There's no place like Buffalo and Western New York

As I'm sitting here out of town, watching the palm trees sway in the breeze,  it occurred to me.....there's no place like Western New York!

Sure, the snow and cold is frustrating for a few months of the year, but without it we'd miss out on so much!  

Hockey
Hockey (Buffalo Sabres, through the good and the bad) are a huge part of WNY life - and as I sat here listening to the play-by-play on my iPhone the last few nights because I couldn't find the game on TV, I realized that I can't live in a non-hockey town!  Or, really, a non-Sabres town! Through the good and the bad (and yes, we're experiencing the bad) I'm a Sabres fan that needs her fix!

Skiing
Western New Yorkers love their skiing, and we have so many great places to do it!  Kissing Bridge and Holiday Valley are just an hour away, and provide a great day (or weekend!) of skiing and snowboarding.  There are also several private ski areas within an hour's drive of downtown Buffalo.  If you're a skier, it's a great place to live!

Snow
Yes, I said I'd miss snow.  As I was shopping for beach supplies this weekend, it just seemed somehow wrong to see Christmas decorations up next to sunscreen and surf wax!  Even though I hate driving in the white stuff, I can't imagine Christmas without cold and a dusting of snow - it's just the way it's supposed to be for me!

Cold Weather Fashion
I admit it - if I lived in a warmer climate, I'd miss my Northface, my Uggs, my Sorels, and all my other warm weather gear that I bundle up in when I go out and face the cold.

So, back to Buffalo I'll go tonight, thankful for the few days I spend in this warm paradise every few months, and even more thankful to call Buffalo my home!  Now - I just have to decide where to stop for a snack on the way home from the airport tonight.  So many great Buffalo food choices!  But that's a topic for another day.

Remember - if you're ready to make Buffalo and WNY your home, call us to help!  The Maxian Culeton Team is only an email, phone call, or text away for all of your real estate buying and selling needs.


The Maxian Culeton Team at HUNT Real Estate ERA
Jennifer Maxian - Associate Broker
Michael Culeton - Real Estate Salesperson
8780 Sheridan Drive
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 633-5350
Jennifer direct - (716) 946-6112
Michael direct - (315) 402-0208
maxianculetonteam@huntrealestate.com

Do Pictures Matter?

You're ready to list your house for sale, but have you thought about how your Realtor is going to handle the pictures?

In today's world of online house searching (90% of homebuyers search online!) the pictures of your home provide the first impression to the potential buyers. And we all know that you only get one chance to make that first impression count!

The last thing you want is to have potential buyers skip over your house because your pictures don't show it well.  So what can you do to make sure this doesn't happen?

Pictures taken with cell phones, inexpensive cameras, with bad lighting, etc. can turn buyers away before they even decide to walk through your front door.  If your pictures don't show your house well, you won't have as many showings.

ASK your Realtor how they will get your pictures.  There are really only two good answers to this - your Realtor has a professional grade camera and can take professional quality photos, or he or she uses a professional photographer to take pictures of your home.

Professional photographers use a variety of lenses, lighting, and skill to make sure that your house shows beautifully in pictures.

Some other tips to make your house photo ready:

• Clear kitchen counters and sink.
• Take everything off the fridge - that means off the top, sides, front, etc. - no pictures or magnets allowed in photos!
• Let as much natural light in as possible - and then let your photographer adjust as needed.
• Clean!  Make sure the house sparkles before the pictures are taken.
• Put toilet lids down, remove dirty towels, and clear bathroom countertops.
• Vacuum the carpets.
• Make the beds.

We always accompany photographers to the house, and will work closely with them to move things around as needed to make your pictures beautiful.

Remember - The Maxian Culeton Team at HUNT Real Estate ERA is always available to answer any real estate related questions! We're only a phone call, text, or email away!