The CDD team has been busy this week. Following is a closer look at what they’ve been working on.

Private Property Maintenance Standards

Routine inspections were conducted in Palmetto this week. Follow-up and requested inspections were conducted throughout the island. This week, two properties were contacted regarding new violations of the Private Property Maintenance Standards and six properties were contacted to provide courtesy education regarding property maintenance standards.

Understanding Recent Real Estate Changes:

What it Means for You

On August 17, 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) rolled out new practices as part of a class-action settlement. These changes affect how real estate transactions are conducted, specifically how agents are compensated, and the agreements buyers and sellers need to sign.

Key National Changes:

1. Agent Compensation: Payment to real estate agents has always been negotiable. The changes are designed to clarify that the payments to the Buyer’s agent and the Seller’s agent don’t have to be linked. They can be handled separately.
2. MLS Listings: The Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which shows property listings, can no longer display how much the buyer’s agent will be paid.
3. Written Agreements Before Viewing Homes:  Before a realtor shows a home or shares a walk-through video of it, buyers must sign an agreement that details how the agent will be compensated. This is not required for open houses or first-time inquiries.

What This Means in Georgia:

Georgia has adjusted its real estate contract forms to reflect these changes:

For Sellers:

You have the option to either:

• Pay your broker an overall fee and designate compensation for the buyer’s broker.
• Or choose only to pay the listing broker and not designate a payment for the buyer’s broker.

Important Points:

• Buyers might avoid your home if there’s no payment allocated for their agent, and they want to avoid paying their agent themselves.
• Georgia has introduced a new form for the Buyer to ask for — the Buyers Broker compensation in the offer to purchase. Now it’s a negotiation — the Seller has a choice to accept or negotiate, and the Buyer has a choice to continue to pursue or not.

For Buyers:

• Georgia offers two types of agreements for viewing homes:
• Buyer’s Agency Agreement: The Buyer is a “Client,” meaning the agent must act in the buyer’s best interest according to a strict code of ethics.
• Agreement to Work with Buyer as a Customer:  Buyer is a “Customer.”  The agent’s duties are limited to basic tasks, not full representation.

Remember:

• In Buyer Agency, you’re only agreeing to “potentially” pay a compensation. You control which homes to see and which to make an offer on, including negotiating for the buyer’s agent’s payment in the Offer to Purchase.
• If a seller won’t cover the buyer’s agent compensation, you can walk away or decide if the home is worth the extra cost.

Other Considerations:

• All new agreements will state that agent compensation is negotiable and not set by state law. However, brokerage firms can have compensation standards.
• Real estate companies, like The Landings Company, can still advertise agent compensation on their websites and other media.
• Georgia has introduced “Pre-Showing Agreements” to clarify agent compensation before any home tours. The Landings Company has made these forms accessible on our website.

The Big Picture:

These changes are intended to lower costs and increase transparency in the real estate market. However, whether they will truly benefit consumers remains to be seen. Will homes be priced based on compensation levels or market values? Time will tell.

In the meantime, The Landings Company is here to assist in navigating these new real estate changes. If you have any questions or need guidance on how these updates might impact your buying or selling experience, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our experienced agents are here to provide you with the expertise and support you need to make informed decisions in this evolving market.

Have you ever wondered if you are using more water than your neighbor? (Actually, I do not care!) Do you wonder if your family uses more water during certain periods of the year or why your bill may be higher than expected? Are you worried about climate change? Do you wonder if our island can support the water needs of an ever-increasing population?

If you nodded a yes to any of these “wonders,” it may be time to consider EyeOnWater, a web-based app service that is connected to your water utility.  Once you access the system (you’ll need to use your water service account, which can be found on your bill, and create a password), you’ll be able to gauge your month-to-month water usage.

A woman in The Landings recently received an EyeOnWater alert that she had a leak. After checking toilets, faucets (inside and outside), the dishwasher/washing machine and under every sink, she consulted the “leak” expert — EyeOnWater. Eureka! She had a small leak in her sprinkler system that was responsible for her higher water usage invoice. Another person was surprised his bill was so high during a period when he and his family were away. Turns out they’d forgotten to tightly stop their garden hose (it just dripped away to the content of the birds!).

EyeOnWater estimates water usage at one gallon per hour. This is calibrated throughout the month. Most families’ usage stays fairly constant throughout the month. You’ll see a dramatic spike if you refill your pool, power wash your house/driveway/deck, or (against community rules) you water your lawn every day even during periods of rain.

Using EyeOnWater (excuse the pun) you can adjust your sprinkler system to power up only when your lawn needs a drink, or if the toilet in your guest suite is gurgling because it is unhappy.

EyeOnWater will help you manage your water consumption and help toward making certain Skidaway Island has the water it needs in the years to come.

To create an EyeOnWater account, simply visit www.eyeonwater.com/signup and enter your service zip code and service account ID.