Archive for the ‘marketing your home’ Category
Price Your Home to Sell Today
Without the Federal Tax Credit in play, today’s home buyer’s are finding little motivation to sign on the dotted line. Mortgage rates have remained low for a long time. Inventory is creeping back up, so buyer’s have little fear of price inflation. So, what can a seller do to increase a buyer’s urgency to buy?
The #1 way that seller’s can entice buyer’s and get their attention is an aggressive price reduction. As many as 24 percent of home sellers have slashed prices in the last month–that is a 9 percent increase from June levels. And, seller’s should forget about small, nickle and dime price drops. Instead, they should dramatically drop their price to reach a search level that will open them up to new buyers that are not aware of their listing. For example, if your list price is $220,000, a drop to $199,000 will attract a new audience that is searching up to the $200,000 price point.
Bottom Line: If you are sick of waiting and want to move now, price the house to attract multiple bidders and you might even get more than you’re asking for. And remember…if you are selling your home to buy a new one, you will likely break even because the person you are buying from is in the same gut wrenching position you are.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our flat fee MLS packages, List Until Sold Packages and marketing tools can help you sell your property and save thousands of dollars in fee’s and commissions. Visit our site today for details and assistance.
Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination is not Optional! It’s the LAW!
If you are selling real estate in the United States, you need to familiarize yourself with The Federal Fair Housing Act. According to the Federal Fair Housing Act, you cannot discriminate against someone when selling a home.
The act defines seven different classes that are protected against discrimination, these include:
Race
Color
National origin
Sex
Religion
Handicap
Familial status
(You may notice that Age is not a protected class, in and of itself. Sellers of property that are zoned 55+, adult only, etc. can discriminate on the basis of age, if it violates deed restrictions, zoning or restrictive convenants.
Attention Home Sellers: You put yourself at serious risk of violating this act, if you refuse to sell or show your home to an interested buyer. Remember that ignorance of the law is not a viable excuse or defense. You will be held legally liable, even if you accidentally violate these laws without realizing it.
Review the following list of words that cannot be included in advertisements of your home, because they are in violation of the Fair Housing Laws.
Bachelor apartment
Children welcome
Couples
Gentlemans Farm
Golden Agers
Handicapped
Integrated
Married
Mature
Mother-in-Law quarters
Professional
Section 8
Seniors
Singles only
Sports-minded
Why6Percent.com encourages all home sellers to avoid any form of discrimination, at all costs. The financial penalities and fines for violating the Fair Housing Act are Severe! If you have any questions, send us an email and we will try to help you.
3 Benefits of Buying a For Sale by Owner Home
Purchasing a For Sale by Owner property has a number of unique benefits that all buyers should be aware of. Too often, buyers don’t consider fsbo listings because they are working with a real estate agent. They are unaware that most builders and owners are willing to work with buyer’s agents and many advertise their homes on the local MLS. If you are in the market for a home and you are not considering “by owner” listings…you could be missing out on some great deals.
Save Thousands on Commissions and Fee’s
When purchasing a home listed by a traditional listing broker, a 6 percent commission is factored into the seller’s asking price. Buyers often think they aren’t paying the listing commission…but in fact…the agents $6000 cut is included in every $100,000 of the asking price. When a homeowner or builder sells their own property, they pay no commission or a much smaller 3 percent to the buyers agent. This substantial savings can be passed onto the buyer, who can now afford more home or get the same home for less money.
Easy Appointments to View
If you want to look a home listed by a full service broker, you have to schedule all appointments through the listing broker. The listing broker then contacts the owner and the buyer agent to schedule a time to look inside the home. This process can often be inconvenient, or sometimes aggravating, depending on the time lapse in getting everyone on board. When dealing directly with the seller, there is no need to go through a line of people to schedule a tour. The seller will look at his schedule and immediately give you the date and time, making the entire buying process much simplier.
Negotiating the Offer
When purchasing directly from the property owner, negotiating the offer can be much easier, too. Typically, the buyers agent presents all offers to the listing agent…then, the listing agent makes an appointment to relay the offer to the seller. If the seller makes a counteroffer, the whole procedure is reversed, making the whole process take much longer than it should. When making an offer directly with the seller, the middle men are eliminated, which increases the odds of putting together a deal that works for both parties in record time.
Why6Percent.com encourages all buyers to seriously consider the many benefits of fsbo properties, whether you are working with an agent or not. Dealing directly with the owner has many distinct advantages and benefits, with none of the drawbacks. Check out InfoTube.net The website has over 20,000 properties listed directly by owner or by builder, many offering fantastic deals!!!
Home Sellers – Up Your Odds
April has been a very strong month for home sales across all area’s and price ranges. Congratulations to dozens of our MLS and Realtor.com customers , who have received strong offers on their houses this month. Great job and good luck to each of you, as you move on to your new lives.
In order to help other customers, we looked into why some sellers were successful and some were not. We found that successful home sellers had 2 things in common. Thankfully, we were thrilled to find that the common denominator was not being the cheapest priced home in the neighborhood. This year, the homes that sold for near or at the asking price were properties that were in excellant condition and staged to sell. Every single one of them!!!
“Up the Odds” of selling your home by accepting two truths about this market… and then take action.
- First Truth: The market for homes that are in poor condition or need repairs is DEAD. The huge demand is for the homes that are immaculate and ”move in” ready.
- Second Truth: The homes that were sold this spring Showed Well. Many had lingered on the market for months on end. The owners recently neutralized, depersonalized, cleaned, decluttered and staged them. Not surprisingly, every single one of these homes Sold. There is no need for debating this issue…depersonalizing and decluttering sells homes.
Why6Percent.com recommends that home seller’s chant “this is no longer my home” at least 3 times a day. Neutralize, clean, declutter and pack up. Look at the property through the eye’s of the buyer. It’s the only way to Tip the Odds in Your Favor…We Promise!
Landscape Affects Buyer’s Moods and Home Sales
Most home buyers believe they should focus on the interior features of houses more than the landscape, but the truth is, that buyers will not get out of the car if the front landscape lacks interest and upkeep. The landscape and curb appeal should arouse the buyer’s interest and lure them inside to view the interior.
To get the highest return on your landscape dollar, utilize the principles found in Landscape Design Psychology. Landscape Psychology is based upon scientific research into the effects that the landscape has on home buyers. These proven idea’s will help your home sell faster, and for more money, by working on buyer emotions and senses.
The Power of Color
Coordinate the colors of your flowering foliage. Consider your selling season and plant flowers that perform well during that period. Use plants that support your atmosphere and climate. Also, use no more than 3 colors to give continuity and form to your landscape.
Colors also have psychological power. Green suggests freshness, coolness and vitality. White shows up at night and conjures feelings of cleanliness. Yellow is the first color our eye processes, so a spot of yellow by the front door will draw the eye to your entrance. Red, yellow and Orange are all Hot colors, which excite and pick up the mood of any weary house hunter.
About.com: Landscape is a great website for the average homeowner. The site provides idea’s and advice from professionals including a plant selector, great photographs, color scheme screener, DIY tutorials and helpful tips about hedges, fences, sidewalks, lawns and more.
Another great resource for help in creating an outdoor paradise can be found at HGTV.
The Power of Smell
Realtors advise sellers to bake cookies or burn vanilla candles before showings or Open Houses because a comforting and pleasant aroma has the power to influence minds and moods.
In addition to color psychology, smart home owners give thought to the use of scents when planting a landscape. They take advantage of the power of smell, especially near pathways and entry doors, that provoke a desired emotional response.
A few inexpensive and easy to grow suggestions that add a touch of scent to any landscape include lemon scented geraniums, jasmine, rosemary, lavender, basil, roses, hostas, honeysuckle, gardenia or heliotrope. In addition to providing months of enjoyment, many of these plants perform in a vareity of places such window boxes, planters, planting beds, hanging baskets or pathways.
When it comes to selling homes, a smart psychology landscape design can give you a huge advantage over your competition. If buyers feel good while they look at your home, it is more likely to sell quickly and for top dollar.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Our clients are receiving more buyer traffic and higher offers than we have seen in the last 2 years. If you aren’t listed on the MLS, Realtor.com and major real estate sites, you are missing 10 MILLION buyers who are searching for a home every month. Call us at 1-800-381-9496 for help in marketing your home!
Neighbor’s Eyesore Home Stops a Sale
The appearance of nearby and neighboring homes absolutely affects a homeowners’ abililty to sell their property. Even if your home is the gem and pride of the neighborhood, buyers will be turned off if you live next door to an eyesore.
Problems with neglected, abandoned property and homes that have fallen into disrepair has escalated since the economic meltdown.
Why 6 recommends that sellers take action by placing a friendly call to the homeowner, explain they are trying to sell their home and ask them clean up their property. Or, if it’s appropriate, a seller can offer to clean up unsightly messes themselves. If a phone call fails to resolve the concern, contact local code enforcement officials or homeowners associations to find out if there is a code violation. If so, file a compliant.
A shabby run down home devalues every home near it. It’s your neighborhood. Step Up!!
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Place a Property listing on your local MLS, Realtor.com and all major real estate sites for $399…why pay 6 percent????
10 Tips for Open House Weekend!
Open House Strategies for Success
- Set the Stage. Mow, clean, store and pack. Open the windows and pull back the drapes. Turn on the lights and light a few candles.
- Consider taking your pet to a neighbor or pet sitter during your Open House.
- Use a sign-in notebook to record contact information and invite comments and feedback.
- Ask a mortgage company to assist you in holding an open house. Many local companies provide an on-site lending officer to assist buyers in calculating payments and exploring financing options.
- Consider calling your local title company to see if they offer assistance to sellers holding open houses. Most of these companies offer a variety of free, helpful assistance, often including food, signage, advertising, etc…
- It is best to keep your Open House an adult only event. Consider arranging for your children to be away during your Open House.
- Don’t crowd the attendee’s or become their tour guide. Greet each visitor at the door and be available to answer any questions they might have, but stay in the background. Encourage the buyers to tour on their own and at their own pace. Make every effort to insure that each person is at ease. Allow them the privacy and time they need to discover all features of your home that interest them.
- Place small items, such as jewelry and medications, in a safe place during your Open House. Theft and stealing are very rare, but do occur occasionally in some areas. Safekeeping a few items will give you peace of mind and will assist you in your effort to Stage and Show your home.
- Be prepared for comments that you may not appreciate and try to not go on the defensive. You are selling, but remember buyers are buying. Remain composed when hurtful comments are made about your décor, price, neighbors, floorplan or location. Bite your tongue, smile, remain professional and courteous. Showing your own home is a most difficult task. To do it successfully, it is necessary to remain objective and most of us are not, especially about our home. Be polite and helpful to the buyer at all costs, no matter how hard.
- Smile, relax and enjoy meeting new people. Your Open House is your time to stand in the spot light, so greet your visitors as you would like to be greeted.
In conclusion, remember that holding an Open House is not mandatory for selling a home. It is a valuable marketing tool because it allows home shoppers easy access to your home. They are also very cost effective in terms of exposure, if you get the buyers to attend. On the other hand, you may not want the public touring your home or open houses may not be popular in your area. The decision to host or not is up to you…
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. National Open House Weekend is this Saturday and Sunday. Buyers will be looking for Royal Blue balloons flying at Open Houses held by Realtors. Make the most of this opportunity and make sure blue balloons are flying at your house, too. Best of luck and let us know how you did!
Tips for a Successful Open House
For Sale Signs are popping up like tulips and National Open House Weekend is this Saturday and Sunday.
InfoTube.net is posting a series of short articles about Holding a Successful Open House prior to the event. To read todays post…CLICK HERE…
Todays Topics Include:
- Chosing the Perfect Time
- How to Draw a Big Crowd
- Where to Post Your Advertisement for Free
- Much More
Tomorrow, InfoTube will give you the inside scoop on preparing for the big event this weekend…so check in with us daily and start sprucing up your home now!
Thank you for stopping by Why6Percent.com blog. Our job is to keep you informed about events and topics of interest to home sellers. Click links to Follow our Blog or become our Facebook Fan for instant info and updates.
Make Sure You’re Ready for National Open House Week!
Flat Fee MLS or Not? Separating Hype from Fact
What is the MLS?
The Multiple Listing Service is a database of homes for sale. Run by the local Board of Realtors®, the MLS is the traditional method agents use to find homes for their buyers or advertise their listings to other agents. MLS listings include detailed information about the property. Besides address and selling price, a listing generally includes the number and size of rooms, annual property taxes, local schools, selling agent and more. Most include photo’s of the home.
Facts about the MLS:
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the fantastic way real estate brokers provide information to one another. MLS allows each agent to see all properties for sale in a given market, greatly expanding the sales force of all properties.
The Internet now provides MLS property information, in real-time, to brokers, agents, home sellers and homebuyers. The MLS is looked at by potentially thousands of real estate agents in your market that might have a prospective buyer for your home. And, it reaches 90 Percent of the Home Buyers who search on the Internet.
- Benefits of MLS Advertisement: There is one very significant benefit to having your home listed in the MLS listing…EXPOSURE! The fact that your home is for sale will now be known to the hundreds, if not thousands of real estate brokers and agents in your market. To maximize your benefit from this exposure, you will need to be willing to “co-op” a real estate agent, if they bring a buyer to purchase your home. Co-op means that you will cooperate in a commission incentive to the real estate agent. Typically buyer’s agents earn between 2 and 3 percent of the sale price of the home.
- Reach Buyers Searching on the Internet: Another key benefit to listing your home on the MLS is in most areas of the United States, the property appears on websites like MSN HomeAdvisor, Yahoo! Real Estate, Realtor.com, Google.com, Zillow.com, etc. and local state websites. Many of the multiple listing services send their inventory directly to these sites to enable even more exposure for homeowners. Millions of people from all over the U.S. use these various websites to search for homes daily. Recent data shows that the first thing homebuyers do is search the internet, often far in advance of their actual move.
- Global Reach: MLS also reaches the transferee’s moving to your town. In today’s transient society, people relocating from all over the U.S. first find the homes they would like to see on the internet. They supply their “must see” list to the buyer’s agent located in the area they are moving to. When relocating buyers are in town searching for a home, time is limited and every minute counts. Buyer’s agents quickly become critical to the transferee’s home search and relocating homebuyers rely heavily on assistance from a buyer’s agent. Therefore, the MLS can be key to exposing your home to relocating buyers.
Considerations: The MLS is a wonderful way to expand your advertising reach and certainly has value. If your goal is maximum exposure, then MLS is an answer. Contact Why6Percent.com and get started Today!
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. Remember, you can sell your home! You have the ability and there is a buyer for your home. Stay optimistic and remember, the money you save will justify the time, energy and emotion that you will expend!