Archive for the ‘selling your home’ Category
Links that Save American Jobs and Support American Made Products
Paul Choi, a long time supporter of the American worker and American dream, complied a list of Links for People who are interested in fighting the Chinese import tsumani.
If you would like to Vote for Made in the USA products, please CLICK HERE. If you want to express your outrage about the outsourcing of American jobs, CLICK HERE. If you want to reach our politicians and news reporters and tell them what you t hink about the Companies who are shipping jobs overseas, CLICK HERE!!
Thank you for helping InfoTube Fight for American Jobs and Products!!! Your Money is Your Vote…Spend it Wisely!
InfoTube, The Hillman Group and China
I am very happy to report that the public outcry about outsourcing American products, specifically Infotube and Infobox, to China has been encouraging, enlightening, motivating and best of all…it may be working to save jobs and keep American made products on the shelves.
As a result of your emails, calls, petitions, Facebook posts, etc. some strange things have happened. We have been contacted by a US Senator, offering his assistance. We have been interviewed on radio news and talk shows and our story has shown up in print across the country. And, we still have our fingers crossed that we might receive a call from Diane Sawyer and ABC news about our story and products.
If you haven’t told Diane and ABC what your favorite American products are, click this LINK and do so, today! Please don’t forget to mention InfoTube and InfoBox!
Perhaps, the most surprising outcome, so far, has been our two discussions with senior management at The Hillman Group. Surprising, because it is happening at all. Surprising, again, because we are each sharing information and I feel that everyone is sincere about wanting to reach a resolution.
Rest assured that we won’t give up the fight until we hear that Crow Erickson will continue to sell Infotubes and InfoBoxes to our major d-i-y retail customers, like we have done for nearly two decades.
Sadly, during our meeting yesterday, Hillman management confirmed that they have shipped some of the Chinese copycat product…identifible by its Yellow lid…to Home Depot, Lowes and Menards. The retailers, in turn, hung it up in the sign department where the InfoTube and InfoBox used to proudly hang.
Please ask for InfoTube and InfoBox by name at the store!! Simply, refuse to purchase the Chinese Yellow Lid product. You know what is at stake and your money is counted as your vote.
A concerned consumer may have said it best in their reply to an email they received from the Hillman Group.
“See, we American voters may truly be powerless, but we American consumers are not. We are fed up watching big corporations, like yours, screw American businesses, and so if you think this lame email has calmed me, you are wrong. I am just getting started.” Cynn Chadwick
If you have a problem finding our products in the stores, you can purchase through our secure our website or through one of our valued, loyal internet vendors….many of whom took action on our behalf…even though by doing so, they face more sales competition.
Thank you again for your support, your comments and your encouragement. If this little company can find a way to beat the competition over in communist China…then, so can other companies!
Buy American and Support your Homeland!!! We aren’t anti-chinese…we are just Pro-American!
Tommi Crow
President, Crow Erickson Inc. 1854A Hendersonville Rd #221 – Asheville, NC 28803. 1-800-858-6000
Radio News Interview and Call from Senator Richard Burr’s Office
I was interviewed on Clear Channel News this morning about our Fight to Save our Company and American jobs from the chinese, copycat imports of InfoBox that are being brought into the US by The Hillman Group, distributors for Lowes, Home Depot and Menards.
After the radio interview, we received a call from Senator Richard Burr’s (R) office to inquire about our story. The Senator’s office is looking into the matter to determine how they can help. Thank you, Senator Burr!
Tommi Crow radio interview on Jameson show
I would like to say a BIG thank you to Jerri Jameson at WWNC News Radio 570 for having us on her show this morning.
Thanks for following our story and for your support! Please continue to sign our petition and send emails to Lowes, Home Depot and Menardsn telling them that InfoTube and InfoBox SHOULD NOT be replaced with chinese imports.
National Home Improvement Stores Outsource American Jobs to China
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Home Improvement Stores Outsource American Jobs to China Home Depot, Lowe’s vendor ignores U.S. patents, outsources popular INFOBOX®
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (May 10, 2011)—Recently, Hillman Group, vendor to national DIY home-improvement retail giants Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Menards, replaced the store’s popular American-made INFOTUBE® and INFOBOX® products with Chinese factory replicas.
INFOTUBE® literature boxes were invented 23 years ago in a garage in Dallas, TX, to provide Realtors®, builders and homeowners with an affordable way to sell their homes. Today, millions of these patented real-estate literature boxes are being used in neighborhoods across America.
In March, Hillman informed Crow Erickson it was replacing INFOTUBE® and INFOBOX® products effective immediately, leaving thousands of boxes stranded on the docks and effectively closing the doors of the Asheville, NC-based manufacturer and inventor. Caplugs® factory jobs in Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY will also be affected, two areas already hard hit in this economy.
Crow Erickson’s patent attorney has inspected the Chinese product, currently available on Home Depot’s website, and it does appear to be copy of the INFOBOX® design, something Hillman insiders have conceded. The Chinese knockoff provides no cost savings to the consumer.
This is not the first time Hillman has ignored U.S. patents and put American jobs in jeopardy, including the hundreds of disabled and handicapped American workers that Crow Erickson has employed at competitive wages in partnership with vocational rehabilitation centers.
In the 1990s, Hillman tried to outsource INFOTUBE® products, a patent violation against which Crow Erickson took legal action. The settlement required Hillman to renew its contract for INFOTUBE® and agree not to compete in its product niche.
Apparently Hillman is banking on the rising cost of lawsuits to deter the small, woman-owned business from pursuing legal remedy this time around.
Crow Erickson has made numerous direct appeals to the Hillman Group and senior management at Lowe’s and Home Depot, citing its 20+ year successful partnership, patent concerns, and a desire to work with all parties for a mutually beneficial and cost-competitive resolution.
To date, Crow Erickson has not been able to engage Hillman, Lowe’s or Home Depot in any meaningful discussion and has been left with no recourse other than pursue costly legal action or close its doors and watch another American-made product fall victim to Chinese factories.
Crow Erickson is currently launching a public media campaign to save American jobs. More information can be found on www.infotube.net and the company’s blog. INFOTUBE® is also sponsoring an online petition to save American jobs from export to China which can be viewed and signed on The Petition Site at Help-Save-American-Jobs.
Contact:
Tommi Crow
President, Crow Erickson, Inc.
800-858-6000 (o) 828-230-2260 (cel)
7 Tips to Sell Your Home this Weekend
In today’s’ super-competitive housing market, it is essential that homebuyers picture themselves living inside the home you are trying to sell.
7 Home Selling Tips from the Lips of Top Selling Agents
- For starters, take down the Wallpaper – Trust me when I say, “Buyers just do not like wallpaper.” If you doubt how personal wallpaper is…just walk into any wallpaper store and stare at the thousands of available patterns. Chances of your tastes matching are at least a thousand to one. Don’t risk it! Pull that paper down!
- The Clutter HAS to Go! Living in a house is alot different than Selling a house. It is easy to get blind to your own clutter. Ask a friend, neighbor or neutral party to be honest with you. Then, pack away every single thing you don’t use. And, clear the kitchen counters completely.
- Smelly Homes Will NOT Sell. Agents have an old saying, “If I can smell it, I can’t sell it.” Pet smells, musty odor’s, etc will kill a sale everytime.
- White is not a Color. But, paint is your friend. Every room should have a fresh coat of paint in a warm, neutral color.
- A Spot of Color. Everyone loves flowers. Place pots with colorful annual flowers by the front door or plant seasonal color in the beds to make your home inviting and memorable.
- Househunting Begins on the Internet. If your property is not exposed on the internet, your chances of a buyer finding you are very small. Tip the odds in your favor by advertising your home on the MLS and all the major search engines for real estate. InfoTube also offers FREE property listings on its website. Also, make sure your listing includes at least 10 good photo’s of the interior and exterior of your home. If possible, also include a video tour of the house and neighborhood.
- Forget About Comp’s and Sold Properties. Study your competition, which means homes currently For Sale. If your home is priced too high when compared to your competition, it is going to sit for a long, long time.
Homeowners should please keep in mind that Buyers have a lot of choices. The homeowner who can make their house stand out among the vast inventory of “For Sale” signs will the one who wins the selling game.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com,, your do-it-yourself home selling source. We can bring buyer’s to your door. Check out our website to see how we’ve helped thousands of home sellers.
No First Time Buyers Hurt Housing Market
The lack of first-time buyers is hurting the housing market and their absense is hampering the recovery.
In normal markets, first time buyers make up 40%-45% of all home purchasers. Since January of 2011, purchases made by first time buyers averages only 32%
Why is this important for existing home sales?
First time buyers are crucial to the market because they buy starter homes so those owners can step up to a more expensive property. Despite low mortgage rates and deeply discounted prices, they are remaining on the sidelines…at least for now.
What may be keeping first time buyers out of the housing market?
Some experts point to a hangover from the Expired Tax Credit of 2009 and 201o, which may have lured buyers into a home sooner than later. Some point to tighter lending standards and increased down payment requirements. The best loan terms now kick in with a down payment of 20% or more, which may be very difficult for a first time homeowner.
The Silver Lining — The National Association of Realtors reported that a record 33% of all existing home sales in Febuary were to Cash Buyers. In some parts of the country, cash buyers accounted for more than half of all the existing homes sold.
Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com. We have helped thousands of home sellers and builders market their homes and save money. We can help you, too! Visit our website for facts and details.
Home Sellers should check out InfoTube.NET a FREE homes for sale and rent website. Visit the site to place a free ad on your property, view listings or to purchase a Made in America InfoTube or InfoBoxe to help you market your home on the street.
We can also arrange for your property to be shown on your local MLS and/or Realtor.com and all major real estate websites. CLICK HERE for details.
Who is Buying a Home This Year? The Baby Boomers, Baby!
If you have a condo, ranch, one level bungalow or a home with the master on the main level that you need to sell, this may be your lucky year. The baby boomers (those 77 million people that were born between 1945 and 1964) are back in the housing market in a big way..and they often pay cash.
The aging boomers have finally worked up the courage to sell the family house, depreciated as it is, and roll the home equity into their last ever home purchase. Ironically, the catalyst for this trend has nothing to do with real estate. The motivation is age, quality of life and the stock market. The stock market is back, bringing with it the net worth of the boomer generation, who controls 80 percent of the financial assets in the United States.
If you own a one level, low maintenance home…you are already sitting in tall cotton…but you can do some simple things to sweeten the pot even more…if you know what to emphasize and what needs to be done.
Capitalize on the needs of the 65+ year olds, who are looking for place that they can grow old in. They are naturally drawn to homes that are easy and safe to live in, even if managing stairs and home maintenance is hard to do.
- Replace door knobs with levered handles.
- Replace knob-type plumbing fixtures and cabinet pulls with levers or open handles.
- Today’s house only needs one bathtub. Offer at least one, barrier free shower on the main floor, even if means taking out a bathtub.
- Put a laundry room on the main floor, even if you have to eliminate a closet or half-bath to do so.
- Consider making entryway staircases longer and more gentle. Create an option to add a wheelchair ramp to one side, if needed.
- Consider adding grab bars in glass enclosures or if your bathroom has wide open space.
- Replace carpeting with tile, hardwoods or laminate flooring for easier maintenance, durability and a smoother surface.
- Provide ample indoor lighting and don’t forget the outdoor security lights.
- Provide outdoor handrails on stairs, inclines or wherever necessary
Marketing Insight: Most home improvements, suggested above, offer easy living appeal for all ages. Just because your house is senior friendly doesn’t lessen the appeal to everyone else, but always be tactful. Design two InfoSheets for Buyers. Offer one in a standard format and create another that highlights senior-ready amenities.
Why 6 Perent has been helping home sellers’ reach home buyers while saving thousands of dollars in commissions and fee’s. If you have the ability to show your own home to buyers’, then you should seriously consider a low flat fee MLS listing or an ad on Realtor.com. Our specialized program reachs 10 million home shoppers each month for pennies a day.
Thank you for visiting our blog!
Truth about Winter Home Sales
Seller’s often wonder if they should take their home off the market during winter. My answer is usually “NO”. Seller’s expend a lot of money and effort to get a home ready for sale and it does no good if the property isn’t on the market. And, while there are fewer buyer’s during winter, there are also fewer homes for sale.
But, if you’re still debating…consider the following:
- Winter, spring, summer or fall…if you’re priced above the rest of the market, your home will help sell the well priced listings, but not yours.
- There is less competition from competing homes during winter and less inventory benefits sellers’.
- Buyer’s who are househunting during winter are serious and truly motivated.
- Interest rates trend lower during winter months, when loan demand is low.
- Gardens and landscape don’t look as appealing in winter. If your home won’t exactly win ”yard of the month” during summer…a snowy winter may actually level the playing field for you.
- Don’t believe that if you pull your home off the market during winter, you can bring it back in the spring as a new listing. No one is fooled by this trick. Your listing will still appear as canceled and relisted in the MLS.
- If it’s not on the market, the right buyer may come and go.
Thank you for stopping by Why6Percent.com. We have helped thousands of home seller’s market their properties and save thousands of dollars in commissions and fee’s. We can Help You, too. Click HERE to review our marketing packages.
The Next Real Estate Boom
Where will the next real estate boom happen? According to research conducted by Patrick Doherty, of the New America foundation, it will likely be right in your home town.
Click here to See how Your Home Will Fare in the Next Boom
Thank you for visting Why6Percent.com We have a complete solution for home sales. Visit the website and learn what we can do for you.
