Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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October
26

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I'm glad you're here!
I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)
Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:
  • It looked good on paper…
  • Would you buy a haunted house?
  • 6 ways to protect your home (& trick-or-treaters) on Halloween
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
I'm always curious to know which neighborhoods get the most trick-or-treaters. Do you typically get a lot of activity in yours?
It looked good on paper…
It's important for agents to make sure we draw attention to features of a home we're listing, and really make sure buyers can envision the possibilities.

But a real estate agent in the U.K. may have taken that a little too literally when trying to illustrate that a listing had ample parking by Photoshopping what looks like three paper cutouts of cars… on the front lawn.

Would you buy a haunted house?
If every one of you reading this were to reply back with an answer to that question, I could safely bet that about half of you would say "yes" and half would say "no way."

Because according to a recent survey, 52% of Americans say they'd buy a haunted house. However, nearly three-quarters of the ones who said they would say they'd only go for it if they got a discount, and they'd offer below asking.

No matter where you stand, check out this article I just published! Turns out, many people who thought their house was haunted were actually experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

It's a good reminder to always get a home inspection when buying… and maybe call the gas company if you think you're seeing ghosts in your home.
"How's the market?"
I get that question a lot, and I'm always happy to answer it! But there's no one-size-fits-all answer. That's why this newsletter doesn't include weekly stats or price updates.

Besides, most people don't care about real estate data until it actually matters to them. So instead of stats, I just try to keep this fun and entertaining.

Curious about a specific house? Wonder what your place is worth? Or just want a quick market snapshot?

Just hit reply and ask me! I'm always glad to give you any information, thoughts, or data you want. (And of course, no obligation or pressure! I love any opportunity to talk about the market.)
Trivia Time
Why do people (typically in the South) paint their porch ceiling the color "haint blue":
    1. A.To keep ghosts from entering the house
    2. B.To increase the value of their home
    3. C.To indicate visitors are always welcome
    4. D.To look different from their neighbors because most are painted white
    Click the answer you think is correct.
    6 ways to protect your home (& trick-or-treaters) on Halloween
    According to Traveler's insurance, there are 17% more crime-related home insurance claims filed on Halloween than any other day of the year. With theft and vandalism prevalent, taking precautions is key.

    Here's a list of six ways to keep your property—and the trick-or-treaters coming to your door—as safe as possible.
    The fact is…
    Do you have a local house that you find inspiring?
    That wraps it up for this week!
    Be on the lookout for the next one!
    Avatar
    Jay Mattlin
    REALTOR®, Principal Broker
    Key Realty
    740-974-4190
    jay@keytohomepropertygroup.com
    October
    19

    Dynamic Image
    I'm glad you're here!
    I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)
    Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:
    • Would you stay here?
    • It's not always about what will build equity faster…
    • House hunting is basically trick-or-treating for adults
    But first, let's start it off with my...
    Meme of the Week
    At this point it's difficult to shock me, but feel free to try!
    Would you stay here?
    What was once a public restroom beneath an Oxford, England street has been converted into a very tiny boutique hotel called The Netty. There's no reception desk, restaurant, or room service…but you do get a welcome cocktail arrival! (And presumably a toilet.)
    It's not always about what will build equity faster…
    A recent Realtor.com article explored whether single-family or multifamily homes build wealth faster. Spoiler alert: they say single-family homes win out.

    First of all, that's not always true!

    But more importantly, choosing between the two isn't only about equity. It's about what fits your lifestyle and goals.

    For many buyers, multifamily properties offer a more practical, flexible, and even attainable way to own a home today—along with potential rental income, long-term investment value, and adaptable living options.

    Check out this article on the types of buyers who can benefit most from a multifamily home, and feel free to reach out if you'd like me to pull a few examples so you can see what's currently available.
    "How's the market?"
    I get that question a lot, and I'm always happy to answer it! But there's no one-size-fits-all answer. That's why this newsletter doesn't include weekly stats or price updates.

    Besides, most people don't care about real estate data until it actually matters to them. So instead of stats, I just try to keep this fun and entertaining.

    Curious about a specific house? Wonder what your place is worth? Or just want a quick market snapshot?

    Just hit reply and ask me! I'm always glad to give you any information, thoughts, or data you want. (And of course, no obligation or pressure! I love any opportunity to talk about the market.)
    Trivia Time
    In 2023, Glens Falls, NY firefighters raced to a home that was reportedly on fire, only to find that the flames a neighbor called 911 about were actually which of the following:
      1. 1.A big-screen TV with amazing resolution
      2. 2.Lights reflected off of a disco ball at a party
      3. 3.A drug-induced hallucination
      4. 4.Very realistic Halloween decorations
      Click the answer you think is correct.
      House hunting is basically trick-or-treating for adults
      There's no definite answer as to how old is "too old" to go trick-or-treating. But let's face it, if you're old enough to buy a house, you're probably going to get some nasty looks if you throw on a costume and go knocking on people's doors looking for candy handouts.

      However, you can relive the childhood thrill of trick-or-treating… as a home buyer! Check out this list of 8 ways house hunting is similar to trick-or-treating.

      (And let me know the next time you want to put on your homebuyer costume and join me for some fun looking at houses to buy! I always have my agent costume on…)
      The fact is…
      Which, unfortunately, probably hurt toilet paper and egg sales in October ever since… ?
      That wraps it up for this week!
      Be on the lookout for the next one!
      Avatar
      Jay Mattlin
      REALTOR®, Principal Broker
      Key Realty
      740-974-4190
      jay@keytohomepropertygroup.com
      October
      12

      Dynamic Image
      I'm glad you're here!
      I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)
      Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:
      • Ever dream of living in a mall?
      • Friends don't let friends list without professional feedback…
      • 5 lighthearted (yet solid) reasons to sell your house around Halloween
      But first, let's start it off with my...
      Meme of the Week
      Go ahead…groan if you think this pun is cornier than the fields scarecrows were meant to protect.

      (Or better yet, send me a pic of your own scarecrow if you've got one up as a decoration on your porch or lawn!)
      Ever dream of living in a mall?
      It's getting harder for many malls to stay open—but apparently they're thriving in peoples' dreams!

      According to the New York Post, complete strangers have reported dreaming about the same mall, right down to the food court and escalators, and are comparing notes in online forums.

      Meanwhile, developers are actually turning real malls into apartments and townhomes in real life. Here's a fun article that takes a look at 10 things they should consider keeping to make living in a converted mall more appealing. Would keeping any of those things make living in a mall appealing to you?
      Friends don't let friends list without professional feedback...
      Before putting your house on the market, it definitely helps to take a step back and look at it through a buyer's eyes. But let's be honest, it's hard to be objective about your own home. You might overlook things that feel perfectly normal to you but could stand out to someone seeing it for the first time.

      Which is why Realtor.com recently suggested what they call a 'friend inspection' before putting your house on the market. They suggest inviting your most brutally honest friend to walk through it and tell you what they see. 

      Not a bad idea…

      But I'd rather see you invite me over instead! I have a trained eye, market expertise, and a professional network to help you do just the right things when prepping your house for sale. In fact, check out this article that explains how I help sellers see their homes through buyers' eyes right from the start.
      "How's the market?"
      I get that question a lot, and I'm always happy to answer it! But there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

      That's why this newsletter doesn't include weekly stats, new listings, or price updates. Most people don't care about real estate data… until it actually matters to them. For everyone else, a stream of numbers is like elevator music—easy to ignore, occasionally annoying.

      Instead of filling your inbox with stats that don't mean much, I'd rather keep it fun and entertaining.

      Curious how much that house down the street is listed for? Wonder what your home is worth? Or just want a sense of the local market? 

      Just hit reply and ask me! I'm always glad to give you any information, thoughts, or data you want. (And of course, no obligation or pressure! I always love a good reason to talk about the market.)
      Trivia Time
      Why did Nicolas Cage buy a haunted mansion in New Orleans?
        1. 1.To rent it out as an Airbnb
        2. 2.To write a horror novel
        3. 3.To film a documentary about living with ghosts
        4. 4.Because it was "dirt cheap"
        Click the answer you think is correct.
        5 lighthearted (yet solid) reasons to sell your house around Halloween
        Everyone thinks spring is the best time to sell a house. But the truth is, there are benefits to selling during any time of the year. Every season has a host of reasons and benefits for sellers to put their house on the market.

        But October offers up some truly unique advantages for homeowners looking to sell! Check out this article with 5 lighthearted (yet solid) reasons for you to sell your house around Halloween!
        The fact is…
        Certainly sounds easier than digging a moat around your house!
        That wraps it up for this week!
        Be on the lookout for the next one!
        Avatar
        Jay Mattlin
        REALTOR®, Principal Broker
        Key Realty
        740-974-4190
        jay@keytohomepropertygroup.com
        October
        6

        Dynamic Image
        I'm glad you're here!
        I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)
        Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:
        • Time to buy a new doorbell?
        • I may be your therapist…but I'm not your housekeeper
        • 3 potential ways to cash in on your home appliance warranty
        But first, let's start it off with my...
        Meme of the Week
        I'm probably not going to be much help if you're making spaghetti, but if you find yourself guess-timating your home's value, by all means please just give me a call!

        (And it doesn't matter why you want to know. I'm always glad to give you an accurate sense of the value free of charge, even if you're not thinking about selling.)
        Time to buy a new doorbell?
        A bunch of residents in an apartment complex in Germany were woken up in the middle of the night when their doorbells kept going off. It got so bad, some of them even called the police thinking it had to be someone ding-dong-ditching…minus the ditching.

        It turns out it was just a slug slip sliding away all over the buzzer panel!

        OK, so here's a question for you: if that happened to your doorbell, are you cleaning it, hiring someone else to clean it, or just getting an entirely new one installed?! (Not a formal poll, but hit reply—I'd love to hear what you'd do!)
        I may be your therapist…but I'm not your housekeeper
        There's no definitive list of job responsibilities for a real estate agent, and I've certainly found myself doing things I never thought would be on my list of duties. (For instance, I've felt like a therapist or marriage counselor on more than one occasion!)

        But one thing many agents find quite surprising is how often they find themselves becoming their client's cleaning service!

        It's pretty common for an agent to show up to one of their listings before the photographer, an open house, or a buyer appointment to do a quick walk-through and turn on the lights, open the blinds, and make sure the home shows its best only to end up doing one of the following:
        • Making the bed that somehow didn't get made.
        • Scooping up laundry (including underwear—always a career highlight).
        • Folding a few towels to make the bathroom look less chaotic.
        • Loading dishes into the dishwasher.
        • Hiding toys in a bin or closet.
        • Picking up after the dog in the backyard so buyers don't step into an unpleasant surprise.
        Fortunately I haven't had a whole lot of clients put me in any of those positions! So it's probably not something any of you need a deep dive into, but here's an article with some tips on keeping your house "show-ready" when you're selling.
          Trivia Time
          Speaking of cleaning…

          Which of the following household cleaning supplies do many people have a superstition about, believing that it's bad luck to bring the one you used in your old home into your new home?
          1. A)Your old dustpan
          2. B)Your old broom
          3. C)Your old toilet brush
          4. D)Your old vacuum
          Click the answer you think is correct.
          3 potential ways to cash in on your home appliance warranty
          To buy an extended warranty on an appliance or not—that is the question. There's plenty of debate over whether they're worth it, with plenty of "not worth it" opinions floating around online.

          But it's easy to get talked into one when you're standing in front of a smooth-talking salesperson, or you'd rather just play it safe and get one "just in case" something breaks.

          However, even if your fridge or washer never breaks, that doesn't mean the warranty money is wasted. In fact, there may be hidden perks you can still cash in on—if you know where to look.

          Check out this article with three surprising ways you might get value from an appliance warranty (even when nothing goes wrong).
          The fact is…
          Hmmm, if only this applied to windows, floors, tubs, toilets, sinks… Really, anything else in the house would be a bigger help, right?!
          That wraps it up for this week!
          Be on the lookout for the next one!
          Avatar
          Jay Mattlin
          REALTOR®, Principal Broker
          Key Realty
          740-974-4190
          jay@keytohomepropertygroup.com
          ⇦ Newer Posts
          Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/17/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/17/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:21:48 AM EST) or MichRic (Michigan Regional Information Center) (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:17:19 PM EST) or Metrolist - RECOLORADO by MLSGRID (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:34:26 PM EST) or NIRA MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:04:55 PM EST) or RealComp MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:15:42 AM EST) or Dayton MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:46:32 PM EST) or NORIS MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:14:13 PM EST) or IRES MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:17:01 AM EST) or Colorado Real Estate Network IDX (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 7:05:51 PM EST) or CBRMLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:19:26 AM EST) or Multiple Listing Service of Greater Cincinnati (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:53:38 PM EST) or Terrehaute MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:16:30 AM EST) or Pikes Peak REALTORR Services Corp (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:15:11 AM EST) or Stellar MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:13:39 AM EST) or NKY MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:28:18 PM EST) or Wrist MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:24:19 PM EST) or Firelands MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:11:18 PM EST) or LCAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:50:11 AM EST) or West Central MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:50:01 PM EST) or Fort Myers (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:05:53 PM EST) or Aspen/Glenwood Springs MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:30:39 PM EST) or Northern Nevada Regional MLS (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:16:39 AM EST) or MLS NOW (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:17:34 AM EST) or Northern Great Lakes Association of Realtors (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:19:13 AM EST) or Mansfield MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:47:20 PM EST) or Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (last updated Tue 03/17/2026 12:06:16 AM EST) or Grand Junction MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:37:09 PM EST) or Knox County MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:08:13 PM EST) or IRMLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:11:54 PM EST) or Pueblo MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:43:57 PM EST) or Upper Peninsula MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:10:08 PM EST) or Greater Lansing MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:36:16 PM EST) or SEBAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:39:19 PM EST) or Water Wonderland MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:52:35 PM EST) or Eastern Upper Peninsula MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 11:59:09 PM EST) or Scioto Valley MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 10:02:35 PM EST) or Northern Michigan MLS (last updated Mon 03/16/2026 9:33:54 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Key Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.
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