The AmeriSpec® Seller's Assistance Program (ASAP) - A Win, Win, Win for Agents, Sellers and Buyers!

With many more homes on the market today than ever before, buyers’ expectations are high and sellers are more eager to sell their home. Coupled with tougher credit requirements, deals can be hard to come by...(More)

How to Make All the Right Moves When Moving

Even under the best of circumstances, moving can be a very stressful experience. These suggestions may help you better prepare for your next move...(More)

Creating a Positive Office Culture

A strong and positive office culture is important to everyone’s success. Take stock of your own office culture and how it could be improved...(More)

The AmeriSpec® Seller's Assistance Program (ASAP) - A Win, Win, Win for Agents, Sellers and Buyers!

In today’s market, pre-listing inspections have become a valuable tool for the seller. The seller can help avoid surprises that may arise at closing since everyone involved will likely be more familiar with the condition of the property.

The AmeriSpec® ASAP program includes a pre-listing inspection, along with marketing materials for the homeowner, to assist them in the sale of their home. Homeowners will receive the detailed inspection report in the attractive, easy-to-reference AmeriSpec Report Binder, which also contains a seasonal maintenance checklist, an innovative home repair manual, and other valuable items.

The homeowner can also receive highly visible “Pre-Inspected” sign riders or yard signs, as well as brochures to provide to potential buyers explaining the benefits of purchasing a pre-inspected home. These brochures let buyers know the home has been pre-inspected by AmeriSpec and they also let buyers know they can purchase a discounted reinspection to verify the current condition of the home, allowing them to buy with peace of mind.

The ASAP program is a win, win, win for agents, sellers and buyers:

• Can be used as a tool to identify motivated sellers.

• *Help sellers receive offers closer to the asking price.

• *No significant surprises should another inspection occur.

• Less contract fallouts – everyone is familiar with the property’s condition.

• *Provides the opportunity to correct defects while allowing time to shop for the best price.

• Creates a good faith atmosphere for all parties involved.

• Provides an opportunity for a discounted re-inspection for the buyer.

• Helps alleviate buyer’s remorse.

Call today for more information on AmeriSpec and the ASAP Program. Visit www.amerispec.com to find an AmeriSpec office near you!


*The seller’s inspection report reflects the condition of the home at the time of the inspection. Although we do our best to ensure that the inspection report accurately represents the conditions of the home at the time of the inspection, property conditions can and do change with time. Therefore, the buyer should have a buyer’s inspection performed prior to making a purchase decision. Unless AmeriSpec performs the buyer’s inspection, AmeriSpec cannot be liable for the buyer’s reliance upon any information contained within the seller’s inspection report.

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• Call several moving companies for quotes. Ask for references and check them all out with your Better Business Bureau®. Know exactly what their quote includes (boxes? packing? bubble wrap?) and how you will be able to track their movement on long distance moves. Find out about their insurance – any guarantees, and any special deals that may be available.

• If you have any particularly large, expensive, or fragile items to be moved, make sure the movers are aware you want these to receive special handling.

• If you are packing boxes yourself, allow plenty of time to wrap and pack things properly. Your moving company may be able to provide helpful hints for packing.

• Make sure all boxes are labeled, both for contents and the room in which they will go.

• Be cautious about weight; no box should weigh more than 50 pounds.

• If your movers allow things to be left in dresser drawers, make sure that only unbreakable items are in those drawers. Remove items that might shift around and fill those drawers with towels and linens instead.

• Make an inventory list of all items being moved, including boxes you may have boxed and labeled previously; use this as a checklist upon delivery.

• Defrost and empty refrigerators and freezers and make sure all appliances are properly stabilized for the trip.

• Be available throughout the packing process to answer questions and provide instructions.

• Make sure the items you decide to move yourself are put into a single place and labeled “Do not move.” Examples are cleaning supplies for your new home, toiletries and clothing for your trip, jewelry, personal records, and other similar items. Back up all your computer files and take them with you, too.

• Be sure to resolve any problems about damages before you sign documents approving completion of the move.

Some professional moving companies have more detailed checklists than this one to help you even more. Just in case, you may want to print and keep this checklist as a good way to start planning your next move.


Due to the general nature of the advice in this material, neither AmeriSpec®, nor its individual franchises assumes any responsibility or accepts liability for any loss, damage, or injury which may be incurred as a result of any action inspired by information, advice or suggestions through this material.

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Office culture is simply the reflection of the shared practices and values of a company’s employees. Office culture is evident in the way people communicate and cooperate; it plays a part in how they use company processes and resources, and it’s reflected in the level of satisfaction people have with their roles.

To assess your office culture, start by observing what goes on around you. Notice how people interact – or fail to interact. Listen to what they have to say about their jobs, their associates, and their clients. Learn what others say about your company online or in the press. These sources can give you a fairly accurate view of your current office culture.

Once you determine your office culture, decide if it is in line with the company’s stated mission and strategic goals. If not, you may want to make some changes to bring them into alignment.

Different types of office cultures benefit different types of companies. For real estate companies, clear communications, personal integrity, versatility, and client-focused operations are likely to all be highly desirable elements in your office culture.

Changing or refining office culture requires the involvement of employees. Change may start at the top, but it requires the continued involvement of all employees to continue. Getting people to talk about how they think they can contribute to the company’s success, by helping to establish the right culture, is one way to start because this encourages them to take a personal stake in your shared future.

You might bring groups of co-workers together to brainstorm ideas for change. Break them into categories like fun, communication, organization, and co-operation. After lists are created, certain ideas can be selected to implement now with others held for later.

Once there is office-wide involvement, everyone should be ready to work together to implement the new enhancements to your office culture. At this point, it’s important to actively cultivate the new office culture initiatives. Make sure everyone is following through and meeting their commitments regularly.

These efforts should result in an office where the culture encourages everyone to work together for mutual success, while building a positive image for your company in the community.


Due to the general nature of the advice in this material, neither AmeriSpec®, nor its individual franchises assumes any responsibility or accepts liability for any loss, damage, or injury which may be incurred as a result of any action inspired by information, advice or suggestions through this material.

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Attract Birds to Add Winter Color and Life to Your Yard

Even the smallest yard in the most urban of settings can be a haven for birds. Attracting birds is easy – all they want is food, water, and shelter. Provide just one of these, and you’ll probably have success; of course the more you provide the better.

According to a recent Census Report, over 65 million Americans enjoy backyard bird feeding – it’s the second most popular hobby in the country, and it’s one that can deliver a lot of enjoyment with a minimal amount of effort.

Serve Up Dinner.

Feeding birds can be as simple as putting seeds out on an old dinner plate. Or, you can go so far as to have a whole range of feeders with different types of food in them. The key is to start simple and only expand your offerings if you want to.

Here are some key points to remember:

• Don’t simply throw seeds on the ground; they could easily become contaminated by mold, bacteria, or yard chemicals.

• Birds will pick through mixed bird seeds, "tossing" out the one they don’t want as waste. It’s better to have a single type of seed in a feeder. One of the most popular is black oil sunflower seeds. Different types of food appeal to different species of birds. Check online, or with a local bird feed store, for favorites in your area.

• If you have squirrels in your neighborhood, they’ll soon be in your feeder
gobbling down all the food. Invest in a squirrel-proof feeder and mount it on a pole with a baffle.

• Keep your seeds dry and your feeder clean. Damp seeds can breed salmonella. A typical seed feeder usually needs cleaning about once a month.

• If possible, position your feeder close to some sort of shelter. Nearby shrubs, trees, or other places where birds can take quick refuge from predators will increase the attractiveness of your feeder.

• Move your feeder a couple of feet every year. The ground below will need a break to naturally process bird droppings and shell fragments.

Give Them a Drink… and a Bath.

Birds always appreciate a cool drink and a place to bathe. In winter, water can be especially scarce with frozen ponds and puddles. Surprisingly, many commercial birdbaths are not inviting to many birds. Make sure yours is with these hints:

• Keep the bath shallow – no more than three inches is best. Birds don’t like deep water.

• Make sure the surface is rough. Water makes things even slicker, and slippery surfaces make birds very uncomfortable. You might even cover the bottom of your birdbath with gravel or small stones.

• Change the water at least once a week to keep it clean.

• Try to position your birdbath close to shelter. Birds with wet feathers have a harder time flying and will appreciate a close space where they can preen their feathers.

Once you’ve established your feeder and birdbath, have patience. It may take a week or more for the birds to find your home, but once they do they’ll keep coming back as long you keep food and water available.


Due to the general nature of the advice in this material, neither AmeriSpec®, nor its individual franchises assumes any responsibility or accepts liability for any loss, damage, or injury which may be incurred as a result of any action inspired by information, advice or suggestions through this material.

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