Infotube.net: Homes for Sale - For Sale By Owner (FSBO) - Real Estate Listings

In yesterday’s InfoTube blog post, we discussed surprises that can arise from a problematic inspection report and ways to negotiate with the buyer to keep the deal alive.   Today, we look at pre-home inspections from an offensive position, in hopes seller’s can avoid a “repair request” crisis, after the home is finally under contract.  

Reasons to have a Home Inspection before the Sale.

1. 1.  Pre-Inspections are a Great Selling Point.   Providing a Pre-inspection report puts the buyer at ease and gives them confidence that the seller has nothing to hide about the home or its condition.  By being upfront, sellers put the Buyer at ease so they can better vizualize themselves living in the home, versus searching for problems at every turn.  
2. Pre-Inspections Give the Seller a Head’s Up.   A home inspection gives sellers the opportunity to fix any necessary repairs and put the house in better condition before the sale.   By pre-inspecting, the seller can also address unknown problems with the property that might have resulted in a canceled sale, if a timid or scared buyer discovered them first. 
3. An Good Offense Beats a Good Defense.   When the buyer sends in their inspection team, they may be looking to save money.   Often, a bargain shopper will use the inspection report to get a better deal on the house by inflating the costs of repairs or threatening to cancel the contract, if they don’t get their way.   By providing a licensed inspection report upfront, sellers deter ‘would be’ re-negotiator’s and increase the chances of a smooth transaction.
4. Show and Tell.   Ask your home inspector for several copies of your inspection report.   Hand the reports out to prospective buyer’s, when they tour the home.   The report reflects pride of ownership and handing the report to the buyer keeps your home in the buyer’s mind for a much longer period of time.   (The inspector shouldn’t mind the request because it is good for the inspector, too.  His name and contact number on is on the report.  Even if the buyer doesn’t buy your house, they might call him for their own inspection.)
5. Beat the Competition.   Buyer’s have heard horror stories about victims who have purchased a money pit and found themselves living in a nightmare of endless bills, contractor’s and life interupting problems.  Set your home apart from the foreclosures, short sales and poorly maintained homes on the market and reassure the buyer that your home is a hassel-free home they can be proud to call their own.

In conclusion, while it’s sometimes tempting to cut corners to save money, a home inspection is a worthwhile investment.  A pre-inspection lessens the chance of buyer’s remorse, reduces the chance of a surprise or scare, and frequently keeps a deal from falling apart altogether.   In today’s buyer’s market, the best defense is a great offense. 

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale or rent website.  Seller’s can place Free Property Listings and Buyer’s can Search for great deals on Real Estate.   If you are a seller, ask us about an MLS listing with uploads to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Yahoo, MSN, Google and More for $399.

You thought your home was in good condition, but surprise… the home inspector says otherwise.   You have already reduced the house to a rock bottom price to get a sale.  This is the first offer you’ve had in months or ever.   What can you do to save the deal or should you???

Stay Calm.  Don’t Freak Out.

In slow markets, seller’s have every reason to panic when they learn about inspection problems.  First, they have no idea how the buyer will react to the report.  If the report is really bad, they know it is likely that the buyer will back out of the deal.   In the best case scenario, they know that more rounds of negotiations and repair requests lists are back in play.   Uncertainity, helplessness and frustration make it easy to freak out, but it is crucial that seller’s stay focused and remain calm.

The first thing the seller must do when they hear about a problem is to keep quiet.  They should resist the natural urge to curse the inspector and they should say absolutely nothing, until the buyer presents a request for repairs.   Some buyer’s aren’t surprised at all that a home might need some repairs.  Also, they may not view the repairs as negatively as the seller does.  Best advise is to not borrow trouble.  Wait for the report, before jumping to conclusions.

Keep Your Head.  Negotiate.

The good news is that if you receive a repair request list, the buyer didn’t walk and they are still interested in the purchase.   Plan to review and discuss the list with an open mind.  Chat with your Realtor, if you are using one.  Talk the situation over with a repair professional.  Get bids on big ticket items, before you go back to the buyer, or you agree/disagree to anything on the list.

Many times, seller’s find that they can get repairs done for less than they think.  Or, sometimes, the seller can make the repair themselves.   If cash flow is a problem, many contractors will agree to wait until the closing to be paid.  The goal is to create a win-win atmosphere and don’t hate the messenger, no matter how bad the news is initially.

Reassure the Buyer.  Stay Focused on Closing the Deal.

Reassure the buyer that you want to fix any major issues with the house.  Get multiple bids from legitimate contractor’s for major repairs.  Multiple bids are powerful because many times the buyer (especially the first time buyer) is scared about the costs of future problems, so they increase the numbers a bit.    Sometimes, after the see that the repair isn’t urgent or may not be as expensive as they thought, the buyer will relax a bit, setting the stage for better negotiations.

Remember that everything about repair requests is negotiable and the options are endless.   The seller can fix all the items on the list, they can agree to fix any real problems and ignore cosmetic issues, they can offer the buyer a cash credit at closing, reduce the sales price, or do absolutely nothing at all, depending on the value of the contract and what they can afford to do.  

In Conclusion.

If you receive a bad home inspection, please remain calm and cool headed.  Focus on a win-win compromise with the buyer.  And, gather all the facts and figures before commenting, if you want to keep the deal alive.  In the long run, honest communication is always key and addressing the problems eliminates the likelihood of lawsuits later.  

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.   The website where Seller’s can place a Free for Sale or Rent Property Listing and post their property on the MLS and Realtor.com.  And, buyer’s can search for thousands of great properties with ease and privacy.  

The real estate market is currently in a downward state of flux.   In 2007, the bottom dropped out, the free fall began and we started rethinking everything we thought we knew about real estate.

Home prices are 40 percent or more off peak in some area’s of the country, so “Real Estate doesn’t always go up.”  Selling by Agent or Owner??  Actually, the Banks sold more property last year than either.   Dinner conversations now focus on “How can we get rid of this house??” Instead of “Flip this House”.  Our worries aren’t about capital gains.  Now, we worry that we owe so much, that we can’t afford to sell the house or live in it.

In today’s market, one thing is certain.   There is little money to make and every dollar counts.   So, if you need to sell, you have 3 options.  By Agent; By Owner; By Auction.  Should you Pick Door 1, 2, or 3????  

By Agent Pro’s and Con’s

Pro’s:

• Real estate agents provide a comparative market analysis to justify price strategies and make recommendations about staging, showing and the condition of the property.
• Agents develop a comprehensive marketing program for your property that includes the MLS, photographs, virtual tours, internet website distribution and Open Houses.
• Agents handle the showings, contract negotiations, they offer legal-type advise and they are objective about the property and its condition.
• In a slow market with a lot of inventory, agents may possibly do a better job than a do-it-yourselfer.  Many seller’s feel that penny pinching in this market may not be a smart move.

Con’s:

•  Costs for brokerage services are extremely high.  The typical fee is 6 percent of the sales price of the property.   Many seller’s find that after they pay 6 percent of the gross price to the agent, then pay off the mortgage, they have no money left from their sale or worst case, they actually lose money on the home.
•  The agent may have little experience.  They may be difficult to reach or contact.  They may not market your home as you want.  
• Agent’s work for their own benefit and may have a conflict of interest with their seller’s.  They may advise the seller to price their home for a quick sale, not the best price they can get.  And, agents make double the money if they sell their own listing.  This means if they have a buyer that is interested in their own listing, they work for the buyer, too, not just the seller paying their fee.
• Agents often give short notice or no notice of showings, which is a problem for busy seller’s.   In addition, your listing agent is not the person who will typically show your home.  This means that the best features and benefits of your property may not be pointed out.

For Sale By Owner Pro’s and Con’s

Pro’s

• The biggest reason to sell your own home is the money.  Agent’s fee’s are steep (6-7 percent off the top of the sale) wiping out thousands of dollars in profit from the bottom line.   For the average homeowner, real estate commissions erase a huge chunk, if not all, of their entire equity in the home.
• By Owners control their sale.  Many seller’s have bought and sold a lot of property in their lives.  They know how to price their home, show their home and negotiate the sale better than a stranger could.  
• Today, ‘For Sale by Owners’ have the marketing power that agent’s do.  Gone are the days that “By Owner” marketing options were limited to throwing up a yard sign, hoping that a buyer stumbles upon it.  Sellers now have access to all the tools that agents use to buy and sell property.  Homeowners can purchase access to the MLS, Realtor.com, and other major real estate portals for a few hundred dollars, they can have an attorney draft the contract, leaving many to ask “Why pay 6 percent?”.
• FSBO’s have a Price Advantage.  They don’t have a 6 percent tarriff to pay on their sale, which gives them an advantage when working with buyer’s or pricing their home below their “listed” competition.
• Many seller’s don’t trust real estate agents.  They don’t want to place  their most valuable asset in the hands of a commission sales person, who may or may not, be operating in their best interests. 

Con’s:

• The biggest problem for ‘by owner’ seller’s is that people love their homes and it is hard to be objective.   Emotional attachments make pricing, negotiating and showing the home difficult for a lot of people.
• Seller’s aren’t realistic about the need for a marketing program that will attract enough attention to draw buyers.  Agent’s don’t spend money placing property on the MLS, Realtor.com and major websites because they enjoy it.  They do it because those are the only methods that work to efficiently reach buyers and sell property.   Throwing a sign in the yard or running a classified ad won’t work in this market.  If you aren’t willing to use all the marketing tools that the agent’s use, your chances of succeeding are small.
• Showing the Property.   If you live out of town, travel for your job or are unable to show the property with little notice, then selling by owner is not a viable option.  
• The Work and the Time.   When you list with an agent, all the work is done.  The marketing, advertising, showing, negotiating, inspections and closing are handled by the agent.  When you sell property yourself, you have to be prepared for the work and the time it takes.

For Sale at Auction Pro’s and Con’s

Pro’s: 

• It’s Fast and Easy.  Property auctions are quick and simple.  The entire process only takes about 28-30 days from start to finish.
• Avoid Random Buyer Tours of your Property.  When you sell by auction, there are usually one or two days for all buyer’s to tour the property at a set time and date.  Seller’s do not have to endure months of random strangers calling to walk thru their home with little to no notice.  Other than the posted showing times, seller’s can live normally in their home without having buyers constantly disrupt their lives.
• No Negotiations.  Once the gavel falls, the price is set and the deal is over.  The frustration of and time wasted on lowball offers, counter offers, repair negotiations are eliminated.
• More Money.  The true definition of market value is defined by what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to sell for.   This is the beauty of the auction process.  In good markets and good locations, buyer compete for their dream home in real time.  Sometimes, the nature and urgency that is created in an auction environment will yield a higher sales price than a listing agent would recommended.

Cons:

• The biggest con is that your home might not sell.   Although we picture auctions as busy places, with huge crowds frantically bidding and waving their paddles in the air, that isn’t always the case.  In slow markets with a lot of inventory, there are times when few people show up and the auction day is a bust.
• The Final Sales Price:   If your opening bid is low and only a few buyer’s show up, you might sell the home for a lot less than you hoped or thought.   If you are considering an auction, you may want to set a Reserve Price, which dictates that no sale will occur below X amount of dollars.
• The Buyer may not Meet the Terms.   Although auction buyers should be pre-approved, and will forfeit their deposit if they don’t close the deal, deals do fall through, just like in conventional sales.   For people who chose auctions for a quick sale, it could be a big issue, if the buyer is unable to meet their closing date.
• The Cost:  The cost of an auction is often as expensive as listing with an agent.  Sometimes, the seller will owe fee’s to the auctioneer, even if the sale fails to happen or the reserve is not met.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net and for looking with us behind doors one, two and three.   If you need to sell, the method is your choice.  Just consider the pro’s and con’s of all three, considering your lifestyle, budget, time and expertise before you make a final decision.  

In spite of low interest rates, tax rebates and rock bottom real estate prices, buyer’s feel no great sense of urgency to buy now.  Home sales activity has picked up with the onset of spring, but buyer’s are looking primarily for bargains and great deals.

In a slow housing market dominated by bargain shoppers, correct pricing determines which house sells and which one sits on the market.  Pricing too high is the kiss of death.  Or, price the home too low and risk leaving thousands of dollars on the table.  

Home Pricing Strategies for Today’s Market

1. 3 Factors that Sell Houses:  The condition and price of your home are critical factors in its saleablility.  They are also factors that the seller can control.  The homes that sell have 3 things in common.  They are in good locations, they are in good condition and they are priced right for their market.
2. Get the Highest Price by Listing for Less than Market Value:  Some sellers believe that they can sell their home faster and for more money by listing low to sell higher.   They bank on creating multiple offers and giving buyer’s a sense of urgency that the deal is too good to pass up.  This strategy does work in hot markets, with limited inventory in ideal locations.   It will not work if there isn’t much sales activity in your area or price range.  The best strategy for most seller’s is to price the home competitively, but do not set a price below what you will accept, if you don’t receive multiple offers.
3. How to Price Your Home Right:   In order to sell a home in an unmotivated market, it has to be the best house at the best price.  To determine the ideal price, seller’s need to do their homework.  Look at new home prices in your area and price below them.  If everything is equal, buyer’s will always chose a new home over a used one.  Attend Open Houses every weekend to objectively look at your competition and scrutinize the home through the buyer’s eye’s.   Access the data for recently sold homes through a real estate agent, online tax databases or your local courthouse.   Home Sales data can also be found on websites such as Zillow.  Know how much your home is priced per square foot.  Price per square foot is the valuation method appraisers use.  To determine the average asking price per square foot in your area, divide the asking prices by the amount of air conditioned square footage the home has.  Take the average price per foot in your area and multiple it by the square footage in your home to see if you are priced “in the market”.  Note: This formula only works in a simplistic way, if lot costs and sizes for comparable homes are similar.
4. Marketing is Key in Making the Most Money:  There is only one key to selling a home for the most money possible.  Comprehensive marketing exposure.  Must Do’s: Multiple Listing Service (MLS), Internet advertising with multiple photo’s and Open Houses for the public and real estate agents.  The MLS is THE DATABASE of homes for sale.  If your home isn’t on the MLS, you are missing millions of buyers, period.   An MLS listing is also the only way to expose your home on dozens of high traffic websites.   According to Hitwise, the traffic to MLS affiliated websites is around 12 million shoppers every month.   Remember it doesn’t matter how great your house is or how low it is priced, if no one can find out that your home is For Sale.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website.  Start increasing your marketing exposure by taking advantage of a FREE home listing on our heavily trafficked website.   You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Results from a study just released by HomeGain revealed an ongoing ’tug of war’ between home sellers and real estate agents.  According to the survey,  50 percent of homeowners said their houses should be priced 10-20 percent higher than agents have  recommended.  Conversely, 60 percent of real estate agents reported that prospective buyers are telling them that home asking prices are still too high.

One thing we can learn from this study is that one of these groups is certainly wrong.  Either home owners are unrealistic about what their houses are worth or agents are too pessimistic about what the home will sell for.  

On one hand, agent’s have more knowledge about the market than the average home seller does and they do talk with buyer’s every day.   Yet, real estate agents have an incentive to push prices lower.  The lower the price, the faster the sale, the quicker they can ring the cash register and move on to the next deal.   So, what should a home seller do???

1. Ask 3 real estate agents what they would list your home for.  Ask questions and understand the reasoning behind their different price recommendations.
2. Know your competition.  Check out every house that is for sale in your area, price and size range.  Visit Open Houses to verify the condition and ammenities being offered by the competition.  Use InfoTubes and InfoBoxes on for sale signs to gain helpful insight about homes for sale in your neighborhood.   Explore property MLS listings on Realtor.com.
3. Visit New Home Subdivisions.  All things being equal, most buyers would chose a new home over a pre-owned home, if everything was equal.   Find out how builders are pricing new homes that are similar to yours.   Keep in mind that builders also offer thousands of dollars in incentives or special financing, and they include these things in their asking prices.   Try to learn everything you can from the builder and deduct the incentives and specials that you can’t match from their asking price to get a realistic look.
4. Visit your county property tax database.  Most counties provide sales and comparable home information online.  Your local taxing department is the final authority about what homes actually sold for.

Remember that homes are selling every day, if they are priced right.  While seller’s want to hold out for the best offer, agents want to make quick sales.  The real truth about asking versus selling prices lies somewhere in between, so home seller’s need to check their facts, first.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  Please search our site to learn about thousands of great deals on real estate or if you are selling or renting a home, place a Free Home Listing with our compliments.

As the spring home selling season approaches, many homeowner’s rush to put their houses on the market.   Interest rates are low, tax rebates and sales incentives abound, and home prices are more affordable than they have been in a decade. 

But, before you throw the ‘for sale’ sign in the yard, please educate yourself about the common mistakes you should avoid, if you want to sell your home.  Decades of real estate experience have proven again and again, that making these mistakes, even once, will stop any sale in its tracks.

1. Pricing:  Setting an unrealistic price is the biggest mistake home seller’s make.  The home MUST be initially priced at or under its competition, or you are simply wasting time and money.  Some seller’s toy with the notion of “low balling” their asking price, hoping for bidding wars and a quick sale.  While this strategy sometimes works on lower priced property, it doesn’t work in higher price ranges.   Buyer’s in a higher price range simply think that the seller is desperate, which always results in even lower offers, not bidding wars.   We won’t address overpricing, because there is nothing to say.  The truth is no one will overpay for your home, it won’t appraise anyway, so please keep it off the market, until you are ready to be realistic. 
2. Property Condition:  Know as much as you can about the condition of your property, fix everything that will stop a sale, and disclose everything you know about the property condition to the buyer.   If you don’t, when the problematic inspection report is revealed, the buyer will cancel the contract and walk.   Afterward, the seller will find themselves in a much worse position because they lost momentum, valuable time on the market, and the cancelation signals that something was wrong with the house.  The seller will also be required by law to disclose everything found on the prior inspection report, so there is nothing to gain and a lot to lose by hiding the facts.  
3. Working with Today’s Buyer’s:  It is a mistake to not entertain any offer, no matter how low the inital offer is.  Buyer’s in this market make low ball offer’s first, to test the desperation of the seller.  You will never know what price a buyer may be willing to pay for your home, if you don’t negotiate with them.
4. Potentially Unqualified Buyer’s:  NEVER get into a contract with a buyer who isn’t financially qualified for a loan.  A letter of prequalification is not enough to take a home off the market.  First, know who the lender is and require full underwriting approval within days of the acceptance of the offer.  Be sure to write this loan approval (not prequalification) provision into your contract.  Maintain your Active Listing Status and DO NOT indicate that your home is Contract Pending until the buyer has verifiable loan approval.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale or rent website.  Feel free to post a Free Listing.  Or, Upgrade to a Featured Home Ad which provides buyer’s all the information, video’s and pictures they are looking for.  A Featured Home listing costs only $19.95 and the listing stays active until you sell or cancel.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the number of people who purchased a vacation or investment home fell by 30 percent last year.   And, more than 40 percent of those who did purchase a second home paid cash.

“We expected vacation home sales to fall given the impact of a declining economy”, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the NAR.  “A steady share of investment-home sales results from buyers taking advantage of deeply discounted prices in many areas, with a smaller portion of new homes in the sales mix”, state Yun.

Vacation and second home sales mirrored the sales for primary residences in terms of price declines.  The median price of a vacation home dropped to $150,000 in 2008, down from $195,000 (or, 23 percent) from 2007 levels.

Other Findings from the March Survey are:

• Who was the “Average Buyer” of Vacation Property in 2008?  The average age of a vacation home buyer was 46 years old.  They purchased a property that was generally 316 miles from their primary residence.  Their median household income was $97,200.
• Who was the “Average Investment Home Buyer in 2008?  The average age of an investment buyer was 47.  They earned a median income of about $85,000 and purchased investment property nearby their primary residence.  The median distance for an investment purchase was 19 miles from their home.
• What type of Property was purchased for a Vacation Home?  70 percent were detached, single family residences; 18 percent were condo’s; 5 percent town or row houses; 7 percent other.
• Types of Property Purchased for Investment:  64 percent were detached single family homes; 22 percent condos; 8 percent town or row houses; 6 percent other.
• Where did Vacation Home Buyers Shop?  26 percent bought in small towns; 23 percent rural areas; 23 percent resorts; 20 percent suburbs; 8 percent cities or urban areas.
• Where did Investment Buyers Shop?  28 percent purchased in the suburbs; 20 percent in a city or urban area; 23 percent rural area; 8 percent in a small town; 6 percent in resort areas.

Hopefully, the survey results will help home sellers picture who the likely buyer of their vacation or investment property may be.  Picturing who the customer is likely to be is important when target marketing to their needs.

Please visit InfoTube.net to place a FREE property listing, or search our database for thousands of great deals on homes of all types.   Thanks for visiting and let us know if you have any questions or comments in the space below.

According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, 32 percent (1/3 of all buyers) of home buyers first saw the home they purchased on the internet.   Buyer’s who found their home through a real estate agent dropped 14 percentage points to 34 percent, during the same time period.

Despite the slowdown in the housing market, buyers and sellers have increased their use of the internet when buying or selling a home.  “The internet is a very important tool in today’s real estate market”, said Tommi Crow, CEO of Crow Erickson, Inc., the company that manufactures the InfoTubes and InfoBoxes found on real estate signs from coast-to-coast.  “Home sellers know that they can use the power of the internet to reach millions of home shoppers as effectively as a real estate agent would”, said Crow, and, they can save themselves thousands of dollars in the process”, said Ms Crow.  “Americans are successfully buying and selling real estate without using agents, and that trend continues to grow”.

Home seller’s who want to maximize their online exposure use InfoTube.net, combined with the services of Why 6 Percent.  The combination of the two marketing programs provide home seller’s with a home listing on their local MLS, Realtor.com, Google, Yahoo, MSN, Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, Infotube, Homes for Sale Live and other major web portals, which attract millions of home buyers each month.

* Source: National Association of Realtors

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.   Sellers can place a Free Home Listing on InfoTube.net, which advertises their property listings to tens of thousands of home buyers each month.

Mega real estate website, Realtor.com (owned by Move Inc), released survey results which showed that 54 percent of the people planning to purchase a home this year are first-time home buyers.  This is good news for home sellers because first-time buyers do not have another property they have to sell.  

In a press release statement, Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Move, Inc had more encouraging news. “It’s not all doom and gloom” said Berkowitz.  “We found Americans are optimistic about homeownership despite concerns.”  He blamed the surge in first time buyer interest on the housing crash…”has created significant demand for homeownership especially among first-time buyers,” Berkowitz continued.

Home seller’s, builders and real estate agents can use this information to their advantage when marketing property.   For example, half (50%) of the first time buyer’s polled had not heard about the $8000 tax credit, so be sure to make them aware of it.  Every little bit of information helps, as most first timers are scared about timing.

Some more interesting facts about marketing to First-Time Buyer is:

• Most prefer more space, or more house for the dollar, over all other amenities.  Be sure to price your home to be the best house for the money.
• Other options that appeal to first time homeowners are energy saving features, such as energy star appliances, insulation, home improvements and upgrades; a bigger yard or outdoor entertaining area; updated amenities.   Emphasize the features in your home that address these popular “wish list” items.
• A better location was also on the wish list for first timers.  If your property is located in a convenient, safe and social area of the city, be sure to let them know what is nearby.   You may want to visit walkscore.com and post your walkscore rating on your advertising.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net home for sale website.  Sellers can place a free property listing on the site.   The site is loaded with freebies, advise and helpful features.   At InfoTube.net, Buyers can search the for fantastic deals and seller’s can do homework on the competition.

If you are selling a home and would like to advertise on the MLS and Realtor.com, click HERE. Our special “by owner” program places your property listing on all major real estate websites for a $399 one time fee. Why Pay 6 Percent?

Sales of existing homes rose to their highest levels since 2003.   Watch the short video from CNBC for a synopsis of the latest housing numbers from across the nation.

One of the largest obstacles that for sale by owner’s face is a lack of exposure for their home listing.   Whether you have an MLS listing or not, Video is one solution that costs nothing (ie: FREE and Easy to do) and greatly increases web presence.

If you don’t think that video can help you sell your property, just take a look and see what the numbers for January 2009 tell you.

• 14.8 Billion (yes, Billion) video’s were viewed in January 2009.
• 147 Million (yes, Million) people watched internet video’s during the month.

If you didn’t think you need video before, these numbers should change your mind.  And, I am not just talking about home virtual tours.  Virtual tours or 360 room views are fine, but they are just the tip of the iceberg.  Homeseller’s can add a lot of variety to their video’s and increase user interest dramatically.    Video tours are fantastic for area’s such as:

• Subdivision and neighborhood drive thru’s.
• Parks, greenbelts and nearby outdoor recreation area’s.
• Shopping Centers that are conveniently located near the property.
• Schools that serve the area.
• Churches or government centers such as libraries and public transportation systems.
• Museums and cultural sites of interest.

All of these local highlight area’s are of high interest to someone looking for a home to buy.  The internet is a world wide web, so seller’s can’t assume that their buyer will be familiar with their town or city.  Make a lasting impression and use video to show buyer’s what your location has to offer.

InfoTube.net automatically uploads all home video’s to Google and Youtube, the number one search engine for video.   You may not know that Google also searches video descriptive text, so your home listing will show up, even if the word “video” isn’t mentioned in the search term or keyword.

If you don’t use video to assist you in marketing your home, you are falling behind your competition every single day.   But, thankfully spring is coming and it’s not too late!!   Grab your digital camera and give the world a look at your home and location today.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website.  Click here to learn how to create an internet website for your property, showcase your home with Video Tours and attract thousands of home buyers today!!

If you are one of the thousands of people trying to sell a home, you need to accept the fact that home shoppers can not buy your house, if they don’t know it is for sale.  Whether you are an owner, builder or real estate agent, you MUST use the marketing and advertising methods that pay off and forget about those that don’t.

4 Mandatory Things Home Seller’s Must do to Find Buyer’s

#1:  Get Your Home Listed on the Local MLS: 

The MLS is the #1 place you should advertise your home listing for  maximum exposure.  Why?  Real Estate Agents use the MLS, exclusively, to locate property for the prospective buyers riding in their cars.  And, the MLS is the only way to advertise your property to every real estate agent in America.    In addition, an MLS listing is the only way to get your home listed on Realtor.com and other major web portals for real estate.  FSBO’s pay attention!!  In 2008, over 60 percent of home buyers, who did not use a Realtor, found the home they bought through these public access MLS websites.  

If you don’t have your home listed on the MLS, please do it now.  The spring selling season is the busiest season for real estate and you need the MLS to take advantage of the activity in the market.  Go to Why 6 Percent.com.  They have a network of brokers across the country that can list your home on the MLS, along with all public MLS websites, for 6-12 months only $399. 

#2 Advertise on the Internet, Not a Newspaper

In addition to an MLS listing, you have to advertise your property on the internet.  90 percent of all buyers shop on the internet for a home.  If you are putting money into newspaper advertising or home buyer guides, you would be much better off spending the money for online advertising. Only 3 percent of all buyers found their home through traditional print advertising. 90 percent of buyers located their home on the internet.  (Curb Appeal still matters.  77 percent of home shoppers drive by or tour in person.)

#3 Create a Website About Your Property Features: 

The NAR reported that Homebuyers overwhelming selected properties that have their own webpage over those that don’t.  Buyers also reported that photographs (86 percent) and detailed information (84 percent) were the most important and useful website features.   Video or virtual tours (offered on InfoTube.net) are also very popular (68 percent) with home buyers.     Tip:  When it comes to photo’s it seems the more you have the better.   Studies show that having 16 photo’s instead of 15 resulted in 33 percent more page views.  20 photo’s were the optimum number for maximum exposure, which coincidentally happens to be the number of photo’s offered on InfoTube.net.

#4 Yard Sign with an InfoTube or InfoBox

  One of the best ways to advertise your property is clearly low tech.   15 percent of all buyers reported that they found their home by seeing the yard sign.  And, it seems that all buyers love the convenience of driving by and picking up a brochure to learn more about the house.  A whopping 90 percent of buyers are angry or upset, if they find an empty InfoTube or InfoBox.

In conclusion, it is essential to advertise a property where the buyers are shopping, if you want to sell real estate.  Experience and Research prove that the MLS, the internet and yard signs with stuffed InfoTubes and InfoBoxes, are the only things that pay off for the professional real estate agent or the sale by owner, alike.  

Home for Sale

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website.  InfoTube.net is the place that Seller’s, Owners and Realtors can create a FREE property webpage, print Free brochures for their InfoTubes and InfoBoxes, get Free advice, legal forms and contracts AND place a property on the MLS in minutes.  Visit our website or call 1-800-858-6000 for immediate LIVE HELP!!!   

Dear InfoTube,

We are under contract to purchase a brand new home that is ideal for our family.   Unfortunately, the home inspection revealed that the brand, new roof was improperly installed.  It seems that the builder did not use felt, drip edge or flashing before he installed the shingles.  The shingles were nailed directly to the plywood decking.  The inspector also noted that many of the nails were set too deeply, which caused depressions into the asphalt material and would likely cause roof leaks.

After discussing our findings with the builder, he admitted that he knew about the missing roof materials, but he refused to replace the new roof due to the cost.  The builder insists that the missing materials are unessential and pose no problem for us.  He also gave us his personal guarantee that he would fix any problems that might come up in the future, if we would go ahead with the purchase.

We are now faced with a huge dilemma.  First of all, we love the location, floorplan and lot.   The house is just perfect for our needs.  Secondly, we have invested nearly $1500 for the inspection, appraisal, loan application fee, etc., which we would lose if we back out of the sale.    We would really appreciate your input about this situation.  We love the house, but the roof problem scares us, even with the builder’s promises.  We are scheduled to close and move in a couple of weeks.  Please give us your opinion about what we should do.

Thank you, T Thornton, NC

Dear T Thornton,

Let me reassure you that drip edge, felt and flashing are essential parts of a roof system and improper installation voids any manufacturer’s warranty.  Furthermore, it is very unlikely that your lender would give you a loan for this property, once they discovered the problem.   

Secondly, I found myself asking“What kind of seller would “cheat” on a new roof and what else is he hiding?”  A new roof is a strange thing for a builder to cheat on.  The roof is a basic structural system of a home.  In addition, it is huge and highly visable to the eye.   It is very concerning, to say the least, that the seller knew about this problem and lied to cover it up.   One has to wonder what else has he cheated on and lied about, that might not be as easy to see as the short cuts he took on the roof?

This situation poses a serious problem for you, the lender and the seller on many levels.   First, the builder’s non-disclosure of the known problem with the roof could likely be considered fraud.  Secondly, his guarantee to fix future problems is unenforcable in a court of law.  Contracts for the “promise” of future services, which is what this seller offered you, is illegal in all 50 states.  Think about it.   If this seller becomes disabled, leaves the area, goes broke, dies, etc., how could he possibly honor his promise to you, even if he wanted to?

My honest opinion is that you should RUN, not walk, from this deal.  Instead of being disappointed, you should be very thankful that you had a good home inspection that revealed the truth before you closed.   The good news is that the inventory of unsold homes are at historical high levels.  This means you should find plenty of homes, owned by honest sellers, that suit your families needs.   Given the seller’s blatant dishonesty, you should insist that the builder refund your earnest money, buy your appraisal and reimburse you for the inspection report.   If he hesitates or refuses to do so, you should consult an attorney, immediately. 

If you have your heart set on buying this home, you should know that you are taking a big chance.  At the very least, you should at insist that the builder install a new roof.  You are paying a premium to buy a new home, so you should receive a new roof, not one with known problems.  You should also insist that the builder transfer all manufacturer’s warranties for the roof, and all other systems in the house, to you at closing.

Thank you for writing to InfoTube.net.   I hope everything works out for you, but I seriously hope you walk away from this one.   Everything about this home may appear pretty on the outside, but one would be foolish to not fear what kind of ugliness may be lurking beneath the surface.

Winter can be a challenging season for those trying to sell their home.  The cold weather keeps many buyer’s away and the landscape is anything but exciting.   That is why it is very important to maintain good curb appeal during winter, if you want to draw home shoppers inside.

The first thing seller’s can do to improve the curb appeal of their home during winter is to start with the home itself.   A fresh coat of paint always makes a huge impact, but it really stands out in the grayness of winter.   When repainting, don’t forget the front door, garage doors and trim around the windows.  Seller’s should also take a close look at their roof and guttering.  If these systems need to be repaired or replaced, winter is a great time to do so.  If the gutters are dirty or stained, wipe them clean, or repaint.  

One area of your home that needs special attention is the front porch and sidewalk leading to the front door.   Make your entrance welcoming by updating the lighting or add two wall sconces to frame your door.  Buy a fresh, new welcome mat.  Try adding planters or urns on each side of the door to draw the buyer inside the home.  Make sure your house number is attractive and easy to see from the street.   A colorful, seasonal wreath can also add interest.  Be sure to repair any cracks in the sidewalk and keep the path to your home clear of snow and ice.

Another factor in curb appeal is your Landscape.   Buyer’s understand that your lawn isn’t going to be green and lush during winter, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look good.  Clean up toys, trash or debris from your lawn and hide the trash cans.   Make sure all bushes and limbs are neatly trimmed away from the house to allow light in.   Evergreen plants like pines, holly, spruce and yews add a lot of interest during the bleaker cold months.  Bird feeders can also add interest and attract life to your home during winter.

Curb appeal is the first impression your home makes when a guest arrives.  It is crucial to your marketing efforts because Buyer’s will certainly draw conclusions about your home, based upon what they see on the outside.  Remember that all your upgrades and special features won’t matter, if you can’t get the buyer interested enough to look inside.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website.  Feel free to Search for homes for sale or place a free home listing.    We are here to help you.

Home seller’s and real estate agent’s are waking up to the fact that nearly half of all buyer’s shopping for a home are first time home buyers. 

Sellers should realize the timely opportunities that are available to this group, and they should be aware of all the benefits today’s first time home buyer will receive, in order to successfully do business with them.

One unique opportunity that provides immediate benefits for home sellers and first time buyers is an $8000 tax credit incentive from the US government.   The purpose of the program is to encourage home sales and provide a much needed boost to the US economy.

Outline of the $8000 Tax Credit Program is as follows:

1. The Tax Credit is available for First Time Home Buyers Only.  (First Time Buyers are defined as anyone who has not owned real property in the past 3 years.)
2. The home must be used as the buyer’s primary residence.
3. The home must close January 1, 2009-December 1, 2009.
4. The buyer claims the $8000 on their tax returns, which greatly reduces their tax liability.
5. The $8000 does not need to be repaid, unless the buyer resells the home within 3 years of purchase.

The National Association of Realtors, who backed the plan, estimates that the tax credit will stimulate up to 300,000 home sales.  The NAR also feels that the bill will help stablize home values and could possibly help some distressed seller’s avoid foreclosure.

To read more about working with first time buyers, click here.

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website.  We are here to help you market and sell your home.