Thinking about buying or selling property on your own?  With the internet, you probably figured everything there is to know about buying/selling real estate are just a few clicks away.  So, you’ve done some googling, read lots of blogs, written down some How-To tips and you are feeling pretty confident.  After all, you are a DIY’er by nature-what could possibly go wrong, right?  The truth is, it’s not easy; There is a lot that goes into buying/selling a house. If you are thinking of tackling a real estate transaction on your own in an effort to skip the agent’s commission, below are four of the agent tasks you may want to take into consideration before you begin:

Agents Know Real Estate Laws: Every state has its own set of real estate laws and

We Wanted to Congratulate Our 

Blanchard and Calhoun Family Graduates! 

• Amanda Latham's step-daughter, Lauren Latham graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's in Fashion Design. 

• Amy Scherer's son, John Joseph Scherer, graduated from Lakeside High School (IB Program with Honors). He will attend AU for his Freshman year with conditional acceptance to Georgia Tech. 

• Anna Dickinson's son, Carson Dickinson, graduated from Richmond Academy and will attend the University of Georgia.  

• Beth Browder's granddaughter, Morgan Fields, graduated from Aiken Scholars Academy and will start as a junior at the University of South Carolina at age 15.  

• Beth Jones's grandson, Harold

Congratulations on your new home!  Now, the “fun” part-packing up and moving.  Moving is a lot of work and can be overwhelming, but no need to fret. We've put together a list of moving tips and tricks to help your move as seamless as possible.

Preparation Tips:

• Transfer Utilities:  Make sure utilities are transferred by moving day.  Keep in mind that transferring utilities could take a few days so you want to have it set up before the move.

• Collect free boxes:  No need to purchase moving boxes if you don’t have to! Ask local grocery stores, large retailers, friends, neighbors, and recycling drop off points if you can pick up their used cardboard boxes.

• Declutter: Make your move easier by paring down your possessions. Now

(This article was originally published on the Blanchard and Calhoun Insurance blog.)

Life is uncertain and life’s mishaps are inevitable. Purchasing an insurance policy that will protect your auto, health, life, business, or home will certainly not be a “one-size-fits-all” buy.  This is why it’s important that when you shop around for insurance you find a policy that is tailored to your unique needs and will take all of your risks into account.

Here are three top reasons why you need insurance:

1. Peace of Mind: Life is unpredictable. Insurance can be a safety net when an accident occurs or a risk goes wrong.
2. It’s the law: In most states, auto, home, and business insurance are required.
3. Lenders require insurance: Need a loan to purchase

Today, many of us are working from home. Because of this, having a dedicated office space is now a “must-have” for many home buyers. If you don’t have an extra bedroom you can turn into an office, find an awkward space that you’ve been unsure of what to do with. This can be a loft, a room without a closet, or an extra corner in a large room. Below are some staging tips to help impress buyers who want to work from home. 

Remove All But The Essential Furniture

Office spaces often become a storage unit. When selling your home, be sure that you clean out the extra stuff that has accumulated over the years. In the designated office space, keep only the furniture you’d have in an office, like a desk, a rug, and a chair. These are usually enough pieces