Advertising Your Home The Right Way

In selling any product or service, advertising almost always guarantees quick sales and instant recall among potential customers. This is an effective marketing tool tested and proven for thousands of years now. This is also true in the field of real estate.

When selling your home through FSBO, it really pays to advertise. Advertising is an essential part of the home selling process thus, it should never be ignored. Homeowners should utilize as many advertising tools as much as possible to be able to reach a wider audience. Place advertisements in the newspapers, newsletters, local radio and television stations as well as on the internet through the web listing sites. Another option is to distribute flyers in public places within your neighborhood and schedule open houses. No need to spend so much because a small budget will go a long way in making the people aware of your home for sale.

The internet is one effective tool you can use in advertising your home FSBO. Today, there are numerous websites that offer property listing services for free or for a minimal fee. Just make sure that you include photos of your home. In fact, more than 70 percent of people now use the internet in their search for a home. Various sites even offer more comprehensive services from the start of the listing process to the updating up to the time the home is bought. Many people find this very economical and without hassle compared to dealing with a real estate company.

Good advertising entails not just putting all the information in your ad. It requires a unique writing style and catchy headlines plus photos that should attract the attention of potential buyers. There are certain information that needs to be highlighted such as the home’s key features and the closing lines. But since print advertisements will cost you money, it’s best that you keep your ads short and straight to the point. It should, however, contain the necessary information for your potential buyers.

So where should you begin? Since you are selling your home on your own, you may put FSBO, for sale by owner or by owner in the introduction of your ad. Include the price of your home because buyers are very particular about this.

Always describe the property’s location by stating the specific neighborhood or just the area or town. If you’re home, for instance, is in a popular area, you should include the name. Specify also if it’s near the school, shopping area, public transportation or near tennis courts, parks and golf courses.

An important point to remember is to cite the features of the home. The features should include the size of the house, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, fireplaces and if it has a big yard. Add also the home’s condition whether it is remodeled, brand new or well-maintained; the construction whether it is made from bricks and frame or stone; and the financing scheme (assume, loan, low assumption, price below appraisal, reduced interest rate).

In the closing part of your ad, include a phrase that will encourage buyers to call. Give potential buyers the reason to call and urge them to do it soon. And of course, don’t forget to include your phone number, webpage address and FSBO reference number..

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Read And Review Your Offer to Purchase Real Estate

An Offer to Purchase Form is a legal document presented by an interested buyer to a home seller. This is no simple document because it actually includes all the terms and conditions of the sale which are mostly negotiable. It is just right then that home sellers focus on, not only a few, but all the terms of the sale.

The home sale terms in the form cover the closing date, the specifics on financing by the buyer, the closing costs and how they will be shared and paid, the items included in the sale and those that are not as well as the various contingencies of the buyer. Some of the common contingencies are for property inspection, appraisal, financing and review of the property title record. For homeowners selling their residential property on their own, real estate experts advise that they thoroughly review the purchase offer after receiving the document.
Evaluating terms

Be sure to evaluate all the terms and conditions before making a decision. Remember that every term can be negotiated so consider your options. If you are amenable to some of the terms, go ahead and accept them but you can also counter the other terms to adjust them according to your needs. It will be helpful if you list the terms and conditions on a separate sheet and make a note beside each of the term to determine if they are acceptable to you or not.
If, for instance, you don’t agree with some terms such as a low price, too long closing date and limited time to move out after closing, you can counter them with a higher price, shorter closing and more time to vacate your home. It’s just a matter of negotiating well and communicating your needs and concerns clearly to the buyer.
Here’s a tip. Read and examine a blank real estate contract to familiarize yourself to the standard and non-standard terms. Understand the special clauses normally written above the signature block as these are used by the buyer to make non-standard demands, to ask the seller to pay certain portions of his costs and to demand a specific date for the homeowner to move.
Important considerations
Before accepting the purchase offer, it’s advisable that you make sure your buyer has been pre-approved or at the least, pre-qualified for a real estate mortgage enough to buy your home. Avoid signing an offer until the buyer has been pre-qualified.
Other things to watch out for include longer time for buyer to get financing, low earnest money deposit, penalty if the seller fails to move out of the home during the specified date and requirement for the seller to pay the mortgage costs of the buyer.
After reviewing the offer, you have several choices. First, you can accept the offer as it is and sign it to become a legal sales contract or agreement. Second, you can make a counter-offer by eliminating the unacceptable terms and providing your own contract with your specific terms. Third, you can reject the offer if you are not amenable to all of the terms and conditions.
When considering the purchase price offered by the buyer, look at it as a whole. Sure the buyer may have offered a price lower than what you wanted but there may be some terms that counterbalance the low purchase price such as the buyer paying for the closing costs or a fast closing.
As for the earnest money, the minimum requirement should be at least $500. There are some homesellers who require buyers to issue an earnest money check before signing the offer. The earnest money is held by a third party such as your real estate lawyer, the buyer’s agent or whoever the two parties specify in an escrow agreement. However, if you know your buyer and trust him, an earnest money may not be needed.
You also have the freedom to accept a second or backup offer if you wish. Just make sure that your second buyer knows and understands that your house is already under contract and that he or she is only next in line.

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What to Ask When Interviewing Home Builders

When you want to build a new house you will probably find that you have many home builders to choose from. Many consumers think that they can choose any of the home builders at their disposal and get the same end product and have the same experience. The fact of the matter is that all home builders are not created equal. You should interview all of your options before you break ground to be sure that you choose the right home builders for you. Many consumers make the mistake of rushing into choosing a home builder, but this is not a decision that can be taken lightly. Instead, a lot of thought should go into the process, and it should take a little bit of time.

The first thing you should ask when interviewing home builders is how long they have been in the business. While a new home builder is not necessarily worse than one who has experience, if all things are created equal you may want to work with home builders that have more experience. The reason for this is that the longer one works, the more efficient their work processes become. The longer someone has been in the business the more feedback you can get from current and past clients of theirs, and this can be very helpful when you are looking for quality home builders.

The next question you will want to ask home builders when you are interviewing them is how much input they allow you to have into all of the details of your home. If you aren’t all that picky about how much input you have this may seem like a silly question, but you never know what may come up along the way. Home builders are known for poor communication, so you need to let the builder know right off that you want to have a lot of input into the design and building process so that he or she will be more open to communicating with you and allowing you to voice your opinion. If home builders respond negatively toward this need of yours, you know that you need to look elsewhere.

Next, you will want to ask home builders about their schedule and what else they will be working on. Many home builders have several big projects going on at once, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you just need to know that your project is a priority. Ask home builders how long it would take, from start to finish, for your home to be completed. You should have an idea of what is or is not acceptable to you so that you can talk to home builders about the time frame that would be acceptable to you and what you are and are not willing to deal with. If home builders cannot give you what you need, within reason, you know that you need to continue your search until you find someone that can meet your deadlines.

You should never forget to ask for some home building references. Professionals have references available at all times, so if you have a home builder that cannot or will not provide you with references, you will want to keep shopping. If the builder simply needs a day or two to get you a list of references that is no big deal, but if someone acts like it is a big deal or out of the ordinary you will want to keep looking for quality home builders that are willing to share their past projects.

FINDING A LOWER COST WAY TO SELL YOUR HOME

Selling your home through the local Real Estate Agent can be very
expensive, but many of us use them because they have local buyers who
frequent their shops to find a property. The current alternative is to
try one of the many national or global internet websites, they are
usually very cheap to list a property for sale, and in some cases they
are even free. But, and there is one, they don't have much (if any)
local traffic e.g. potential buyers
for the specific area in which you are selling your property.

So what is the solution? Do you continue to pay the high estate agency
fees? In short, no, there is a new way of selling properties starting to
emerge. Basically it's the hybrid, in effect the local internet-based
estate agent. One such example is Enfield Estate Agents where
you can advertise local Enfield properties
for sale at a very low cost. This may well turn out to be the
future of local estate agents, we shall have to wait and see.

Landscaping For Better Curb Appeal

One of the most visual elements of any home is the yard and gardens. They may seem to take a backseat to custom interiors and rooms but they play a huge role in a home's appeal. If you are selling your home now is a great time to improve the yard as the weather is fantastic. Keep in mind that the front of your home is ground zero for first impressions. If the home is not attractive at first glance, people may not look any further.
Let's break the yard up into a few different areas; gardens, trees & shrubs and the home itself. Taking the time to bring each area up to snuff is a good investment in your home and can help to sell homes quicker and generate lots of buyer interest.
Gardens - Gardens are one of the easier things you can focus on to improve the look of a home. Start by weeding and removing any old plants that may not be as appealing as you want.Once the garden is free of weeds and old plants, lay down some new topsoil. When thinking about flowers and plants try to pick colors that accentuate the colors of the home, glaring differences in color can be unappealing to buyers. Once the flowers are planted, laying down a mulch can help the garden to retain it's beauty and color, it also stops weeds from coming back.Also, try to consider what climate you are living in and plan your flowers appropriately, some plants will not do well in some climates. Want to try something different? try making a rock garden!
Trees & Shrubs - Trees and shrubs can be the anchor points of a yard. There is nothing like a well-maintained hedge to bring privacy to a yard. Trees need some special mention as their majesty can enclose a yard and give it that special foresty feeling. Evergreens are a great choice for this as they do not lose leaves and maintain their beauty year-round. Shrubs can be utilized to create pathways and areas of respite and tranquility and are easy to maintain. Shrubs can also be an attractive sidebar for driveways.
The Home - Well here is the focal point of the whole property. Attractive homes equal easy sales, there is no two ways about this fact. Take some time and asses your home. Does it need paint? A new roof? Maybe it just needs a good cleaning. Whatever it needs, make sure you do what is necessary to bring the home's aesthetic value up to par. Remember there is a lot of competition out there!
Eric Badgley is a motivated and professional realtor located in beautiful Whatcom County. For information on Bellingham WA real estate contact Eric or visit online at www.belllingham-realestate.net

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When To Go From FSBO To Using A Realtor

When selling a home, it is important to know when to go from FSBO to using a Realtor. The biggest is when you want to sell your house that’s not selling fast enough.
FSBO or for sale by owner can be a great way to sell your home if you have the time and resources to dedicate to the process. However, most of us do not have a great deal of time to sell a home. It also takes money and resources to advertise a home. In order to successfully sell a home, you need both of these covered.
If you have not had a great deal of experience in selling homes, you might find that selling your house can be risky and costly. Statistically speaking, the average home that is offered FSBO usually sells to family or friends. There are a percentage of homes that sell outside of family and friends due to hard work and diligence. However that is usually what it takes to sell a home.
When you are calculating the cost of a home that does not sell in a timely manner, you will see that with mortgage payments, advertising, utilities, and upkeep tend to cost more than the commission a professional would receive. The cost of a Realtor is usually covered in the sale price of the home. Most homes sold by Realtors will sell for roughly $12,000 more.
You will also want to look at the time frame you want to sell your home in. If you have the right tools and connections you will be able to sell your house. Also, if you have enough time for the house to sit while being sold, you will usually sell the house. If however, you do not have a great deal of time to sell your house, you will want to seek the help of a Realtor.
There is a great deal of documentation and legalities that you will need to learn and become aware of. This can make a huge difference in the completion of the closing of a home correctly. If documentation is not completed correctly, there can be time and money loss.
If you do not use a Realtor, you will likely be paying for Attorney fees, and notary fees. Most of the time a professional has these set up for the convenience of their client.
If you want to sell your home yourself, and are determined, there are many tools that may make it easier. You can obtain a market analysis online in order to set a good price on your house. You can make sure that your home has a good curbside view. In addition you will want to make sure that the inside of the house in sin good repair. Finally you can go through some listing services that are available for FSBO.
If after a period of time you are not able to sell your home, it may be worth it to hire a professional Realtor to help you complete your real estate transaction.
The biggest determining factor between using a Realtor and going FSBO, is how fast, how much and how long you are willing to wait? If you have the tools, time and resources you can sell your home FSBO. On the other hand if you do not, it is time to find the help of a Realtor.
Tina Abraham is a leading real estate broker in Wilmington, North Carolina. Tina specializes in selling homes in Wilmington, Greater Wilmington, Pender County and Brunswick County, which are some of the highest demand homes in the world. Visit us for more information on Tina and how she can help you buy or sell Wilmington, NC real estate, or call (910) 790-7484.

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Offer Accepted, What about Closing?

After you have accepted your buyer's offer, your home will go through the escrow process. This process can last about a month or so. The escrow company (or title insurance company) transfers ownership of the property to the buyer from the seller. They will also make sure that the terms of the real estate contract have been met. An escrow or title company usually charge about 1-2% of the sales price. Some of the charges are paid by the buyer and some are paid by the seller. It varies according to local custom.

If you are selling your home yourself, the buyer's mortgage company usually chooses the escrow or title company unless you specify a choice in your real estate sales agreement. Once your house enters the escrow process someone from the escrow or title company will call and introduce themselves and will ask if you have any questions. They may also need some information from you.

After the escrow company completes all of their paperwork they will call to give you a final date and time for closing.

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Home Staging Now More Important Than Ever

As the market dips on the inevitable roller coaster ride that real estate is, home staging is a valuable marketing tool for all price points and areas of the county.
Homeowners might not be familiar with home staging but Realtor’s should be. You’re not? Where have you been? Home staging is a marketing technique; staging prepares the house so it appeals to the most potential buyers possible.
Why do many Realtor’s think staging is a great idea but don’t implement it? They don’t want to offend their client? They work hard to get the listing and requesting the seller clean and de-clutter is about as far as they want to go.
The majority of Realtor’s specialize in real estate not design. As is the case with home stagers, they specialize in staging a home for sale, not real estate contracts and mortgage’s.
However, staging should be part of the overall marketing plan. Staging can be discussed right along with the other strategies to sell the house. The Realtor can remove themselves from the equation, “to get your house ready for the market our home stager will be coming by to meet with you.” Now the Realtor has a third party, someone to gently get the homeowner ready to pack and prepare the house for sale.
Staging also helps the seller to mentally move out, to let go of the house. When homeowners are living in the house, this step is crucial. They have to make the changes necessary to enhance the house for sale.
Staging is beneficial for all homes; a million dollar home can be poorly decorated or over the top. The $165,000 home is painted lime green. Both homeowners think their home is wonderful and it is for them, but not potential buyers.
Staging will help the house sell for the best price and in the least amount of time. Staging is beneficial for all parties involved in the selling and buying process.
Gayle Barrett has been in the design business for several years. When "flipping houses" staging was part of the selling. It's about setting your house apart from the others, getting that competitive edge.
You can get that competitive edge wherever you live! http://www.StagedForResale.com offers E-designs. Send us pictures of your home and we will send you advice on staging, room by room. We will also include a floor plan to show furniture placement.
For more details to help get your house sold faster, check out our website http://www.StagedForResale.com Lets chat soon.

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Free Real Estate Listing - Advertising With No Commision

Promoting real estate is becoming easier with many websites worldwide offering to list your properties for a fixed fee, commission % or referral fee, although many real estate websites do not have a good search engine presence. Property listing websites in general charge more than of $50 per listing for a month Real estate agents and private sellers can save on marketing and promotion costs with spending a little time and search for websites that offer free property listing for local, national and worldwide properties.
Search for free property listing and you can find a number of websites for national exposure or worldwide promotion of your property portfolio. Free listing Features:
- No financial cost- Worldwide promotion of your properties- Someone else promotes your property for free- Links on another website that will increase your search engine presence- Increase your companies presence in the real estate market
There are of course many benefits of promoting property free on another website.
What to look out for in a free property listing website:
- Totally free with no listing fee, no referral or commission at all.- Look at the conditions for listing property free- In doubt about the terms, contact them- How long is your property listed for?- Restriction on the number of words.- Number of pictures you are allowed to upload- Unlimited property uploads?
Depending on the real estate market you target and the demographic area there should be a free property listing website that will allow you to promote real estate for sale or rent. Listing real estate for the United States, European, Pacific, Middle East or other worldwide markets requires pictures and good descriptions of the properties that are uploaded.
With clients properties to sell in a number of countries means promoting these properties for sale worldwide. Websites my only have one currency, dollars, pound sterling or euros for selling price to be listed, although this indeed is no barrier. Estate agents in Europe that have properties for sale in euros can list property in $ or £ by converting the exchange rate. Simply write in your description the selling or rental cost of the property in $, $ or euros. House hunters or real estate investors would see the exact price of the property in your local currency.
Do not be put off by one currency websites, take control of your real estate promotional strategy and list client’s properties to gain maximum exposure for minimum cost.
www.propertyworldwideplace.com
http://www.propertyworldwideplace.com Ray Blanchett Email: raymondblanchett@hotmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Blanchett

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How to Add Thousands to Your Bottom Line When Selling Your Home!

This article was written to help the seller focus on the FIVE major areas today’s buyers look at when considering a home to purchase.
These five areas all with in the seller's control such as the appearance and condition. These may look simple enough, but how are they over looked by the vast majority of sellers and agents. Visit a few open houses to see how true this is. Remember buyers consider each of these areas when deciding to make an offer to buy a home!
1. Think Like A Buyer!According to the National Association of Realtors home buyer reports, buyers may look at an average of 10 homes before deciding on one. Regardless of how many homes are available in their price range, buyers search for the best value in their target area. Don’t make them overlook your home because of a small easy to repair or replace item. Give them a strong desire to stay.
2. Curb AppealDrive up to your home and look at it carefully as would a potential buyer. Look closely at key items such as the
Landscape, driveway and sidewalks
exterior paint, siding and roof
exterior doors and windows
Make certain each is in its tip top condition; you never know when a buyer might drive by before scheduling a showing with their agent.
3. Inside Your HomeStaging is the catch word in today's real estate market and in this case less is definitely more. Use these tips as a guideline to stage your home
Remove as many belongings and furniture as you can, but not everything! Use remaining items to focus attention on details such as a fireplace, large windows, etc
Repaint rooms with dark colors or bad paint. Use light neutral colors for this.
Replace heavy curtains with light ones and clean the windows to allow light in.
Clean the floors and carpet. Replace bad flooring now; don't offer a credit at closing!
4. Your Asking PriceFind out what similar homes in your immediate market area have been selling for and price yours accordingly. If you set the price too high, be prepared for a long market time and few if any showings. The hard truth is buyers don't care what a seller needs to net from the sale of their home. They are looking for homes priced right!
5. Its Show Time!Leave your home at least 15 minutes prior to a scheduled showing and don’t return until 15 minutes after the showing. If the buyer’s agent and buyers are at your home when you return, drive around for a while.
Before you leave make sure everything is in its proper place. If time permits, freshen up a little. Now isn’t the time to do major house cleaning.
Plus One - InspectionsHere’s a bonus for reading this far! Have your home inspection by a qualified professional home inspector, and or what ever inspections are required by local codes prior to placing your home on the market and make the repairs as outlined in your report. This will help the buyer feel more at ease with your home.
I hope you've enjoyed reading this article as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Please feel free to contact me for the entire report.
About the Author
Bob Weibrecht is a successful Realtor with Jefferson County office of Coldwell Banker Gundaker St. Louis MO. He can be reached at HeyBob@BobWeibrecht.com or visit his websites at http://www.BobWeibrecht.com or http://www.StLouisOpenDoors4u.com

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Don't Sell This House - 5 Sure Ways To Mess Up The Sale Of Your Home

Are you the kind of person who says . . . "thanks, but NO THANKS. I can do it MYSELF!" . . . or, better yet, your favorite song is Frank Sinatra's, "I Did It My Way"? Well, if you are, then this is definitely the article for you.
Based on my experience as a professional home stager and model merchandiser, I am going to give you five fool proof, easy, do-it-yourself ways to keep your house from selling in todays very competitive real estate market.
Just follow these simple guidelines:
Continue to think 'Inside The Box'
The climate of the real estate market has drastically changed in the last couple of years. People are no longer standing in lines knee deep just for the opportunity to participate in bidding wars . . . which often ended up higher than the original asking price of the home! It was an unrealistic bubble in the real estate market that we all knew would have to end at some point. We just didn't know that that end would seemingly come overnight, and with no advance warning.
Today sellers must be innovative and willing to offer new strategies to attract potential home buyers . They can no longer rely on traditional methods of advertising or marketing to get buyers in to even look at their houses. And once in, they have to maximize on the opportunity, showing them a house that will stand out from all of the rest they will be seeing. They have to be able to think 'Outside The Box'.
Don't Sweat The Small Stuff
There are literally thousands of homes in every community for sale right now. It has become a buyers market, causing people to be 'pickier' than ever before . . . because they can be! Buyers will buy what they see. If there are small repairs that have been left unattended that they can see, they then will wonder about the ones that they can't see?
Seemingly small, affordable repair jobs can make the difference between a home that sells quickly, and one that sits on the market for months on end.
Keep It Personal
Purchasers are not buying your home . . . they are buying a house to make their home! By removing personal items such as family photographs they will be better able to focus on the highlighted features of the home itself. You want them to visualize their family photos on the wall, and their family sitting around the dining room table for the holidays! When they can imagine themselves living in the home . . . they have made that all important 'emotional connection'.
Don't let your emotional ties to your home affect your judgment. When preparing a home for sale it's important to remember that the way you live in a home, and the way you sell a home are two very different things!
First Impressions Aren't 'Everything'
Statistics have shown that 'first impressions' are formed within 10 seconds of entering a home, both positive and negative. And there are no do-overs. You don't get a second chance to make a great first impression!
Keep It Vacant
The decision to leave a home vacant on the market is often a costly decision for the seller to make. A well furnished home is your most effective marketing tool, designed to generate market interest from your qualified buyers. Homebuilders have known this for many years, spending thousands of dollars to merchandise each of their model homes. They consider it a minimum investment for a maximum return!
While 10% of Home Buyers can visualize how a home will look furnished, 90% of them can not. Ask yourself . . . Do you really want to limit yourself to that small of a group of potential buyers, especially in such a competitive market?
Jeannene Edwards, owner of Interiors Defined, Inc. is a professional home stager and licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida. In addition to her interior design and home staging services, Jeannene has merged with David Edwards Construction, a division of Interiors Defined, Inc., enabling them to now offer complete archtectural design and building services to further meet the needs of their clientel. Jeannene is a notable speaker known for her exciting and informative seminars. Her award winning designs and 'how-to' articles have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and trade manuals nationally. For additional information regarding the many services offered by Interiors Defined, Inc. please contact Jeannene Edwards or David Edwards at: http://interiorsdefined.com/, http://idihomestaging.com/, and http://davidedwardsgc.com/

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How To Get Top Dollar For Your Home

Most sellers have one thing in common. They want to know how they can get top dollar for their home. Here are some suggestions from a top selling agent.
See your house through the buyer’s eyes
I spoke with an agent today who showed one of my listings. She and her buyer looked at 30 homes, before making an offer on another home.
I have been encouraging my seller to make some minor improvements which would help sell the property. The seller just doesn’t get it. The seller is not looking at the property through the buyer’s eyes.
Buyer’s today aren’t excited about a home’s possibilities. They get excited about a home that is completely move-in perfect….
What do buyers want?• They want to see curb appeal.• They want fresh and clean carpets• They want a freshly painted home with modern colors• They want appliances that are clean and modern
What buyers do not want:• They aren’t excited about a converted garage• They aren’t excited about a back-porch that’s been closed in.• They aren’t excited about your above-ground pool• They don’t want to paint, clean, and update your tired home.• They don’t’ want to pull weeds and rescue and dying lawn
Imagine yourself as the buyer. Take a good look at your home from the street out front. Then walk through your home with a critical eye. If you were a potential buyer, would this home excite you?
Spend a few dollars to make cosmetic fixes and save yourself thousands
Often times when we meet with a seller they want to offer a carpet or painting allowance. Their idea is that the buyer can then pick out their own colors.
We recommend that you go ahead and replace the carpet and that by doing so you will actually save money. You see, a buyer will often estimate four times what it actually cost to replace carpet. If it only costs $2,000, the buyer will imagine it is going to cost $8,000.
When a buyer is looking at your house they begin to discount the price for all the cosmetic deficiencies they see. Does it need painting? Ca-ching. Does the carpet need replacing? Ca-ching. Does it need new countertops? Ca-ching.
What kind of cosmetic fix-ups should you complete?• Carpet• Paint, caulking• Countertops• Cabinets, cabinet knobs • Lighting• Sinks, faucets• Landscaping
It will cost you a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars to make these cosmetic improvements. However, it will put even more money in your pocket at the closing.
Neutralize
One listing client had strong maroon colored walls in the family room and bright yellow and blue walls in the kid’s rooms. The home had failed to sell with the first agent with whom they listed.
We suggested they repaint the interior with neutral colors and replace the carpet with a neutral color as well. Buyers who walked into the home were pleasantly greeted by a home that was inviting and in which they could visualize their own belongings.
If you have a wall full of personal photographs, it’s best to remove them. Too many personal photographs, trophies, and the like make the buyer feel like a guest. It’s hard for them to imagine the home as their own.
Remove knickknacks and collectibles. De-clutter bookshelves and dresser tops. Throw out old magazines and newspapers. Clean out closets and garages. Create the illusion that there’s plenty of storage space throughout the house.
Remove ornaments from the yard and flowerbeds. I remember one client whose front yard looked like Disney World. The flower bed had about 20 statues of Mickey Mouse and his gang. There was no way that was going to make a good first impression.
If you need to see what a staged home looks like, take some time to visit new model homes. Many builders hire professional decorators and stagers to prepare their models. You are sure to pick up some good ideas.
Price your house competitively
I believe that proper pricing is 80% of getting the job done. In fact there are four factors that determine whether your house sells or not: location, condition, marketing, and price. The most important factor is price.
It’s common for Sellers to compare their homes with other active listings and think their price is fine. The problem is that the price of active listings is sometimes “fantasy land.”
Right now, we are seeing homes languish on the market for months without selling. Many of the neighbor’s homes are listed and not selling either. They all belong to the same club. It’s the “I’ve got my home on the market club.”
You must compare your price to the recently sold homes. This reflects what buyers are actually willing to pay. Compare the features and amenities of your home with other sold homes to determine what your home should sell for?
Should you raise the price to leave room for negotiating? That’s often a fatal mistake. Most buyers won’t make an offer on your home if other homes are priced more competitively. In fact, if your home is the best priced home you may actually get full price or more!
A skillful Realtor is probably the best person to consult about pricing. Realtors have access to all the active, sold, pending, and expired listings. They will know if a price accurately reflected the deal or if the seller contributed thousands towards the buyers closing costs. They will also know the features and amenities of the homes and have access to both interior and exterior photos.
Be careful when consulting a Realtor. Some may overprice your home just to get the listing. Inquire about the Realtors track record. How many homes do they list and sell? How of their listings expire? How long does it usually take them to sell a home?
Our advice for homes located in a buyer’s market is to be priced as the obvious best value in the area. This may mean pricing your home even below recent sales. In a seller’s market you may price your home a little bit above recent sales.
Implement an aggressive marketing plan
When I meet with potential listing clients I like to ask, “What are you looking for in the agent you choose?” Most sellers will say, “I want an aggressive agent.” I’m always happy to hear that because I am aggressive.
What you really want though is an aggressive agent with an aggressive marketing plan. Even if you decide to try to sell your house yourself, you’ll need an aggressive marketing plan.
Here is what I would consider to the minimum standard marketing plan:• Multiple Listing Service entry with plenty of photos• Virtual tour in the MLS and other websites• Personal web site for the subject property• For sale sign with a flyer box• Full color real estate magazine ad• Newspaper advertising (if warranted for your area)• Open house depending upon location
My own marketing plan includes at least 30 steps to achieve maximum marketing exposure.
Offer buyer incentives
When buyers visit builders today they are likely to hear about incentives like free pools, free cars, free closing costs, and more. It’s hard to compete with builders’ incentives, but buyers are looking for whatever they can get.
You need to make your home the most attractive deal in the neighborhood. Incentives you might offer include:• A free home warranty that protects the property for the first 12 months.• Offer to pay some or the entire buyer’s closing costs.• Offer the buyer a free gift card to the local home store.• Throw in the big screen TV or appliances.• Prepay the first year’s insurance or HOA fees• Offer to buy down the buyer’s mortgage rate
Consider offering an incentive to Realtors as well. You might offer a higher commission than your neighbors are offering. This will get agents excited about showing your home. It’s important to get your home on the showing list of agents. A higher commission will usually help.
Be Realistic
I recently had an inexpensive listing priced at $200,000. We have had 4 offers of $185,000 which the seller rejected, and another offer of $175,000 which was also rejected. The seller has maintained that his price of $200,000 is reasonable.
That’s unrealistic.
Finally, months later, the seller accepted the 6th offer of $199,000 with $12,000 credit to the buyer. Essentially, it comes out to $187,000. Obviously the market value of that home is $185,000 - $187,000.
To get top dollar in a down market you must be realistic about how much your home is worth. Remember the adage, “your first offer is usually your best offer.” I believe that’s right 99% percent of the time. Take you first offer, negotiate it up as high as possible and take it. An offer in hand is worth a lot more than hopes of future offers to come.
Dan Forbes is broker/owner of Premier Team Inc, Realtors and president of the Bradenton Real Estate Club. He leads seminars and workshops to help real estate investors achieve their goals. Over the years he has helped over 1000 buyers and sellers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Forbes

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Stage Your Home to Sell - 5 Simple Steps

In order to effect the quick sale of a home without compromising on the selling price, it is not always necessary to get into complete and expensive remodeling. Here are some ideas to capture interest without having to take out another mortgage.
Eliminate Clutter: Clear away everything you don’t absolutely need. Use rented storage if you have to because the less stuff in the home, the more spacious and desirable it looks. Put away pictures, knick-knacks, extra chairs and tables, pet paraphernalia – clear the rooms down to the bare bones and the empty closets, kitchen cabinets and the garage as much as possible. Generally, the bigger it looks, the easier it will be to sell.
Give Cabinets a Facelift: Change the cabinet knobs and pulls in the kitchen and bathroom to give an upscale look for a small price. Even if you cannot paint or refinish, improved drawer and cabinet hardware will bring a fresh look and increase the appeal. Choose pieces that have the same measurements as the existing hardware for a very easy upgrade.
Get Carpets and Windows Professionally Cleaned: A professional cleaning will quickly enhance the appearance of your home and make it more attractive to buyers.
Change the lighting: Use soft peach light bulbs to give your rooms a warm glow. While showing the house, leave all the lights on and open drapes and blinds, especially where there is a pretty view.
Keep Rooms Fresh: Ventilate your rooms as much as you can so the atmosphere is pleasant. It is helpful to place some lightly scented sticks or candles to maintain a fresh impression. Some real estate agents even suggest baking cookies when prospective buyers are expected!
As a final measure, walk from the street into your home, assessing the first impression a prospective buyer will have. You may find that, after taking these simple steps, you fall in love with your property all over again – that’s when you know that your home will appeal to buyers. Good luck!
About the Author Cristi Page is the proprietress of Top Drawer Hardware and an expert on choosing new cabinet and furniture hardware for homes on the market.
Whether you are looking for period pieces or contemporary designs, go to http://www.TopDrawerHardware.com to view her extensive collection.

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5 Low-Cost Tips To Prepare Your Home For Sale

Real estate is sold throughout the year but when spring and summer roll around, you begin to see yard sales going up as homeowners prepare their homes for sale. The following is a list of tips that are low in cost and usually require nothing more than a few weekends and some elbow grease to get the job done.
As a general rule the best time to prepare your home for sale is at the very earliest point in "spring" (actually early March or even late February), the time when seasonal buying interest is just starting to build. However, this rule is not written in stone and these tips apply throughout the year.
Here are the “Top 5” things a seller can do to increase the final selling price without spending too much money out-of-pocket.
1) Clean it. Home buyers, it turns out, hate dirty homes more than just about anything else. So, give the home a thorough cleaning from top to bottom, inside and outside.
2) Organize it and Declutter It. If the home is too cluttered for the seller, it probably will look too small for the buyer. Store away all belongings that aren’t regularly used. Store furniture that isn’t necessary for comfortable living. A sparser, less cluttered room always makes an area look more spacious. This whole process of cleaning, decluttering, sprucing up homes, and even bringing in designer furniture to prepare homes for sale has begun a new real estate industry called “home staging”. But a homeowner can duplicate some of these things by paying close attention to these low-cost things he or she can do as a seller.
3) Repaint it. Real estate surveys find that a homeowner gets their biggest bang for their buck by repainting the interior of the home in bright white or off-white paint. Painting the house in neutral colors is always a good idea.
4) Landscape it. Mow it and plant it. The exterior of the home is the first impression that a buyer will get, and it will be a long lasting one. Now with so many listings being made available on the internet, pictures of homes on the internet are what many buyers will see first of a prospective home and the exterior’s condition will determine if they want to take a look inside!
5) Fix it. If it isn’t working properly, it usually ends up costing more at the negotiating table than at the hardware store. Make sure to pay close attention to any plumbing problems (i.e. a broken garbage disposal) that may exude musty or foul smells. Today’s buyer, with their busy lifestyles, just wants to move in and get on with their day-to-day business. If they have to spend time in repairing, they will subconsciously factor in more than the actual cost at the negotiating table. Statistics usually show that these costs amount to about two to three times more.
As the homeowner busies himself with his to-do list of household chores, keep in mind that the better shape the home is in, the more a prospective home buyer will be likely to pay for it.
Nef Cortez has been a licensed real estate broker and has held various positions in the real estate and mortgage industry for over 25 years. If you would like to read more of Nef's pithy and timely advice (with the latest info on local foreclosures), visit his website at Chino Hills CA homes or read his blog at A Slice of So Cal Real Estate

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Selling A House - Tips And Secrets

Selling a house is much like advertising of a product anybody would like to sell. Before you plan to sell your house, you should take some steps to make it better so that you can get the best value of your home. Forget about the renovation and decoration plans, all you need to do is, keep certain things in mind and it can work.
The first impression is the last impression. The first impression that your house projects, is extremely important. This is the point where you can lure your buyer. So, make sure that your house looks good from outside. If it is not attractive from outside, no body will be interested to see it from inside.
Ideally you can start from cleaning your windows and trimming your shrubbery. Flowers in your garden can do wonders. Take care of your lawn. If it is appealing, there are very good chances that a customer will be interested in buying your house. Moreover there are certain areas in your house that are not taken care regularly but any buyer will surely see them. Areas like your garage should be clean and its door should open smoothly.
You can throw all the things away that are not used but exist in your garage. Recycle all extra cans and old magazine from there. Do not forget to clean the swimming pool. A dirty pool creates a very bad impression. Clean your yard as well.
When it comes to exterior side of your house, you should at least paint the sides that face the street. Your front view of house should not show any broken window. You can spend some paint on painting your fence.
Keep these small things in mind while you plan to sell your house, we are sure you will get better results.
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Overcoming The Challenges Of Selling Your First Home

Selling your first home can be challenging especially if you never sold a house before. One thing you should know when selling your first house is finding a real estate agent. A real estate agent can help you find buyers and investors who maybe interested in buying your home. It is important when you do get a real estate agent that you know how much commission he or she will want if they do find a buyer for you. You can also get the help from more than one real estate agent. The reason for this is you don't have to pay most real estate agents only if they find a buyer for you.
Another thing you should know when selling your first home is how to use classified ads in your local newspaper. Advertising in a local newspaper is not that expensive and it can help you to find buyers interested in your home. When you do advertise it is important to leave a contact numbers so potential buyers can contact you if they are interested in the house. It is also important to put specific information like number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, the price and any special features the home may have.
One last thing you should know when selling your first home is how to advertise on the internet. The good thing about the internet is you can post pictures of the house and also give more information than you can on a local paper. One other thing when it comes to the internet is some sites you can a sell your house and it wound not cost you anything. Selling a house for the first time can be a bit stressful. If you use the information you read here it can make it easier to overcome the stress.
A good web site where you can see more information on topics like this is Real Estate Facts which is highly recommended. You can also Add This Article to your web site or blog. Thank you and enjoy. Article Source
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Cox

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Needing To Sell In A Slow Market?

Lets face it, with all of the things going on with the market right now you have to say that it can be difficult to get your home sold. Are you needing to sell in this slow market? Does it seem like you are having a hard time dealing with finding qualified buyers? I was chatting with one of my lenders the other day and it seems like the sub-prime industry is correcting itself.
Lenders are raising the bar when it comes to dealing with buyers... Making the buyers come up with more of a down payment. So how can a seller deal with the standards? You have to think outside the box... Remember you are trying to get as many buyers in your property as possible... The most important thing to remember is to have enough people viewing your property. The more people you have viewing the property the more likely you are to get the property sold.
True, there are many homeowners doing the FSBO to save on the commission. But, what they don't realize if Realtors can't see the home list on MLS. How will they know that your home is on the market? Also they might be selling far lower than what they really could have gotten for the property if they listed with a Realtor.
So what are some tips in trying to get the home sold in a slow market?
Tips #1: Make sure your home is priced to sell.
Remember, if your home is over price there is a possiblity that your home will set on the market a lot longer than a home that was price correctly.
Tips # 2: Are you willing to give terms to the buyer.
Are you willing to offer good terms to a buyer.... Terms can help when you are dealing with a slow market. If you tell a buyer, "if I get XY for my home I will give you repair allowances, home warranty policy, or even new appliances..."
Tip # 3: Are you willing to be creative on the fiancing.
How creative can you be when getting your home sold? Are you willing to take a small down payment and finance the amount for a period of time? Are you willing to Lease Option your home for a period of time. Are you willing to help your buyer with there closing cost? These are just a few creative ways to get your home sold.
Tip #4: Have you thought about staging your home.
Sometimes you can bring in someone to stage your home. There are companies who come in and rearrange different rooms. They will also give you suggestions on what you need to do in order to make the rooms more pleasant and ready for a buyer.
Tip # 5: Do a little remodeling.
You never know what a new paint job will do to a room... Or just fixing a few things in the bathroom and kitchen... Remodeling can pay off if it is done correctly. Just make sure you stay within your buget and don't over do it...
There you have it ... Just a few things you need to know when selling your home in a slow market....
Remember,
IF you are looking to move to the Dallas, Texas area or if you live in the Dallas area and need assistant with your home needs . Feel free to visit me at: http://www.sellorbuyhomefast.com
Learn How To Buy And Sell Real Estate! The Expert has over 6 years of experience in customer service. So he knows and understands that customer are valuable. He understands how to treat the customers and how to focus on there needs and wants. He understands that customers are looking for quality services. The Expert has over 6 years experience in dealing with Residential Real Estate and has been a Real Estate investor as a range of knowledge on creative financing. Feel Free to stop by at:http://www.sellorbuyhomefast.com

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