http://www.lombardorealestateteam.com/

Lombardo Team, 758 Silverbluff Road, Unit 6136, Aiken, SC (2026)

03/30/2023

Heading out of town for spring break? Don’t forget to take care of your home!

Travel pro Jamie Desmarais () offers these home security tips for spring break travelers ⬇️

1. Purchase smart outlets or bulbs and program them to turn on in the evenings.

2. Check all doors and windows to ensure they’re secure. And make sure there are no valuables in plain sight of windows.

3. Charge smart doorbells and cameras to make sure these security measures are fully charged and ready to go.

4. If you’re leaving for an extended period of time (longer than two weeks) consider pausing holding your mail.

5. Avoid posting to social media about your vacation in real-time. Instead, wait until you return.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s have some fun! What’s your idea of a great vacation? Vote via emoji below!

Relaxing beach getaway = 🏝
A road trip full of new sights = 🚗

03/29/2023

What’s one of the most frequently asked questions I get from both buyers *and* sellers?

“What happens if I want to buy and sell at the same time??”

This can be tricky! But not impossible.

Here’s what to do: 👇

-Be sure you have a timeline and plan for buying and selling (psst: I can help!).
-Determine how you’re going to finance the down payment for the home you’re buying.
-Get the home ready to sell and start shopping for a new home.
-Once you’re under contract to purchase and the inspection & negotiations are completed, put your current home on the market.
-During negotiations, you can request a closing date timed to coincide with the purchase closing.
-Have a contingency plan for the possibility that your home will sell before you find a new one.

What other tricky real estate questions can I answer for you today? Let me know below or inbox me any time.

03/28/2023

How to create a magical backyard oasis (without breaking the bank)

Now that the temps are finally warming up, you’re probably wanting to actually spend time in your outdoor spaces.

Here are five affordable ways to spruce up your backyard:

1. Hang string lights
String lights are a great way to add a touch of whimsy while adding a soft glow. I love the Edison style bulbs! Just make sure they’re weather and shatter proof.

2. Create a seating area
Wayfair, Amazon, and even Walmart offer affordable conversation sets and patio furniture. Make sure they’re weather resistant, and be sure to purchase covers as well.

3. Throw down an outdoor rug
Add a layer of color with a brightly colored or patterned outdoor rug. This will help tie the pieces of your seating area together.

4. Think green (and pink, and red, and yellow, and purple…)
Potted plants and flowers will help add dimension and color to your back deck or patio.

5. Invest in a waterproof outdoor speaker
Nothing sets a mood like music! I love the JBL wireless speakers because you can easily connect multiple speakers.

Are you as excited about the warmer weather as I am?! Or are you wanting to press the fast-forward button to fall?

03/27/2023

March Madness? How about MARKET Madness?!

This month, it’s all about interest rates, low inventory, and stable home prices.

Here’s what you should pay attention to if you’re planning to buy or sell in the next three months:

1. Interest rates. Not only do they impact your own home affordability, a lot of homeowners are locked into interest rates below 4%, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and are hesitant to sell.

2. Inventory. With inventory so low, it is still technically a seller’s market. Even though things have slowed down since the market’s pandemic peak, you might very well find yourself in a multiple offer situation.

3. Home Prices. U.S. house prices have remained relatively stable over the past few months, having peaked during the summer of 2022. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reports that while higher mortgage rates have suppressed demand, low inventory has kept home prices flat. Although homeowners never want to see their home values decrease, any decline is likely to be minimal.

Does anything surprise you? Got any questions? Shoot me a message or drop a comment below so we can chat about it!

03/26/2023

Picture this 👇👇

You’re lounging in your beautifully landscaped backyard sipping a tasty cocktail and enjoying the fantastic spring weather.

There’s only one thing missing: a good playlist!

Lucky for you, I’ve curated a spring-time playlist perfect for any outdoor event. ⬇️⬇️

🎵 Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles
🎵 Put Your Records On, Corinne Bailey Rae
🎵 Sunday Best, Surfaces
🎵 Dream a Little of Me, Ella Fitzgerald
🎵 Crazy Love, Van Morrison
🎵 Sunday Morning, Maroon 5
🎵 Golden, Harry Styles
🎵 Beautiful Day, U2
🎵 Sittin’ on The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
🎵 Dancing in the Moonlight, King Harvest
🎵 Wide Open Spaces, The (Dixie) Chicks

What am I missing? Make your suggestions in the comments!

03/25/2023

Are you a paper or digital planner?

I love both! And since I have to be *very* organized in order to do my job effectively, I’ve discovered a few helpful apps to make planning and organizing a breeze.

Here are 3 of my favorite family organizing apps:

1. Cozi Family Organizer
This app has it all! A calendar, shared shopping lists, a recipe planner/organizer, and more.

2. Todoist – To-Do List & Planner
This to-do list app allows you to share multiple lists with multiple people.

3. Google Calendar
It’s an oldie but a goodie! I love Google’s calendar because it allows me to create multiple calendars to share with different groups.

What are some of your favorite home organization tools and apps? Let’s help each other out in the comments!

03/24/2023

Do you have a green thumb?

I sure don’t! [or] I love all things gardening!

I always tell my homesellers to bring some life into their home with live plants. In fact, I’ve been known to show up to a meeting with a few! [Take this part out if it isn’t true.]

Here are 5 plants perfect for indoors 🌿👇

1. The Spider Plant
These are low maintenance and are known to help purify the air.

2. Sansevieria
Sansevieria are strikingly beautiful and don’t require a lot of water, making them perfect for busy homeowners.

3. Monsteras
This popular plant knows how to make a statement! And they’re also very easy to care for.

4. Pothos
Known for their durability, these leafy plants are perfect for any room.

5. Aloe
Aloe plants don’t require a lot–just a sunny spot and infrequent waterings. Plus, they’re great to have on hand for minor burns!

Which plant above is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

03/17/2023

Pump the brakes!

Today I want to clue you in on a few things you should definitely avoid when selling your home.

Doing these things can keep your home on the market longer and might even keep it from selling. 🥴

So, while your home is on the market, don’t …

🛑 Decline showings
🛑 Defer maintenance
🛑 Set an unrealistically high price
🛑 Underestimate the amount of work involved

The good news? An experienced realtor can help you avoid these pitfalls!

If you’re ready to put your home on the market, reach out! I can’t wait to chat with you about your goals!

03/16/2023

We’re about to cross the finish line!

As we get closer and closer to closing day, we need to chat about closing costs.

Closing costs are the fees associated with completing a real estate deal.

The buyer and seller *typically* share responsibility, although in some cases these costs are used in price negotiations.

Closing costs may include:

✔️Transfer taxes
✔️Title insurance
✔️The escrow fee
✔️Attorney fees
✔️Outstanding amount owed on the mortgage
✔️Realtor commission

On closing day, each party will come to the table with the amount of closing costs they agreed to pay.

And after each party signs on the dotted lines, you’re DONE! 🥳

If you’ve ever sold a house, how was your last closing day experience?

👍= good
👎= bad

03/15/2023

Before the offers start rolling in, READ THIS!

No, you don’t have to accept the first offer on your home! Even if you’re not in a multiple offer situation, inventory is low and you can still be a little bit selective.

So what should you consider?

Here’s what to think about when reviewing offers:

1. Price
Obviously, this one is important. Does the offer come in at or above asking? Price is a priority, but it shouldn’t be the only factor you consider! (Keep reading!)

2. Financing
Has the buyer been pre-approved? Can they pay in cash? A buyer with strong financing reduces the risk of offers falling through at the last minute.

3. Closing costs
Can the seller pay most or all of the closing costs?

4. Contingencies
Did the seller waive home inspection, appraisal, and financing contingencies?

5. Timeline
Is the seller flexible with their timeline, or do they need to be in the home by a certain day?

Remember: a knowledgeable realtor can help you determine the best offer for you and your unique circumstances! Don’t go through the process alone!

If you’ve ever sold a home, what would you add to the list? Share it with me below!

03/14/2023

Five ways to help your home ✨ shine ✨ during showings ✨

In addition to keeping your home tidy, here are a few things I help my clients do to prepare for showings:

1. Declutter
Keep baskets around your home so you can easily contain clutter. When it’s time for a showing, stash the baskets in closets.

2. Create ambiance
Turn on the fireplace, ask your smart speakers to play relaxing music, and light a candle.

3. Be mindful of scents
Take out the trash and, until you’re under contract, avoid cooking with smelly ingredients such as garlic, broccoli, and fish.

4. Lighten up
Turn on all lights and open the blinds.

5. Mind the temperature
Make sure the temperature is comfortable. Set the thermostat to anywhere between 68-72 degrees.

🏡🏡🏡

Bonus tip! If you want to go the extra mile, consider leaving out a letter board with a friendly message (i.e. “welcome to our home!”).

Once your house is ready to show, it’s time to get out of dodge! Everyone, including the pets, should leave the home when a potential buyer wants to view it.

Did you find these tips helpful? If so, drop a “YES!” in the comments!

03/13/2023

It’s an art!

I truly consider creating the pricing strategy for your home to be one of the most crucial parts of the home selling process.

So much goes into setting an appropriate price!

Here are a few things I consider when pricing my client’s homes:

-Age and condition of your home, systems, and appliances.
-Local market data, patterns, current events, and trends.
-Upgrades or improvements that you made in your home.
-Prices of homes for sale in your neighborhood.
-Prices of homes recently sold in your neighborhood.

Are you ready to see how much you could get for your home? Shoot me a DM! I’m happy to chat about it!

Lombardo Team

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