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| Five Keys To Selling In A Slow Market |
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| September 01, 2010 - Real Estate |
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(ARA) - Not everyone who relocates has the luxury of doing it when school is out and the yard looks beautiful. If you're forced to sell your house and/or buy a new one outside peak season, you might have to work a little harder and think creatively.
Anyone who has bought or sold a home has heard the standard advice: Find a good agent, be aware of local home values, fix up the house you're selling and research school districts and crime rates where you're buying.
"It's all good advice, but it's not always enough," says Rich Novak, assistant vice president of Home Solutions, with USAA, a full-service financial services provider serving military personnel and their families. "Families who need to move quickly during a tough real estate market may need to go the extra mile to close a sale."
Keep these five themes in mind from the moment you start planning your next move:
1. Dig deeper: You probably already know to use neighboring home values as a comparison point for selling or buying. But in today's market, some additional homework can pay off. If you need to sell quickly, for example, keep a close eye on what other houses are selling for in your neighborhood and stay ahead of the market by pricing yours lower. In the wake of the bursting real estate bubble, it's also important to have a heightened awareness of foreclosures, both where you're selling and buying. As unfair as it seems, any foreclosures on your street can put a dent in your home's market value. And if foreclosures are still prevalent in the neighborhood you're moving to, it could be a warning sign that values could continue to drop after you buy.
2. Be involved: Just because you're working with a realtor doesn't mean you can't do some of your own legwork.
"The first 10 days on the market are the most critical to selling a home because new listings tend to get the most attention from buyers," says Brenda Wall, relocation director with ERA Colonial Real Estate in San Antonio, Texas. "Anything a seller can do to get their home ready to sell before putting it on the market would be helpful, including de-cluttering, cleaning, painting if needed and making the home look spacious and bright."
The Internet and social media have opened limitless new strategies to sell your home and find your next one. Try Craigslist, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. And don't be shy, say real estate agents. When you're selling, post pictures that show your home at its best and upload a narrated video tour - because that's what you'd want to see as a buyer. At some real estate agencies, a video tour is becoming the new requirement for sellers.
3. Accept a helping hand: Take advantage of a wide range of services, beyond your local realtor's, that could help you streamline the buying and selling process. Some cost money, such as home "staging" services that can help whip your house into selling shape. Others are free, such as relocation benefits offered by some employers, or the military's Homeowners Assistance Program. One free service actually helps you while you are out and about looking for a place to live. For example, Home Circle from USAA provides free home search services on the Web and through an iPhone app that gives you access to the same comprehensive listing information real estate agents use, driving directions to the homes you've searched and organization of pictures taken to help you keep track of all the homes you've seen. Chances are you qualify for some type of assistance through an employer, the government, or an association you belong to - you just have to ask.
4. Get creative: Sometimes it takes out-of-the-box ideas to seal a deal. If you know that a potential buyer is wavering on whether to make an offer on your house, buck convention by making a "reverse offer," where you try to win the sale with an attractive price. Sellers might also sweeten the pot with extra incentives. Money toward closing costs or prepaid homeowner's dues are common buyer incentives, but why not set yourself apart by offering a free trip to a beach resort?
If you're the one buying but can't find the perfect house, ask your agent to look up houses that were recently taken off the market. You might be able to request a "one-time showing" and get a bargain price on a house the owners thought they couldn't sell.
5. Remain flexible: According to the experts, buyers and sellers should keep their pride in check and be willing to make some concessions, especially in a tough market. That means not haggling over minor repairs or refusing to leave behind the chandelier your potential buyer loves. Factor in the cost of keeping up your home for several more months versus just accepting a lower selling price today.
"Always think in terms of the bigger picture. Don't lose a deal over $500," says Jodi Van Wagner, a Coldwell Banker agent in the Pensacola, Fla., area.
Even in the most sluggish real estate market, an early start and an open mind are two of the best strategies to make your next move go smoothly.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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| Four Ways to Improve The Resale Value of Your Home |
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| July 01, 2010 - Real Estate |
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(ARA) - In a tough housing market, homeowners want to improve their home's beauty and functionality, while adding resale value. This may include choosing products that reduce maintenance, save energy, improve appearance and offer protection from the damaging forces of nature. Here are some tips for problem areas that could benefit from the latest home solutions:
Timeless decks with natural looks
In the past decade, alternatives to wood decking products have made many claims of low-maintenance. However, if your deck has stains and is in an environment that breeds mold and mildew, maybe it's time to look at some new options on the market. If your decking product contains wood fibers, it may be absorbing stains and getting scratched in everyday use.
"There are low-maintenance products that give homeowners a rich selection of deeper deck shades, tropical hardwood looks and durable, sturdy railings that complement these colors," says Mike Gori, deck expert for AZEK Building Products, maker of AZEK Deck. He says the secret is cellular PVC technology, which resists food stains - even red wine - and stands up to the most high energy kids, dogs or neighborhood deck parties. Low-maintenance decks also increase your home's value because they economically add living space and are easy to clean.
Lattice entertain you
If you think your outdoor planters and window boxes cannot have detailed lattice work and scrolled designs because of a high moisture environment, think again. There are natural looking materials that support plant life and won't rot, split or warp, even with continuous watering and sunlight. For example, Walpole Woodworkers features the Freeport Collection of low-maintenance cellular vinyl boxes and planters that look like the real thing and have classic detail and lattice designs.
These durable items do not need liners and come with pre-drilled drainage holes. Beautifully crafted window boxes are charming accents to your home and bring color right outside your window. Adding architectural details also makes your home stand out in the neighborhood. The company offers free catalogs at (800) 343-6948 or visit www.walpolewoodworkers.com.
Stay pumped, go green
Following one of the wettest winters on record in many areas of the country, keeping your home safe from damaging flood waters is critical. Now, there are sump pumps that offer maximum protection, save energy and are very easy to install. They also feature backup battery pumps and alarms for extra protection in case of power outages. This increases peace of mind for homeowners and could be a make or break selling point.
The experts at WAYNE Pumps advise that if your sump pump is more than 10 years old, it may need to be replaced with new technology. "Our sump pump hydraulic expertise has evolved to where we can offer pumps that move more water faster using up to 50 percent less energy," says President Joe Mauro. "We've also developed features like quieter operation and the new iSwitch that uses a microprocessor to sense rising water levels before they could become a problem." He points out that investment in a reliable sump pump and battery backup system is minor compared to the damage water can do to valuables, family heirlooms and your home's resale value. Self-testing features to keep backup pumps in top shape and wireless alarms offer even more layers of protection for your home. For more information, visit www.waynepumps.com.
Repair cracks to prevent future damage
A small crack in your driveway or cement steps can become a crater, due to harsh weather and temperature changes. Crumbling concrete or cracked driveways can detract from curb appeal and reduce resale value. However, if properly sealed with the right caulk product, your outdoor masonry or blacktop areas can be repaired without continuing to deteriorate. You can also seal off energy leaks and keep out damaging moisture, indoors and out, such as around windows, receptacles and under the door step.
"We've been developing new caulks, such as our new RD 3000 advanced sealant line formulated to move and remain flexible once cured, allowing more stability through climate changes or pressure," says Jason Ringling, marketing director at Red Devil, Inc.
He noted that driveways, concrete steps and walkways can experience movement from car and foot traffic and endure the freeze/thaw cycles of the seasons. "You need a durable sealant that stands up to the elements to prevent the damage from spreading," he says. Always look for products specifically for concrete, blacktop, gutters and windows and doors. A simple caulk job reportedly can save you up to 20 percent in energy bills and big bucks in outdoor repairs.
Homeowners can make informed, smart choices about products that will improve their home's resale value and add enjoyment to their current lifestyle.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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| Real Estate Agents Top 10 Marketing Preferences |
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| April 20, 2010 - Real Estate |
| Over 1300 agents reveal their most effective marketing strategies. |
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(PRWEB Release) A recent HomeGain® survey revealed the top marketing choices or real estate professionals in 2010. Referrals ranked number one; MySpace ranked last.
Based on responses from over 1,300 real estate agents and brokers who completed the HomeGain Realtor Marketing Survey, the results show that they think referrals are the most effective strategy to acquire new clients, with a cumulative overall score of 8.7 out of a possible 10 for effectiveness. Surveyed agents reported that they will continue to focus on referrals as their leading marketing strategy in 2010. Featured listings (4.8 score) and email campaigns (4.7 score) were considered the next most effective marketing strategies.
The survey shows that Realtors rank banner ads, Twitter, pay per click advertising, YouTube and MySpace as the least effective marketing methods.
Although Realtors did not rank Facebook as a top five most effective marketing method (scored at 4.9), surveyed agents indicated that they will increase their use of it in their marketing plans in 2010.
The survey also shows that in 2010, real estate agents plan to continue to focus on referrals, email campaigns and featured listings. They are less likely to invest their marketing dollars and time on Twitter, banner ads, pay per click advertising, outdoor advertising and MySpace.
"While Realtors are increasingly moving their marketing activities online, it's interesting to see the continued strength and perceived effectiveness of print and mailer campaigns," stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain.
Top 10 Effective Marketing Strategies for Realtors (Cumulative Averages, 1=least effective/10 most effective):
1. Referrals (Total score of 8.7 out of 10)
2. Featured Listings (4.8)
3. Email Campaigns (4.7)
4. Postcards/Mailers (4.6
5. Blogging (4.1)
6. Online Lead Generation Services (4.0)
7. Facebook (4.0)
8. LinkedIn (3.6)
9. Outdoor Ads (3.6)
10. Print Ads (3.6)
Top 10 Marketing Objectives for Realtors in 2010 (Cumulative Averages, 1=least likely to use/10 most likely to use):
1. Referrals (8.9)
2. Email Campaigns (5.7)
3. Postcards/Mailers (5.4)
4. Featured Listings (5.2)
5. Facebook (4.9)
6. Print Ads (4.3)
7. Blogging (4.2)
8. LinkedIn (4.1)
9. Online Lead Generation Services (4.0)
10. YouTube (3.5)
(Cumulative averages are based on two surveys conducted in December 2009 and February 2010.)
Based in Emeryville, CA, HomeGain is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, a strategic joint venture formed by Belo Corp., Gannett Co., The McClatchy Company, Tribune Company, and The Washington Post Company. Classified Ventures also owns and operates Cars.com and Apartments.com.
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