This, this is the Radio Realtors. I sold the house. This is a home. This is a place to live. It's a place to live. Northern California's longest running show on Real Estate. Real Estate is not just buying and selling houses. Who are you? Some kind of real estate agent. Real estate agent. I love Real Estate. I love Real Estate. I was just telling you, I know that house. I wanted it. The Radio Realtors. I love every second. Now, here's your host, Robert Lewis, with DSP Realtors. Let's go and sell some hugs. [APPLAUSE] Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. Welcome to the Radio Realtors. We are Northern California's number one Real Estate Radio show proudly coming to you live from the Equity Protect Studios. And Equity Protect is the only company that completely stops Deed Fraud and home title theft, the co-founders Ryan Marshall and Jim Adams. They started the company to fill a much needed gap in the areas of home title fraud and equity theft prevention. And check this out. During the pandemic, criminals, they had a lot of time to dream up unique ways to steal people's homes and their equity. In fact, some competitors of Equity Protect in that E-Fraud space were literally educating potential scammers on how to commit these crimes. However, there was nobody offering prevention for these crimes at all. So Ryan and Jim created Equity Protect. And Equity Protect not only scans monitors alerts, but they most importantly physically stopped any attempts to steal your equity or your ownership. And they do it 24/7. And you can get your free risk assessment at their website, equityprotect.com. That's equityprotect.com. I'm Robert Lewis, your Real Estate Professor. And if you've got a question for us or a comment or you're just ready to hire the Radio Realtors to help you sell a home or buy a home, you can reach us on the Radio Realtors Hotline at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. Or you can live chat with us 24/7 on our website at radiorealtors.com. That's radiorealtors.com. We've got an incredible show for you today with these topics. Number one is six surefire ways to get your homes sold this fall. And then we're gonna do an interview with Lee's Air Plumbing and Heating and also another interview with our very favorite Chimney Specialists. And that is Jerry Swanson from Chim Chimney Professional Fireplace and Home Services. And then we're gonna wrap up with the five biggest mistakes to avoid when you're buying your first home. So you first time home buyers, make sure you are listening. So once again, you can get ahold of us on our Hotline anytime at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. Or you can use our live chat option 24/7 at our website, radiorealtors.com. That's radiorealtors.com. Well folks, it's that time of year. Again, the days are getting shorter. The temperatures are kinda cooling off and the leaves are starting to change colors a bit. And while your pumpkin spice latte game might be really strong, your home selling game needs to be even stronger if you're trying to get your home sold this fall. So grab a pen, your coffee, and let's get going. So number one is price it right. And yeah, you've heard it before, but let me tell you, it's more crucial now than ever as we head into fall. Pricing your home correctly is the key to getting it sold this season. And here's why. Once September rolls around, the buyer frenzy tends to cool down faster than your pumpkin spice latte. And the families who wanted to move before the new school year are already settled. And now we've got a new crop of buyers, those who are more deliberate and possibly looking to snag a good deal before the end of the year. And these buyers are pretty savvy. And if your home is overpriced, they're gonna skip it like the house giving away toothbrushes at Halloween, right? So here in Northern California, home's price right are still moving in about 30 to 45 days, according to the latest market reports. But if your home has been sitting for more than 60 days, it might be time to have a heart to heart about that price. Look, and I get it, you know, you want to get the most for your home, but the longer it stays on the market, the less likely it is to fetch that top dollar. So here's the deal. Price your home right from the start. And you don't want to chase the market down in the fall. Trust me, it's just not pretty. And if you're not sure what the right price is, well, you're in luck because you're listening to the guy who can help you out with that. I'm Robert Lewis with the XP Realty and there's no reason not to use a seasoned professional like me to get your home sold this fall. So give me a call at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. Or you can simply live chat with a member of our team at RadioRilters.com. That's RadioRilters.com. Now, number two is choose the right realtor because your cousin's friend just won't cut it. And I know what you're thinking, of course, the realtor on the radio is telling me to choose the right realtor, but hear me out here. Choosing the right agent this fall is more important than ever. And not just any agent. This isn't the time to let your cousin's friend who just got their license last month handle your biggest investment. You need somebody who knows the Northern California market like the back of their hand. Somebody who understands that buyers in this time of year are a little different. They're not rushed. They're more selective. And they know they have the upper hand if you as a seller is not prepared. And having an experienced agent in your corner means having someone who can expertly guide you through the pricing, marketing, and negotiations. And it's a little bit like choosing a dentist, right? You don't want the guy or gal who watched a couple of YouTube videos doing your root canal, do you? No, you don't. You want someone with years of experience somebody who knows the ins and outs of the process. So why not work with somebody you already know and trust? I've been in the business for over two decades and I've seen every type of market you can imagine. And fall is one of the most unique markets of the year and you need a real pro to guide you through it. Let's get your home sold and let's do it right. So once again, give me a call at a3332 radio. That's a3332 radio or you can live chat with someone from our team at RadioRilters.com. That's RadioRilters.com. And if you want to speak with me personally, they will connect you with me right away. Tip number three is paint your front door because first impressions matter. And this one's kind of fun and it's an easy fix that can make a huge difference. If you're planning on selling this fall, one of the quickest ways to grab attention is by painting your front door. And I'm not kidding, people notice it right away. The front door is like the smile of your home. It's the first thing that buyers see and it sets the tone for everything else. Now let's talk about colors. Studies show that homes with black or charcoal colored doors can sell for up to $6,000 more than expected. Yeah, you heard me right. Six grand just for painting your door the right color. If black's not your style, don't worry, there are other options. But the key is making it pop against your home's exterior. A vibrant, tasteful door color can make your home feel welcoming and stylish, which is exactly what fall buyers are looking for. And they want to walk up to your house and feel that warm, inviting, fall vibe, right? So head to your local hardware store, grab a paintbrush, and give that door a facelift. And remember, this is a kind of attention to detail that I, as your seasoned realtor, will always remind you about. I'm here to make sure your house stands out even in a cooler market. Now, tip number four is declutter your closet. And I mean it, half of that stuff has got to go. And I know this might sting a little, but let's talk about your closets, right? You know those closets, you've been stuffing full of everything under the sun. Yeah, they're not doing you any favors when it comes to selling your home. Fall is a great time to declutter because we're all naturally in that clean and cozy mindset. But I'm going to ask you to go a step further, take at least half of that stuff out of your closets. I don't care if it's your favorite fall jacket collection or that set of decorative scarecrows you swear you're going to use again. It's got to go, right? Why? Because buyers want to see space and they need to feel like they can fit all of their stuff in your home. And when they open up a closet and it's jam-packed, all they're thinking is well, if they don't have enough room, how am I supposed to? And let's be real, Northern California homes, especially in areas like East Sacramento and Rockland, they don't always come with those giant walk-in closets we see on TV. You have to make the space look bigger than it is. And the only way to do that is by decluttering. And don't worry, once you're all moved into your new place, you can take all your stuff out of storage and fill those closets to your heart's content. Until then, though, pack it up and clear it out. Tip number five is depersonalize your space. Your memories aren't for sale. Okay, so let's talk about those family photos, trophies, and that unique furniture you've collected over the years. And I get it, your home is your sanctuary. But when it's on the market, it needs to feel like a blank canvas so that buyers can imagine themselves living there. And nothing says this is somebody else's house more than personal stuff everywhere. And this fall, buyers are already in that cozy, homey mindset, like I said. So what we need to do is take it one step further by helping them to see your home as their home. And it may feel strange to strip your home of its personality, but trust me, it works. Your home isn't just a house, it's an emotional purchase for somebody else. And I'm here to guide you every step of the way through that process, making sure your home appeals to as many potential buyers as possible. So let's get those offers rolling in. Call me now at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. And now the final tip is tip number six. It's keep your emotions out of it. It's just business, baby. And you know, this might be the most important tip. And I know that it's easier said than done, but if you're serious about selling this fall, you have to treat it like a business transaction, not like an emotional roller coaster. So look, I've been in the game long enough to know how personal selling a home can be. You've made memories there, celebrated holidays, and maybe even raised a family in the house. But when it comes to selling, you've got to separate those emotions from the business side of things, because buyers aren't purchasing your memories, they're purchasing a space for their future memories. And this is especially important. As a market shifts into fall, the emotional aspect of selling can cloud your judgment when it comes to negotiations, price drops, or even buyer feedback. If you get too attached to the idea of your home, being perfect, you might miss out on making the adjustments that could actually get it sold. So take a deep breath, and remember that selling is a step towards your next big adventure. And as always, I'm here to help you make that process smooth. And whether it's managing negotiations or handling the paperwork, I'm your guy, I'll keep it professional so you can focus on what's next. So there you go, six surefire ways to get your home sold this fall. And we've covered everything from pricing right to decluttering those closets, and even painting that front door. And here's the thing, fall is actually a fantastic time to sell your home, especially if you know how to position it in the market. And whether it's a buyer's market or a seller's market, these strategies will help you get your home sold quickly and for the best price possible. And if you're thinking about selling this fall, don't wait another minute, pick up the phone and call me, Robert Lewis. At EXP Realty, my number is 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. And I'm here to make the process easy, smooth, and successful for you. And you deserve the best. And I'm here to deliver just that. Don't go anywhere, we'll be back with more on the radio rilters. (upbeat music) You know, there are some people that believe that all mortgage lenders are the same. But do you believe the diamonds in cubic zirconia are the same? Well, at first glance, they look very similar, but to the trained eye, they are totally different because one's a fake. What's even worse is when you're in the middle of buying a home and you discover that your mortgage lender is a cubic zirconia. This discovery could make you lose your dream home and your hard earned money. And if you want the real thing and not a fake when it comes to buying your next home, you need the diamond of lenders, Jeff Compton with Guild Mortgage. Jeff and his team, they're devoted to helping you get the right loan with the best interest rates and the lowest fees. And Jeff can close fast in many cases in as little as 10 to 21 days. For a quick response, you can call our text, Jeff, at 916-765-2900. That's 916-765-2900. Or apply online at jeffcompton.com. That's jeffcompton.com. And I'm a less ID number, 298-997. Equal housing lender. After a long week, you finally got some time to yourself. Shouldn't you spend that time having some fun rather than attacking that DIY list? We think so. That's why we recommend purpose property solutions. They're the ultimate affordable handyman service. They do junk removal, hauling, handyman electric, plumbing, interior and exterior home repairs, painting, tree removal, and so much more. Call Purpose Property Solutions today at 916-798-7005. Get your weekend back. Call 916-798-7005. (upbeat music) - Welcome back to the Radio Realtors with Robert Lewis from EXP Realty. You can live chat with a member of our team 24/7 at radiorealtors.com. And now, here's Robert. - I'm Robert Lewis, your real estate professor. And we are excited because in the studio today, we have Dan Moytoso. He is the operations manager for Lee's Air Plumbing and Heating, and they are our favorite company for any of those services. It's great to have you in the studio, Dan. How you doing? - I'm doing great. How are you? - I'm doing awesome, and we're so glad that you're here. And one of the great things, I want everybody, all of our listeners to really listen up because Lee's has a great deal for our Northern California listeners. So if you're looking for a deal on a maintenance program or a club advantage program, where you can make sure that your system is running properly, you're going to want to listen up because this is great. So tell us a little bit about this special that you have going on. And then we'll talk about the membership plan there, Dan. - So we have a $99 tune up, and we basically go through your whole system and check all the components for its efficiency. We check the pressure of the refrigerator in. We check amps on all the electrical components. We inspect the duct work. We do what's called a static pressure test, and that checks the pressure that the unit is performing and pushing out to the registers throughout the house, which is extremely important because you don't want your system working harder than it needs to. Normally that service runs $99, and if you mention this ad, we'll reduce that down to $49, so you'll save $50 on that program. - Yeah, it's a great program too, because you guys will come out for only $49 service fee for that, and it does all those things that you said. Plus, that's $50 off, and all you got to do is mention the radio realtors when you get ahold of Lise, and you can get ahold of them at 916-619-4393. That's 916-619-4393, or you can book online at their website, and it's super easy, it's LiseAir.com. That's LiseAir.com. So if you want that, that is a great deal, and it's a great deal for our listeners, use the radio realtors discount code when you call or when you book online, and then what is the other thing? You guys got a thing that's called the club advantage program, and this is an amazing deal to make sure people are ready for the hot summer months, and also the colder winter months. So how does that work? - For $299, 88, you get two visits per year, so wave all of those fees for that tune up, because that first tune up can be your cooling tune up. - Sure. - You sign up for a year, we come out and do a heating maintenance, and check your system for safety, because sometimes you might have in these older systems a heat exchange that's cracked, and it could be emitting carbon monoxide throughout your house, so we just do a safety check, make sure everything is correct, make sure your gas pressure is correct, and do everything having to do with the heating side of your HVAC system, and this also includes a free plumbing inspection, Rob? - Yeah, that's great, and so you get that multi-point precision tune up twice a year, right? And it has, there's a lot of factors that you guys go through and you check out. There's a safety check, like you said, right? Also, you guys even do air filters upon the tune up, right? - Yes, it includes air filters, it's the basic size filters, as long as it's not a custom fit return, then we include the filters in that service. - And then you do the indoor air quality tests, and then you do the visual plumbing inspection as well. So, the funny thing about it is, is that we really don't think about that system, you know, your HVAC system, until you need to, a lot of folks, and so this is a good thing, it's sort of like your heart. You don't really think about, your heart's working really, really great, and then all of a sudden, you have some heart issues, and now you're thinking about it, right? You know, what are we gonna do? Do you have clogged arteries, those types of things? Your HVAC system is like the heart of your household, and it affects your health and all kinds of different things, and like you said, a cracked heat exchanger, I mean, you could die from carbon monoxide poisoning, you know, if that's not working properly. So, this is a great program, the club advantage program, would lease because for a small amount of money, you can make sure that your systems are running efficiently and effectively, and get those things repaired if they're not, and then also, the great thing is, is that they do the safety checks, they do the air filter replacement, and what is the price of that once again? - It's $299.88, and I just wanna add that the worst time to find out that your system is not working, is when it's 110 degrees outside, or it's 34 degrees in the morning, so. - Yeah. - If you stay in front of it with the club advantage program, you don't have to worry about those kinds of problems. The other thing it includes is no overtime fees, so if you have a problem on the weekend, or, you know, certain holidays, whenever we charge overtime, we don't charge you overtime for club advantage members. - Yeah, that's a great thing. So, even on your website, it says how to enroll, and then there's a check mark, it says no overtime fees ever, and that is a great thing, because sometimes people have an emergency, and there are overtime fees, but with this program, you're insulated from that, so it's a great thing. Now, lease does a lot of things, but you're one stop place for air conditioning heating, you guys do water heaters, but one of the other things that you guys do is plumbing, and you're not new to this, it's just that not a lot of people know, so let's talk about what you guys do for plumbing services, and water leak repair, and drain cleaning, and that type of thing. - So, as part of this club advantage program, we do a plumbing inspection, one of our licensed plumbers comes out, and he does a thorough inspection on your plumbing. Now, if you have a lot of trees in your yard, or on your property, your home's been there for a while, there's a good chance that there's roots growing inside your pipes to get root intrusion for you, and they can come up through the toilet. I mean, there's all kinds of ways that those roots will find their way into the pipes, especially if there's any kind of a rupture, or a breach somewhere in that system. We do all of that, we do leak detection, we do everything having to do with plumbing, re-plumbing a house, if you have old galvanized, or old clay pipes throughout your house, we can come in with a new ABS system, we can come in with what they call a plastic burst system, it's a really advanced system when it comes to the plumbing of your house. We also replace flappers in your toilet, if your toilet's leaking, if you have an issue with a drippy shower, or the drain in the bathtub just doesn't drain fast enough, we'd take care of all that for you. - Yeah, we had a client that called you guys on a Saturday out in Roseville, and he had a leaking shower, and he thought it was leaking into his wall, which can be a major problem, right? Well, you guys came out the very next day and fixed it up for him, and in fact, just before this interview, we talked to him and he was very, very happy with what you guys do. So yeah, and one of the key things also is that, for folks that live, let's say in Davis, in West Sacramento, in Woodland, a lot of you folks, if your home was built before, I would say the '70s, you probably have Orangeburg piping, and Orangeburg piping is really just like tarp paper, and eventually it's gonna go, and we've seen a lot of people suffering from root intrusion into those pipes, because they're super brittle, because they're not cast iron or what have you, and so that trenchless option that you guys do is a really, really good option for that, right? - Yeah, a lot of people refer to as cardboard. - Well, that's basically what it is. - Yeah, no, and you know, it's so funny, because I've talked to people where everything was working fine, but when they did that sewer scoping, the sewer scoping showed that it was collapsed in areas. Now, it wasn't necessarily a problem right then, but it's gonna be a problem in the near future when that backs up, for sure. And so, and we've even seen where the ground caved in, you know, in areas because it was just leaking the sewage from the, you know, the pipes for years and years and years. Eventually, it's gonna be an issue for somebody. - So, there's also another side of the plumbing that a lot of people don't realize. A lot of people are putting in these backyard barbecues and fire pits and all that good stuff. And, you know, plumbing does include gas lines. So, if we need to run a gas line for you, or if you wanna put a fire pit in your backyard with a gas line, we can do that type of work. Plumbing is plumbing. When it has to do with pipes, we take care of it. - Yeah, that's awesome. And so, if you're thinking about putting in an outdoor barbecue or something like that, and you need that gas plumbed or even water, like pipes out there, if you wanna have an outdoor sink or what have you, leaves is there to do that as well. So, you guys do pretty much everything. And I've used you personally. I know that you guys replaced my HVAC system. You came out and you installed it in one day in my house. A complete installation. And my family has never been happier, you know, with our indoor air quality and the air conditioning, especially lately over the last, you know, couple of months that we've had the system. So, right now, this is what you need to do. If you're interested in their special that they have, it is a tune up special. Right now, it's normally $99. If you mention the radio realtors, you will get $50 off. So, it's gonna be $49 for you. And they're gonna make sure that your HVAC system is ready to go for the rest of summer, 'cause we're gonna have some hundred degree days. I don't know if we're gonna see 110 or 115, like we have a couple of times. Thankfully, I had a new system, you know, on those days. Well, I'll tell you, I don't know how miserable my family would have been. We have a pool and we probably would have been in the pool, but for that program, $49 for our radio realtors listeners here in Northern California. And then you have the club advantage program as well, which is a membership program, but it gets you priority service, discounted rates, that multi-point precision tune up twice a year, a safety check, air filters upon tune up, no overtime fees ever, indoor air quality tests, and a visual plumbing inspection as well. So, and that price is what? - $299.88. - Yeah, $299.88. And then last but not least, they do everything else, and they do plumbing, water heaters and whatnot. So, Lee's is the only company that we recommend for these services, and there's a couple reasons why. One is their integrity and just their honesty. And they come out, they're not gonna just come out and wanna sell you a new system if you don't need one. They're gonna try to repair your current system. But if they feel that it's not salvageable, like mine wasn't, they're gonna recommend that you get a new system, and then they offer the best quality products and systems in on the planet. So, give them a call today at 916-619-4393, that's 916-619-4393, or you can book online for their services at leesair.com, that's leesair.com, Dan Moitoso, Operations Manager for Lees. Thanks for being on the Radio Realtors today. - Thank you, Rob. - All right, folks, we'll be back right after this. ♪ AC heat ♪ ♪ I'm plumbing you just call these ♪ ♪ It's easy as calling ♪ ♪ Lees ♪ ♪ Lees ♪ ♪ Lees ♪ ♪ AC plumbing and heat yeah ♪ - Robert Lewis here from the Radio Realtors and my friends at Lees are famous for their HVAC repair, maintenance and replacement. But what you may not know is that they are plumbing experts as well. Need a plumber right away? With Lees, it'll only cost you $49 for them to show up Monday through Sunday. Plus, Lees can fix any plumbing problem, dripping faucets, leaking pipes, slower clogged drains, running toilets, low water pressure, jammed garbage disposals, damaged water heaters, and even sewer line cleanouts and repairs. Lees is your go-to solution for all your plumbing needs. Book online at leesair.com, that's leesair.com. Cue the singers. ♪ AC heat ♪ ♪ I'm plumbing and just call these ♪ ♪ It's as easy as calling ♪ ♪ Please, please, they see ♪ ♪ Lees, AC plumbing and heat yeah ♪ ♪ Lees, AC ♪ Hi, this is Jerry, owner of Chim Chimney, professional fireplace and home services, wishing you an upcoming and happy fall, but reminding you to use your fireplace and clothes dryer safely this winter. House fires are one of the leading causes of death in a home. It is important to have your chimney and dryer vent cleaned by a licensed professional on a yearly basis according to the NFPA. Give us a call today at 916-247-6579 or schedule 24/7 at thechimchimney.com. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Welcome back to the Radio Realtors with Robert Lewis from EXP Realty. You can live chat with a member of our team 24/7 at RadioRealtors.com. And now, here's Robert. - All right, welcome back folks. You've tuned into the Radio Realtors, your favorite radio station here is AM1380 the answer. We're probably coming to you live from the equityprotect.com studios and title fraud and equity theft are rapidly rising crimes. And you're especially vulnerable if you own your home free and clear or you have thousands of dollars in equity. And there's only one company that truly neutralizes these threats. That is Equity Protect. Get your free risk assessment today at equityprotect.com. That's equityprotect.com. I'm Robert Lewis, your real estate professor. Today, we have a special guest joining us in the studio. It's Jerry Swanson. He's the owner of Chim Chimney Professional Fireplace and Home Services. And Jerry's company has been helping Northern California homeowners keep their homes safe from the dangers of fireplaces and clogged dryer vents, which as we all know are more hazardous than most people think. Jerry, hey, welcome to the Radio Realtors. - Thank you very much, Rob. It's good to be back. - Yeah, we're glad to have you back. And Jerry, let's dive right into some questions. Fireplaces are a cozy feature in many homes. In fact, I have a fireplace. I love it during the cooler months. It's just a nice thing to have. But they also come with some serious risks, right? And I was doing a bit of research before our interview here. And I found out that according to the National Fire Protection Association, fireplaces or chimneys are involved in about 25,000 house fires each year. And that's pretty staggering number. So can you tell us a little bit about the importance of regular maintenance for your fireplace and what homeowners should be doing to protect their homes and their themselves? - So when it comes to homeowners protecting their homes, I think there's another stat that's even more telling. And that's that 2,600 people died last year as a result of house fires. Certain sub to that, sub-sector that is chimney, right? But that's 2,600, too many people in my opinion. - Absolutely. - That die in house fires. The importance of cleaning a fireplace stems from the NFPA and our local fire departments, which say have it inspected and cleaned if necessary on a yearly basis. Now far far too many homeowners don't do that. It can go years, sometimes decades between cleanings in a fireplace. And in the time that you've gone in between those cleans, a lot of things have happened. First of all, our climate is naturally shifting. Climate has changed a little bit. It's a little bit wetter during our wet seasons. That moisture affects fireplaces. And especially when there has been that lack of maintenance and then say that lack of equipment being a chimney cap provided and being installed currently on the top of the fireplace, you end up with a lot more erosion than you would normally have. Which not only does it degrade the masonry, but it creates a major fire hazard when you start having gaps in between the internal components of that fireplace. - Wow, yeah, that makes a lot of sense now. Your recommendation is have your chimney looked at or inspected at least once a year. So tell us about that process with chimney. - So not only inspection, but the term inspection has changed in the last 10 years as far as fireplaces are concerned. There is a new standard when it comes to inspection and that is a video inspection. And this is really, really important. So when it comes to our clients, our clients safety and making sure that they don't become part of that terrifying statistic I mentioned earlier, right? Safety is our number one goal. And so for safety in order to ensure that we can actually give an accurate inspection on a fireplace, we are going to wanna first clean that fireplace and whether it's a gas fireplace, a wood burning fireplace or a pellet burning appliance, either way, you wanna remove any type of byproducts or creosote or anything that has resulted as a part of the burning process. After that's been removed, then we can begin the inspection process. And that's when we pre-air camera. Now, when it comes to our older schools, so like your Lampark listeners, your American River Drive listeners, all the way to your pre-1980 built home listeners in Orangevale, Citrusites, and all over Northern California, right? Those homes oftentimes have not had a camera inspecting their chimney flu in a number of years. If it's been an over a year, over say two years, we wanna make sure that we're running a camera ensuring that the safety barriers and the radiant heat barriers that are supposed to be inside that chimney flu are still there protecting the family inside. - Yeah, that's great, that's great. So we're talking to Jerry Swanson. He is the owner of Chim Chimney Professional Fireplace and Home Services. And you know, another area that gets overlooked is dryer vents. And I've heard that clogged dryer vents are responsible for more than 15,000 home fires each year in the US. What should homeowners be, you know, knowing about maintaining their dryer vents? - So the interesting thing about dryer vents, are dryer vents are one of the most common house fires you can have, right? They're typically really small fires that you don't even notice that happen inside the vent. This happens on a lot of New York construction. So when I say New York construction, I mean everything, you know, most things built after 2000, if you live in Northern California, that we started centralizing our laundry rooms. We started putting them in the center of the house and taking them out of our garages where we kept them for most of, you know, up until that point. - That's right. - With the dryer and the wash, we stick in the center of the house. There's only one way we can go, and that's up and out, right? As soon as we start going up and out, and we're not immediately transitioning to the outside, all of a sudden we've created a strain on the system to where that lit then has to travel up the vertical length of that pipe or up that pipe through a 45 degree angle, then over another 20 feet, like there are no grove, and then out to the outside of the house, right? When you create this long of a run, lint is getting stuck and then dried all over the inside of that vent. When it's stuck and dried to the inside of that vent, it becomes extremely flammable, right? - So I have a good story. I did a dryer and cleaning for a guy in Auburn, which was kind of funny because if you know people from Auburn, they oftentimes are not hiring people, they're doing it themselves, but this guy hired me, he was older, right? - My DIYers. - A lot of DIYers in Auburn. So he asked me, he's older, gentleman, and he asked me to clean the dryer of it, and then he asked me the strangest question afterward. He asked me if he could keep the lint. And I looked at him and I was like, yeah, it's your lint, like, but why? He's like, well, I camp, I take my grand's kids camping. And when we go camping, all I do is I take that lint and a rock and a flint and it lights right up, it's a best fire starter, and I'm like, I now have, like, a retirement strategy that I can work. I can resell the lint that I pull out of all the dryer vents, but it was just eye opening to me because that's what people use for a fire starter is a little bit of lint or rock and a flint. And if that guy is that easily lighting a fire with that, just imagine what a tiny piece of hot metal that comes off of your jeans, right? Or any piece of clothing, every piece of clothing has a zipper, a button, something, right? - Right. - And when we lose a little zipper tag or you lose a little bit of a rhinestone or something, if there's metal on that, and that's hot, that gets back inside that lint, it starts that fire and on your longer run vents where there's air 'cause we need three things in order to make fire. You need a fuel source, you need air, and you need an ignition source, right? So if we have air rushing from the dryer system, we have air flushing into this, we have our ignition source being the little hot piece of metal and we have an abundant amount of fuel. - That's the lint? - That's the lint, man. I mean, that's a jet coming out of the side of your house. - Right. - That is serious damage. And not only that, the framing surrounding that, right? Not only that, it stresses the framing by pulling the moisture out of the surrounding framing, right? Which can cause it. And that's how the major house fires get started, right? People die every single year because of dryer and fires. It's a more serious thing than people realize, so. - Yeah, that's crazy stuff. Yeah, and it's funny that he actually uses the lint to start a fire, so naturally, you wanna make sure that you don't have a fire started in your vents. That could cause some serious issues, serious damage, and even, you know, you could lose your life. So those are things that you really need to take care of. Now, beyond your work with Jim Chimney, you've also become very active in the community, which I think is awesome. And I've heard that you do some football commentating for the high school alma mater of yours, that's Rio Americano. How did you get involved with that? - So I was really grateful to get involved with it. I was actually hanging out with my old wrestling coach from high school, which surprisingly, and it's like 20 years later, I'm still friends with my wrestling coach from high school. And we were watching one of his clips play football over Casa Roble, and it just so happened that the Rio coach was there. And I do a little bit of voice work here and there. So I asked him, and I was not really joking, but I was like, I thought it'd be fun. I was like, hey, do you guys get an announcer? And he was the first person I ever asked. And you know, the head coach was like, yeah, absolutely. So it ended up working out where I did it last year. This year, I thought, hey, what if we really kick this up a notch? And like, you know, I really want it. The idea behind it is just giving back and you're trying to do as much as I can for like young people, right? Cause as a guy who owns a business, there are ways you can give back. And I really do believe that like actually time and effort. And those things are what's most important, right? Anybody can give money to give your actual real time and patience, right? Because you get to deal with all sorts of people. It's a different thing. - Absolutely, yeah. - But this year I wanted to make it good. So I reached out to my favorite radio host and favorite co commentator, Rob Lewis here. And we have been taking the wheels and having fun with this on Friday nights. - Yeah, no, it's really fun. I mean, I've really enjoyed co-comitating with you last Friday. That was super fun. And like I said, Rio is my alma mater as well. And I think it's great to hear about local business owners, you know, giving back to their communities in meaningful ways like this. You know, and like you said, you know, you can give money and people need donations and those types of things. But giving your time, it's a commodity that you can't get back. And by the way, folks, the next home game for Rio is September 27th when the Raiders host the Timberwolves from Wood Creek High School out in Roseville there. I believe the varsity kickoff is seven o'clock. - Is that seven PM for varsity kickoff? But don't forget those JV kids. They're working hard, right? - Yeah. - They start at five PM over at Abbott Field, which is right off of El Camino and Eastern. - Yeah, so it's El Camino High School, right? - El Camino High School, baby, have a field. - That's a nice, it's a nice setup they have over there. - They have a very nice setup. They have an excellent snack bar where you can get ice cold drinks. - And nachos and hot dogs, but you gotta get there early. - You gotta get there early with hot dogs. - Those things go fast. So before we wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to leave our listeners when it comes to home safety? - So what my advice would be to your listeners is to make sure they're using a licensed contractor. With it being totally unregulated, you want to make sure that who you're using is one insured, bonded, and actually from the area. You wanna make sure that their contractor's licenses are good in California. And instead of doing all that extra work, just call us at Chim Chimney at 916-247-6579 or say you're like me and you wanna book yourself online, right? - Right. - You can book any time, 24 hours a day, from 10 p.m. 'til 4 a.m. in the morning. Whenever you wanna book it, I won't judge at thechimchimney.com. That's thechimchimney.com. - So folks, if you need any fireplace chimney dryer vent or any other home services done, make sure you reach out to Jerry and his team at Chim Chimney Professional Fireplace and Home Services. They will keep you and your home safe and sound. You can reach him once again at 916-247-6579. That's 916-247-6579 or schedule online at thechimchimney.com. That's thechimchimney.com and Jerry, thanks again for being on the Radio Realtors. - And thank you and don't forget to come check out the Rea Raiders take on the Wood Creek Timmerwalls Friday, September 27th at 5 p.m. for JV and 7 p.m. for Varsity at Abbott Field in Sacramento. - And with that, we're gonna take a short break. If you'd like to get ahold of the Radio Realtors and the Robert Lewis group here at exprealty, reach out to us at 83332-radio, that's 83332-radio, but stay tuned, there's more to come on the Radio Realtors. (phone ringing) - Do you know what that sound is? That's your wake-up call. What do you need to wake up from? It's the nightmare of paying your landlord's mortgage. Think about this, if you're paying $2,500 a month for rent, you're paying $30,000 of your landlord's mortgage a year and that should have you waking up in a cold sweat. Why not make a resolution today to buy your very own home? Jeff Compton with Guild Mortgage is ready to help you. The market has changed and it's leaning towards being a buyer's market and that means you could buy a home now, not overpay or be in a bidding war and maybe even get some of your closing costs paid for you. Jeff Compton with Guild Mortgage is a mortgage master and he specializes in customizing a loan for your unique situation. Jeff even has down payment assistance loans and ideas to buy down your interest rate. Answer your wake-up call. Call Jeff Compton with Guild Mortgage at 916-765-2900 or apply online at Jeff Compton.com and I'm a less ID number 298-997. Thank you for calling Jeff Compton's office. It's a great day to buy a home. How can we help you? After a long week, you finally got some time to yourself. Shouldn't you spend that time having some fun rather than attacking that DIY list? We think so. That's why we recommend purpose property solutions. They're the ultimate affordable handyman service. They do junk removal, hauling handyman electric, plumbing, interior and exterior home repairs, painting, tree removal and so much more. Call Purpose Property Solutions today at 916-798-7005. Get your weekend back called 916-798-7005. (upbeat music) - Welcome back to the Radio Realtors with Robert Lewis from EXP Realty. If you'd like to talk to Robert directly, call 833-32-Radio. That's 833-32-Radio. And now, here's Robert. - Welcome back to the Radio Realtors Northern California's number one real estate radio show proudly coming to you live from the equityprotect.com studios and Equity Protect is the only company that prevents deed and home title theft. And I know you've heard the stories on the news about criminal stealing people's equity or even actually stealing their homes right out from under them. And there are a lot of companies that claim that they monitor your title, but Equity Protect is different. They scan, monitor, alert and most importantly, they prevent any attempts to tamper with or steal your home equity. If your home is medium risk, once you take that Equity Protect risk assessment, you can sign up for their monthly or yearly plans. And it's almost too good to be true. However, through the end of this month, you can get 30% off by using the discount code Protect30. And if you own your home free and clear or you have high equity, you need to protect it. Check out equityprotect@equityprotect.com. I'm Robert Lewis, your real estate professor. And to wrap up the show, we're gonna dive into one of the most important topics for first time home buyers, the five biggest mistakes when you're buying your first home. And believe me, this is one segment you're gonna wanna stick around for especially if you're planning on getting into the market this fall. And hey, I know the market here in Northern California can be a little overwhelming between fluctuating prices and rising interest rates. It's easy to make missteps that could cost you thousands of dollars, but don't worry, I'm here to help you avoid the most common mistakes that first time home buyers make. So let's get into it. Now, I know what you're thinking, buy in a home, how hard can it be, right? Well, you just pick one, you sign a few papers and bam, you're a homeowner, right? Well, not so fast, there are a few pitfalls along the way that can turn your dream into a bit of a nightmare. But don't worry, because I am here to help you avoid those traps, so let's jump right in. Mistake number one is not understanding your down payment options. I mean, this one's as common as seeing a lawn sign that says for sale, right? The biggest headache for many first time buyers is the down payment. Now, here's the thing, most lenders would prefer that you put down 20% of the home's value to avoid private mortgage insurance or PMI. So for a $500,000 home, which is about the going rate here in Northern California, you need to come up with $100,000 to dodge that PMI payment. And unless you've been stuffing cash under your mattress, that can be a pretty tall order, right? But here's the good news, you don't always need 20%. There are loan options out there where you can put down as little as 3%. So for a $500,000 home, that's just around $15,000, right? Sure, you have to pay that PMI, which could cost you anywhere between $2,425 to $4,850 annually, but that's more manageable than coming up with a hundred grand up front. And don't forget, if you're a veteran, you might be eligible for a VA loan, which could mean zero down and no PMI. How's that for a deal, right? And hey, there are even down payment assistance programs that might help you out. Just imagine free money to buy a house. It's like finding a $20 bill in your winter coat, but it's way, way better. Now, remember folks, whether it's finding the best loan program or the right down payment strategy, having a seasoned pro like me, Robert Lewis with the XP Realty, it's super critical, especially with the recent NAR settlement, who you work with matters more than ever. Now, mistake number two is not getting pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan. Now, if you've thought not knowing your down payment was bad, this next one is a doozy, and that's not getting pre-approved for a loan. And let me tell you, walking into a house without knowing how much you can afford, it's like walking into a buffet without checking your wallet first, and you might fill up your plate, but then you find out when you get to the cashier that you're in for a surprise. Getting pre-qualified or pre-approved is one of the smartest things that you can do before you even start looking at homes. Why? Because it tells you exactly how much house you can afford, and it's like the cheat code to house hunting. You'll submit some paperwork, things like pay stubs, tax returns, and your credit scores to a mortgage lender, and they'll be able to tell you how much they're willing to lend you, and now you can house hunt with more confidence. And here's a little secret. Getting pre-approved makes your offer more appealing to sellers, and when you're up against other buyers, having that pre-approval letter can give you the edge. It's like showing up to a job interview, already dressed for the role. But be careful, just because your mortgage lender pre-qualifies you for a certain amount doesn't mean that you should spend it all. Remember, you've got to factor in things like property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees. And you don't wanna be that house poor person living off ramen noodles in a million dollar mansion. So get pre-approved, and more importantly, work with someone who knows how to navigate the process, and trust me folks, with this competitive Northern California market, you don't want to go it alone. You need an expert like me in your corner to help guide you. Now, mistake number three is not finding a qualified real estate professional. And if you take nothing else away from this show, remember this, the third biggest mistake first-time buyers make is not working with a qualified real estate professional. Between realtor.com, and Zillow, and all the apps, it might seem like you can do it all yourself. But let me tell you, there's a lot more to it than just swiping through listings like it's Tinder. Finding a house is just the beginning. The real challenge comes, making sure that house is a smart investment. And there are hundreds of details that can trip you up from knowing how to negotiate the price, to making sure the home passes inspections. And in Northern California's hot market, that dream home you just found, it might be off the market by the time you say, hey Siri, let me schedule a showing, right? And that's where I come in with years of experience. I know how to get you access to listings as soon as they hit the market, and sometimes even before. And we also do something unique here at the Radio Realtors. We market directly to neighborhoods you're interested in, and find off market homes that nobody else knows about. I mean, who wouldn't wanna be first-dibs on a hidden gem, right? Now, mistake number four is not spending the night in the neighborhood. And let's get real for a second. You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without trying 'em on first, right? So why would you buy a house without trying out the neighborhood first? One of the biggest mistakes that first-time buyers make is not spending enough time in the neighborhood before they commit. And here's my advice. Before you buy, see if you can rent an Airbnb in the area, or stay with a friend a night or two that maybe lives in the area. And this gives you a chance to experience what it's really like to live there. Is the commute manageable? Are the grocery stores close? Parks or trails nearby? And most importantly, what's the noise level like at night? And you don't wanna find out after moving in that you're directly under a flight path or next to train tracks, right? Spending a couple of days in the neighborhood and seeing what's happening in the area during the day and night. Trust me, you're gonna wanna know before you make a 30-year commitment. So before you sign those closing papers, make sure you've taken the neighborhood out for a test drive. And if you need help figuring out which neighborhood is the best fit for you, that's where I come in as a Northern California expert. And I can help you find that perfect community to call home. Now, mistake number five is not understanding what's fixable and what's a deal breaker. And this is the last mistake, certainly not the least, right? I know it's easy for us to walk into a house and immediately start nitpicking, like saying those countertops are so outdated. This bathroom needs a total overhaul. But here's the thing, not everything needs to be a deal breaker. Cosmetic fixes like painting walls or replacing appliances are relatively easy and affordable. And in fact, some of these small projects are great opportunities to add to your own style for the home. But structural issues like foundation problems or electrical work, those are totally a different ballgame. And these are things that can turn your dream home into a money pit. And as your realtor, I've seen it all, I know when something is a quick weekend DIY project and when it's a sign to run for the hills. And I'll help you evaluate the home, decide what's worth fixing, what's a deal breaker. Because after all, you don't want to get in over your head on a property that's more of a fix or upper than you bargained for. But seriously, knowing what's fixable and what's a deal breaker can save you time, money and stress. And having an experienced realtor to help you see the difference is priceless, whether it's evaluating potential repairs or navigating negotiations. I'm here to help you make sure you get the best deal on a home that's right for you. So folks, I hope you found these tips helpful. And if you're about to jump into the home buying process, now you're armed with the knowledge to avoid these common pitfalls. Remember, buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. And you want to make sure you got the right team by your side. Like I mentioned, who you work with as a realtor matters more than ever, especially with the recent NAR settlement changing how the world of real estate operates. You need somebody who knows the ins and outs of the market, who can help you navigate the process and who will fight for your best interests every step of the way and that's where I come in. So if you're ready to buy your first home or even your next home, give me a call, Robert Lewis with EXP Realty and you can reach me at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio. Let's find your dream home together and I'll make sure it's a smooth ride. Thanks for tuning into the Radio Realtors. We'll see you next time. And remember, there's no place like home. Thanks for tuning in to the Radio Realtors with Robert Lewis from EXP Realty. To reach Robert, just call 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio or live chat with a member of our team anytime at radiorealtors.com. The Radio Realtors, where we make real estate real easy. (upbeat music) - Larry Elder here, the great Elder Risky, and I'm so happy to be back on AM1380, the answer. Did you know that because of our current administration, 86% of US renters would like to buy a home, but they feel they can't. It's a sad situation, but as my father Randolph Elder said, hard work wins. You can't control the outcome, but you can control the effort. How do you control the effort if you want to buy a home in Northern California? You call the dream team, the Robert Lewis group, with EXP Realty. Check it out. Darren and Teresa had been renting for years, and they wanted to buy a home for their family of four, and even though they thought it was a lost cause, they made the call to Rob and his team. And in just a few days, they were pre-approved and out looking at homes. Rob found them the perfect home, negotiated a great price, and in just 21 days, they had the keys to their dream home. Hard work wins, so call Rob today at 83332 radio. That's 83332 radio online at radiorealtores.com. That's radiorealtores.com. DRE number 01406275. - Hi, this is Jerry, owner of Chim Chimney Professional Fireplace and Home Services, wishing you a upcoming and happy fall, but reminding you to use your fireplace and clothes dryer safely this winter. House fires are one of the leading causes of death in a home. It is important to have your chimney and dryer event cleaned by a licensed professional on a yearly basis according to the NFPA. Give us a call today at 916-247-6579 or schedule 24/7 at thechimchimney.com. - With summertime here, maybe it's finally time to do something with that house that you own that is stressing you out. - Yeah, whether it's a heavy fixer upper with deferred maintenance, an older all original home, an inherited house, or even a hoarder home, or maybe you have bad tenants, a divorce sale, or you're behind on payments. - We've got something called the Easy Cash Offer. If you're in need of a fair and quick all cash home sale, Robin Garrett here at the Radio Realtors Can Help. - Call the Radio Realtors today. 833-32 radio. - That's 833-32 radio. DRE number 0140-6275.
