|
|
|
|
|
Real Estate News | USA Real Estate | Canada Real Estate | Real Estate Articles Personal Finance | Loans | Mortgages | Finance News
Get Real Estate Leads Thinking About Selling Your Home?
Owning a home is the original American dream. It's the old frontier spirit, wanting to claim your own tuft of the New World. Then again, these days it also makes perfect economic sense. Experts estimate that all of the homes in the United States alone are worth a combined $14 trillion. That goes a long way to explain why a housing boom has been sweeping the globe. Where there is a boom, though, there may be a bust. Read any headline from your local newspaper, and you'll see headlines such as "Bye-Bye, Housing Boom" to "Housing Boom is Leveling Off." Some economic forecasters predict a bubble that may be about to burst. They make you wonder: am I missing the boat? Whether you're looking to cash in on this real estate bubble before it pops-or simply wanting to move to a bigger home or move across the country-selling your home can be more a nightmare than a dream. Not only do you have to find and trust a real estate agent. You need to prep your home for open houses. You need to haggle with prospective buyers. Not to mention, you have to worry about the moving and selling of all of your valuables. It's almost enough to make you want to live in one home for the rest of your life-just as folks did in your grandparents' day. Then again, your home is worth a percentage of that $14 trillion. Don't you want to see just how much? As hectic and horrible as selling a home may seem, it really isn't so bad if you break it down into a few simple rules. If you don't believe us, read the rules for yourself. Fuss over the façade. Your home's future owners do not want to worry about repairs and renovations as soon as they move in. So make certain they don't. Be sure to have your home immaculately clean before you invite prospective buyers over. Redecorate if your interior is outdated. And invest in minor renovations if necessary. You'd be surprised what a coat of paint can do. Focus on the fine details. Prospective buyers will leave no stone unturned when they visit your home. They will test every light switch, run every faucet, and lift up every toilet seat. Everything-and we mean everything-should be in working order before your open house. Double check for blown out light bulbs and leaky faucets. Scrub the bathroom and clean up any ring around the bowl, tub scum, and any other nasty surprise. Don't settle for maybes on safety. Ensure that there are no safety hazards anywhere on your property. Something as small as uncovered electrical sockets or as large as an unfenced pool can scare off buyers, especially parents of small children. Create a soothing selling atmosphere. Imagine the last time you visited a bed and breakfast. Your home should be as welcoming and accommodating as that. One easy way to accomplish this is by brightening up the place. Turn on all your lights for your visitors. Plus, fluff up your bedroom. After all, most people want the bedroom to be the most comfortable spot in the house. Make sure it is-at least when buyers are around. Clear the joint. Along with the last rule, there is the standard real estate practice of vacating the premises when buyers come for tours. This is done for good reason. Buyers are there to evaluate your home, not meet your sisters, sons, cousins, and cats. So send your family to the mall for a day of shopping, or to the park for a picnic. Cut the clutter. All of your stuff can get in the way, too. That's why it's important to start packing and storing your personal belongings as soon as you know you're going to move. An empty house is a cleaner looking house is a more attractive house. You don't want your perspective buyer opening a closet and having a bowling ball fall on their head, do you? Make a killing on said clutter. One option is to simply move your personal items to your new home and create instant clutter there. That's the way of the pack rat. Or, you could sell what you no longer need and turn a quick profit. That's the way of the fat cat. If you choose wisely-the latter option-be sure not to hold your garage sale on the same days as your open houses. Neighbors in their undershirts and jeans on your front lawn do make for a great sales ploy. Instead, it makes you look desperate and could hurt you come negotiations. Schedule your yard sale on separate days. Better yet, sell your goods online. Classified Web sites allow you to negotiate with potential buyers, get the best rates for your stuff, and ship it off at your own convenience. And it's all accomplished on your own time, inside your own home (where you can wear your undershirt and jeans and no one will care). Take a deep breath. Lastly, never let the home-selling experience overwhelm you. Sure, there are a load of responsibilities to take care of. But that is what your real estate agent is there for. They handle all of the grunt work. They do all of the hard talking with the buyer. They make all the follow-up calls. And they showcase your home for you. Your job is just to smile, be polite, and answer the buyer's questions if they come up. Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds.
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Title Insurance - Examples of Problems and Advice What is title insurance and why should any buyer get it when purchasing a home (single family, townhouse, condo, apartment, or whatever format your home purchase takes)? Doesn't the attorney or settlement company handling the closing see to it that you have a clear title? Isn't this just another way for someone to siphon a few coins off a real estate transaction?Title InsuranceTitle insurance prevents the property owner from suffering financial loss if, at any time during his ownership of the property, someone comes along who can show that they have full, or partial, ownership of the property instead. Every mortgage lender I'm aware of requires title insurance be purchased to cover the amount of the mortgage. Searching for CLUEs: What Homebuyers & Sellers Need to Know About Homeowners Insurance Homebuyers and sellers should be aware about issues involving homeowners insurance and the C.L. Branded Email in the Real Estate Industry Branded Email in the Real Estate IndustryYou're in the real estate industry, and that means you've got a brand. Chances are, you've spent quite a bit of money to build that brand, whether it's through franchising fees, marketing, websites, business cards, other print materials, advertising, yard signs, and/or through other means. Real Estate Local FAQs. There are many frequently asked questions and any local real estate area. In our area here at the local Delaware Beaches, the most frequently asked questions are how to get a good deal and if there are any fixer-uppers available. How To Create A House Buying Wish List For Your Dream Home Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you will ever do. But there are LOTS of little details involved - details which can be very costly if they are overlooked. 10 Things You Shouldnt Do When Youre Buying a Home Home Buying Don'tsYour home buying process is well underway. The sellers accepted your offer to purchase. Where Does Your Real Estate Commission Fee Go - Why is The Commission so HIGH? Many who have bought and sold properties through Realtors numerous times; even many real estate agents themselves, don't know where the commission money goes. After all, when a property sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars and the commission is tens of thousands of dollars, it seems like there is a terrific amount of money charged as commission -- and there is. Buying a Home: The 5 Biggest Mistakes that a Home Buyer Makes As a Professional Real Estate Inspector I get to see and hear the right and wrong things people do when buying a home. These 5 tips will help you choose the right Real Estate Agent the first time. Buying a House in Scotland Buying a house in Scotland is slightly different from buying a house in other parts of the UK. It's not particularly complicated, and buying north of the border can often be quicker, but for those relocating from England and Wales there are a number of points you need to bear in mind. Why it is Important to Hire Just One Real Estate Agent to Buy a Home In our fast paced and frantic real estate market, buying a home takes quick action and strong representation. Some buyers decide to involve several agents in their search for a home, assuming that there is strength in numbers. Financing Houses What Real Estate Lenders Look ForLenders control many programs -- some make use of over 200! Generally, lenders look for the following typical standards, with many exceptions:1. Absolutely no late mortgage payments 2. San Diego Real Estate San Diego is home to millions of beautiful apartments, condominiums, and single-family homes. Depending on the type of living arrangement you're looking for, and how much space you'll need, you should look at the appropriate San Diego real estate listings that fit your preferences and budget. Be A Realtor With Curb Appeal Are you a realtor with curb appeal or are you more of a fixer-upper needful of updating?How you present yourself to colleagues, buyers and sellers, from the very first moment, will influence your sales records as well as the confidence and satisfaction your new clients feel. Even if you're a Realtor in demand, with more listings than hours in a week, you may well find areas that you can polish. Real Estate: The Consumers Will Have The Final Word! "The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance". Real Estate Marketing, Do You Use Direct Mail? Prospecting for leads is by far the most difficult part of being a Realtor or small business professional. In fact, lead development is by far the most expensive and time consuming aspect of your job. What to Look for in a Home Searching for just the right home can be very exciting. You may plan ahead for the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you want. Real Estate Investing - The Dream House Effect Several years ago I developed a philosophy in renovating houses which resulted in a finished product that I call a "Dream House" or "Doll House."How many houses on the market today look very ordinary and less than perfect? How many look "Plain Jane?" What is the difference between these "average" houses and the house on the block that is strikingly different at even the distance of a windshield view?The pronounced difference in the outstanding property offered for sale might be brilliant new lawn grass. How to Eliminate Risk in Real Estate Investment Avoid 12 Common Mistakes Made by Novice Investors and Ensure High Rates of Return!Real estate investment has provided many investors with positive cash flow, tax benefits and satisfaction of making an impact in others lives. Like any investment however, real estate has intricate nuances and market trends that when ignored can cause an investor tremendous heart ache. Is Housing and Real Estate Bubble Hype Irrational Exuberance? Not so, says the author of this article and four real estate books including the recent "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home". The upside of the hype is for real estate consumers and investors. Lock In Big Profits By Offering Rent To Own Deals Why would anyone accept a lease option, rent to own deal? Why would you, as a seller/investor look to find rent to own tenants? How can you use this technique to LOCK IN profits that are much greater than would be found in a straight sale?Basically, the advantages depend on which of two end results occur: either the rent to own tenant completes on the property, or they don't. You make money either way!There are MANY people who have less than sterling credit, might not have a long time on the job, or not have a ton of money for down payment, closing, etc.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
