Tara N. Smith, Broker/Realtor at Smith Squared Real Estate Group, LLC

Tara N. Smith, Broker/Realtor at Smith Squared Real Estate Group, LLC With over 24 years in the Real Estate and appraisal industry I can help with all things real estate! That’s right!

Longtime residents of the Greater Baton Rouge area, Tara’s parents knew they would be expecting a new bundle of joy. Just two weeks before her arrival they found out two others would be joining her into this world. Her parents had merely two weeks to prepare for TRIPLETS! “My parents lived in a two-bedroom apartment at the time they found out and shortly thereafter made plans to build in the country [The City of Central] in order to accommodate their family of two growing to a family of five. Six years later, that family would become a family of six. This was a huge surprise and created an even bigger lifestyle change.”

Shortly after high school Tara became interested in real estate but decided to attend Southeastern Louisiana University in pursuit of a Marketing Degree. In May of 2000, she was hired on as an assistant to a real estate appraiser. She worked in the appraisal industry for ten years (4 of which we as an appraiser trainee) before she became a licensed real estate agent in 2010. “I cherish and embrace the experience and education I acquired in those ten years. It has been a great asset in all of my real estate transactions." When asked about life changing events that directly impacted her needs as it relates to real estate Tara stated, “I purchased my first home as a single mom. Three years later, I married the love of my life and we decided to build our first home through a builder; turnkey. Almost six years later, my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Our long-term plans had to change to prepare for the future with him and Parkinson’s. My husband and I purchased and developed acreage to proceed with custom building our forever home, allowing for my parents to build on the adjacent acre.” Life styles, situations, needs and family all pass through the seasons of life. Having an experienced REALTOR® is the greatest asset anyone could have. “Relationships, challenges and experiences have helped me grow to be the best REALTOR® I can be. I pass these things on to every client I am blessed to work with. Real estate is a passion; it is dedication and most of all it’s about integrity. Change is something many would rather not embrace, yet it is something we inevitably have to whether we like it or not. Having a lifetime agent is the best support you can have during these times. I am not just there for my clients for that one moment; I am there for them for a lifetime!"

THE AGENT FILES 🗂️ Case #405 PART 2Real People. Real Stories. Real Estate.Episode: READ. THE. LEASE. 👀 or more like "IT...
10/01/2026

THE AGENT FILES 🗂️ Case #405 PART 2
Real People. Real Stories. Real Estate.

Episode: READ. THE. LEASE. 👀 or more like
"IT WASNT IN THE LEASE" which saved my clients!

The lease was signed. Then came the surprise fee. 👀

Remember that 28-page lease? After we addressed my clients’ concerns, the landlord made revisions to their satisfaction, and everyone signed.

Hours later: “There’s a $350 administrative fee.”

Except… it wasn’t in the lease.

The landlord pointed to the rental listing sites. Sure enough, the fee appeared in those listings. They were not there before, they just miraculously appeared!

I made a note—we weren’t finished yet.

We scheduled the walkthrough to inspect the property and document existing damage on the move-in condition report. My client was happy with the cleanliness and ready to move forward.

Then she asked for the keys.

Landlord: “You can’t have the keys until you pay the administrative fee.”

Me: “That fee isn’t in the executed lease.”

Landlord: “It’s standard procedure.”

Apparently, we had different ideas about standard procedure.

I made my position clear: withholding the keys over a fee absent from the executed lease was unacceptable. An attorney was ready to address it, and a demand letter would follow if necessary.

Meanwhile, the keys? Found in a drawer and hidden under the stove. Yes, really.

Then came the sudden change of heart:

“I think we can waive that fee.”

You think? 🙃

My clients got their keys without paying the surprise $350.

Representation doesn’t end when the paperwork is signed. Sometimes, that’s when the next chapter starts.

Tara Smith | Smith Squared Real Estate Group
Superior Service and Strategic Solutions.
Central, La. 70818
225-937-8245
Licensed in the State of La.

Conveniently located just 13 minutes from Southeastern Louisiana University, this 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home offers 1,179 ...
09/21/2026

Conveniently located just 13 minutes from Southeastern Louisiana University, this 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home offers 1,179 square feet of living space and is a great option for both homeowners and investors!

The open floor plan connects the kitchen, dining, and living areas, creating a comfortable and functional main living space.

Recent improvements include a NEW roof, NEW gutters, and some exterior improvements.

Outside, you'll find an oversized lot approximately 200 feet deep with a fully fenced backyard offering plenty of room to enjoy. Two bedrooms are located on one side of the hallway, with the primary bedroom positioned on the opposite side and the full bath conveniently located between.

Affordable and close to SELU—this one is worth a look! Transferable home warranty, transferable termite contract AND this home DOES NOT require flood insurance! Flood zone X!!

THE AGENT FILES 🗂️ Case #405Real People. Real Stories. Real Estate.Episode: READ. THE. LEASE. 👀In this case, I’m repres...
09/21/2026

THE AGENT FILES 🗂️ Case #405
Real People. Real Stories. Real Estate.

Episode: READ. THE. LEASE. 👀

In this case, I’m representing the tenant in a lease.

Lease agreements can vary greatly in length, but this one?

A whole 28 pages. 😳

And yes—I read ALL 28 pages.

After reviewing it, I sat down with my clients and went over several provisions that caught my attention.

First came the BIG stuff.

The lease placed responsibility on the TENANT, at the tenant’s sole cost, to maintain and repair essentially the entire premises—including:

• Windows and plate glass
• Doors and hardware
• Interior walls and partitions
• Appliances
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing
• Lighting
• Heating and air conditioning systems

HVAC system goes out? We need to talk about that language.

Electrical problem? Plumbing issue? Same thing.

Then I kept reading...

The tenant was also responsible for maintaining the roof and keeping the gutters clean to prevent water intrusion and resulting damage.

Okay. Definitely something we're discussing.

Keep reading...

🔥 No burning candles in the home.

📌 No adhesive products on walls, ceilings, cabinets, doors, tubs, tile, or other surfaces—including Command™ strips, adhesive hooks, mounting tape, sticky lights, glue pads, etc.

And this one REALLY got my attention:

The lease provided for a $500 charge PER ADHESIVE ITEM left behind or for each instance where its use caused damage or defacing.

Yes. $500. Per item.

And just when you think you've read it all...

🚗💦 The tenant couldn't use the property's water to wash their car.

Oh—and don't lean anything against the exterior walls either.

Twenty-eight pages later, I had a LIST. 😂

Some provisions may seem minor. Others could potentially mean thousands of dollars in responsibility for my clients.

That's why representation doesn't stop at finding the property and negotiating the rent.

My job isn't to practice law or give legal advice. But it IS my job to pay attention, identify provisions that could affect my client's interests, ask questions, discuss concerns with my clients, negotiate where appropriate, and recommend legal review when needed.

Because sometimes what's buried on page 6, page 8—or page 28 matters a whole lot more than the monthly rent.

The lesson from this Agent File?

Don't just ask:

“How much is the rent?”

Ask:

“What exactly am I agreeing to?” 👀

THE AGENT FILES 🗂️
Real People. Real Stories. Real Estate.

🗂️ THE AGENT FILES — EPISODE 301 | PART 2Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.THEY THOUGHT WE WERE BLUFFING…When we...
09/19/2026

🗂️ THE AGENT FILES — EPISODE 301 | PART 2
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

THEY THOUGHT WE WERE BLUFFING…

When we left off…

Closing was less than 24 hours away.

My buyers were clear to close.

But at the final walkthrough, we found horribly overgrown grass and large pieces of the seller's furniture still inside the home.

The seller's position?

The buyers could handle it.

I had already referenced the applicable provisions of our purchase agreement with the listing agent.

Still…

No resolution.

It was time to explain to my buyers what I believed our options were under the contract.

And one of those options was pretty drastic:

Cancel the contract.

Was that what my buyers wanted?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

They wanted this house.

They had sold their homes.

They were combining two households.

They wanted to MOVE.

Cancellation was the last resort.

But if the seller wasn't going to comply with the agreement, my buyers had to decide whether they were willing to exercise the contractual remedy available to them.

I explained the strategy.

My clients understood the risk.

Then I went back to the listing agent one more time.

If the seller would not comply, my buyers were prepared to cancel.

To my surprise…

They stood their ground.

Almost as if they were calling our bluff.

There was just one problem.

IT WASN'T A BLUFF.

I called my clients.

We discussed it again.

They made their decision.

And less than 24 hours before closing, my buyers executed the cancellation.

I sent it to the listing agent.

And almost immediately…

📱 My phone rang.

His first words?

“I think we can work this out.”

Funny how quickly things can change. 😂

And FINALLY—we had a resolution.

🌱 The grass was cut.

🪑 The dining table, china cabinet and remaining furniture were removed.

🏡 The property was ready for my buyers.

And before the evening was over…

WE WERE BACK ON TRACK TO CLOSE THE NEXT DAY.

And we did. 🔑🏡

THE LESSON?

My goal was NEVER to kill the deal.

My job was to protect my clients while doing everything I could to get them the outcome they actually wanted.

There's a big difference.

Sometimes representing your client means negotiating.

Sometimes it means problem-solving.

And sometimes it means understanding the contract well enough to know when your clients have leverage—and being willing to use it.

Because “the buyers can handle it” isn't always the answer.

Know the contract.
Know your clients' options.
And know when it's time to stop asking and start protecting.

🗂️ THE AGENT FILES
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

Superior Service and Strategic Solutions
Smith Squared Real Estate Group

Tara N. Smith
Broker | Owner
225-937-8245
Licensed in the State of Louisiana

🗂️ THE AGENT FILES — EPISODE 301 | PART 1Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.THE FINAL WALKTHROUGH THAT CHANGED EV...
09/17/2026

🗂️ THE AGENT FILES — EPISODE 301 | PART 1
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

THE FINAL WALKTHROUGH THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING…

This transaction was about as smooth as anyone could ask for.

✅ Inspection complete.
✅ Repairs negotiated and agreed upon.
✅ Appraisal came back at or above value.
✅ CLEAR TO CLOSE.

Closing was TOMORROW.

All that remained was our final walkthrough.

My buyers and I arrived expecting to verify the agreed-upon repairs, make sure everything looked good and prepare for closing the next day.

Instead…

The grass was HORRIBLY overgrown.

And inside?

Furniture. Lots of it.

And I'm not talking about a forgotten lamp and a couple of boxes.

There was an oversized dining table, China cabinet and other heavy pieces of furniture the sellers apparently had no intention of removing.

Remember…

WE CLOSE TOMORROW. 😳

I immediately contacted the listing agent.

The answer?

The seller wasn't cutting the grass.

The seller wasn't removing the furniture.

The buyers could handle it.

Ummm… No. 😂

My buyers were understandably upset.

They were already selling two different homes, combining two households into one and coordinating multiple moving and closing timelines.

They did NOT need to add “haul away the seller's furniture” to their moving plans.

But this was about more than inconvenience.

I knew what was stated in the purchase agreement (Contract) regarding the final walk through and expectations of the condition of the property. The purpose is to confirm the property is in the same or better condition as during the initial inspection and that all agreed repairs have been completed. SAME OR BETTER CONDITION.

And there it was.

This wasn't about whether my buyers were capable of cutting the grass or moving furniture.

This was about what the parties had agreed to in the contract.

I contacted the listing agent again.

I referenced the applicable contract language.

I explained our position.

And I expected we'd get this resolved.

We didn't.

The seller wasn't budging.

Neither was the listing agent.

And we were now less than 24 hours from closing.

My buyers looked to me and asked the question every agent eventually hears:

“What do we do?”

At this point, I knew exactly what our next move could be.

But it was a move I REALLY didn't want my buyers to have to make.

TO BE CONTINUED… 👀

Superior Service and Strategic Solutions
Smith Squared Real Estate Group

Tara N. Smith
Broker | Owner
225-937-8245
Licensed in the State of Louisiana

📂 THE AGENT FILES | CASE #202THE APPRAISAL CAME IN LOW. NOW WHAT? 😳Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.This time,...
09/15/2026

📂 THE AGENT FILES | CASE #202

THE APPRAISAL CAME IN LOW. NOW WHAT? 😳
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

This time, I was representing the SELLER.

🏡 House under contract — CHECK.
🔎 Inspection completed — CHECK.
🔨 Repairs negotiated — CHECK.
💰 Everything moving toward closing — CHECK.

Then we waited for the buyer's appraisal...

And it came in LOW. 🚨

Lower than our agreed-upon sales price.

Now, a low appraisal can completely change the direction of a transaction. The buyer may not be able—or willing—to make up the difference, the seller may be asked to reduce the price, or the entire deal could potentially be at risk.

But before accepting that value, I took a closer look.

And something stood out.

📍 This particular Baton Rouge area has a unique market characteristic: Which side of Government Street you are on matters!

I knew this, but apparently the appraiser didn't not!

Although the comparable sales used in the appraisal were geographically close, several were located on the opposite side of Government Street from the subject property.

One comparable was also considerably farther west, approaching the interstate.

On a map? They might have looked reasonable.

From a local real estate perspective? I knew there were better comparisons.

So I challenged the appraisal.

I provided additional comparable sales that I felt more accurately represented the subject property's location and market.

The appraisal was reconsidered...

And P**F. 💨

🏡 The value came in where we needed it.

Transaction back on track. ✅

📁 WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY?

A comparable sale isn't necessarily the BEST comparable simply because it's nearby.

Roads, neighborhoods, school districts, traffic patterns, development, buyer preferences and even which side of a major street a property sits on can influence how a local market behaves.

That's why knowledge of the area matters when choosing your real estate agent.

Your agent isn't just there to put a sign in the yard and negotiate an offer.

Our job is knowing enough about the market to recognize when something deserves a second look—and knowing how to support that argument with data.

📁 CASE CLOSED.

THE AGENT FILES
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

Tara N. Smith
Smith Squared Real Estate Group
Broker | Owner
225-937-8245
Licensed in the State of Louisiana

Superior Service and Strategic Solutions

🏡 REAL ESTATE TRUE STORY: THE INSPECTION DIDN’T KILL THIS DEAL… the fine print did. 👀I was representing a repeat client ...
09/13/2026

🏡 REAL ESTATE TRUE STORY: THE INSPECTION DIDN’T KILL THIS DEAL… the fine print did. 👀

I was representing a repeat client on their second home purchase with me.

We found the house.
❤️ He thought it was PERFECT.
📝 We made an offer.
🎉 ACCEPTED!

Then we entered the inspection period.

While reviewing the inspection AND the documents associated with the property, I found something that caught my attention:

🚨 The neighborhood restrictions required driveways to be CONCRETED.

There was just one problem…

The driveway apron at this home had been removed for an update to the culvert, and the area had been replaced with limestone—not concrete.

So I started asking questions.

Would my buyer be required to correct this after purchasing the home?

The answer from the seller?

👉 YES. The area would have to be concreted within 60 days of closing.

Wait…WHAT?! 😳

That requirement wasn't disclosed in the listing.

And here's where it gets even more interesting: the seller had owned and lived in the home for more than a year—and his mother was the HOA. 👀

Now my buyer had a decision to make.

✔️ Location — GOOD
✔️ Price — GOOD
✔️ Negotiated concessions — GOOD
✔️ Inspection — manageable
✔️ Repairs — AGREED UPON
❌ Surprise concrete project after closing — NOT GOOD
❌ Family Run HOA — NOT GOOD

My client decided this was something he wasn't willing to take on and cancelled the contract during his inspection period.

MORAL OF THE STORY?

Real estate isn't always as simple as negotiating the price, asking for closing costs and working through an inspection.

Sometimes the thing that protects you is buried in the fine print.

A good buyer's agent isn't just there to unlock the door and write the offer.

We ask questions.
We read documents.
We investigate when something doesn't add up.
And sometimes, doing our job well means helping a client to decide NOT to buy the house and that's OK!

🏡 The house may have looked perfect—but the details told a different story.

Buying a home? Who represents you matters.

Superior Service and Strategic Solutions

Tara N. Smith
Broker | Owner
225-937-8245
Smith Squared Real Estate Group
Licensed in the state of Louisiana

09/11/2026

25 years of always remembering....

🇺🇸 September 11, 2001

25 years later, we remember.

We remember the lives lost.
We honor the heroes who ran toward danger.
We remember the families whose lives were forever changed.
And we remember a nation that came together in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

May we never forget the courage, sacrifice, unity and humanity shown on that day and in the days that followed.

In remembrance of all who were lost, all who served, and all who carry September 11 with them still.

🇺🇸 Never Forget. 9.11.01

📂 INTRODUCING: THE AGENT FILESReal People. Real Properties. Real Estate.After years in real estate, I can tell you one t...
09/10/2026

📂 INTRODUCING: THE AGENT FILES
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

After years in real estate, I can tell you one thing for certain: no two transactions are ever the same.

Some are smooth. Some have plot twists. And some leave you saying, “You seriously can’t make this stuff up.” 😳

The Agent Files is a new series where I’ll share TRUE stories from real transactions—the unexpected problems, negotiations, fine print, close calls and behind-the-scenes moments most people never see.

Names and identifying details may change, but the lessons are very real.

Because real estate is about much more than finding a house, negotiating a price and showing up at closing.

Sometimes it’s knowing what questions to ask, what documents to read, what details to investigate—and when to tell your client to walk away.

📂 Consider the files officially OPEN.

Follow along. You might be surprised by what happens between “We love it!” and “SOLD.” 🏡

THE AGENT FILES
Real People. Real Properties. Real Estate.

Tara N. Smith
Smith Squared Real Estate Group
Broker | Owner
225-937-8245
Superior Service and Strategic Solutions
Licensed in the State of Louisiana

Address

12234 Stoneway Place
Central City, LA
70818

Telephone

+12259378245

Website

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