfield Drive Mays Landing, NJ 08330

272 Deerfield Drive Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Here is a quick note to let you know how I can help you or the person you feel comfortable introducing me to.

The other day I was reading a story that said the storage industry is an 8.8 billion dollar business. It’s no wonder, when you consider how much time we spend looking for lost objects. The average person spends 6 minutes a day looking for car keys! IKEA reports the top 4 items men search for are clean socks, keys, wallet, and remote control. Women search for shoes, a child’s toy, wallet, and remote control. It occurred to me that a home is never more organized than just before and after a move. While it is seldom easy to move, very few things feel better than starting over again with the right amount of space. The next time you are in a conversation with a friend, family member or neighbor and you notice they would benefit from having the right amount of rooms and space to enjoy an organized home…then stop, take out your phone, look up my number and call or text me. Together we’ll make sure they get the best advice for the space they need.

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Last Year More People Struggled to Rent an Apartment than Ever Before

Here is a quick note to let you know how I can help you or the person you feel comfortable introducing me to.

Not long ago I heard a story on the news that more young people are renting apartments or staying at their parent’s homes longer than ever before. What that tells us is that young people may be forcing themselves to become long-term tenants. At the same time, high-demand and competition cause rent prices to soar, while a mortgage stays predictable and constant.

Competing with other renters to pay off someone else’s mortgage is not what we want for our friends and family.

So next time you’re talking with a friend, family member or neighbor and they tell you they feel they’re wasting money on rent, take out your phone, look up my number and call or text me immediately. I belong to a national network of Realtors and lenders, and I can help make their dreams of owning their first home a reality!

Matthew Haviland, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life Keller Williams Realty Atlantic Shore 609-484-9890 ext 132