Posts Tagged ‘Selling Your Home’
Snooping Real Estate Agent Caught on Camera
ATLANTA — When real estate agents representing buyers show your home, should they be allowed to examine private or confidential papers? How would you react if you caught them doing just that?
Channel 2’s Tom Regan talked with one home seller who was shocked by what he caught on camera in his home. David Scitthelm owned a beautiful home in Buckhead. He was proud to put it up for sale, but he wasn’t pleased with the conduct of the two real estate agents who arrived to show the house.
To Learn More or Watch the Short Video, CLICK HERE
Commentary: Infotube.net ALWAYS advises that home sellers hide or pack away anything that is private or could be used against them in a negotiation. And, private mail and legal notice issues aside…did you see how this agent hunted for books, stereo equipment, family photographs, collections, etc. to gain personal knowledge about the sellers? Hopefully this story plainly illustrates to homesellers the importance of packing up all personal items BEFORE they put their home on the market. Added Bonus: A staged home always shows better and appeals to a wider audience, too.
P.S. And, don’t forget your medicine cabinet (:
InfoTube.net on Facebook and Twitter
InfoTube.net announced some recent updates to it’s website that make it easier for homeowners to share information and property details on the internet.
Share Your Property Information with One Click
InfoTube.net has provided a direct “Share” link on every home listing. The “Share” link automatically feeds your property listing to all major sharing websites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. If you use social networking or RSS feed websites, simply select where you want your property listing posted and click. It’s that easy. (The Share Link can be located under the “Email Seller” link on every home listing.)
Sellers and Buyers Communicate, Learn and Get Advise
InfoTube.net for Real Estate has an Offical Facebook and Twitter page where you can post pictures, questions, idea’s or funny real estate stuff you want to share. Become a Fan and Contributor Today.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net for Real Estate. We hope you like the new improvements. If you don’t already have a FREE property listing on InfoTube.net, post one today, you’re missing buyers.
Just Say No To Wallpaper
One of the things that can turn off buyer’s, stop a sale or detract from a properties resale value is Wallpaper. Why don’t buyer’s like wallpaper?? First, it is usually a real pain to take down. Secondly, it is very taste specific. There is obviously no “standard” or ”popular type” of wallpaper, because there seems to be endless supply and I have never seen the exact same wallpaper, twice. Meaning, the odds of being hit by lightning are probably greater than 2 people liking the same paper.
If you plan to stay in your home a while and you want some wallpaper in your house, well, it is your house. But, please, go sparingly. Avoid busy, colorful and loud types. And, please don’t forget to “size” the wall before you apply it, or you won’t get it off without destroying the wall surface underneath.
Tip for HomeSeller’s: But, if you are trying to sell your home, without success, and it has a lot of wallpaper or busy, dated wallpaper, you can do yourself a big favor by pulling it down and applying a fresh coat of neutral paint. A crisp, freshly painted room never turns off buyers.
The same can never be said about wallpaper. 
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net FREE homes for sale and rent website. We have been helping seller’s and buyer’s connect since 1988. We can help you, too.
How to Handle a Low Appraisal
Low Appraisals and Appraisal problems are causing a lot of headaches for sellers, buyers and agents. For a look at one customer’s problem with an appraisal and some practical solutions to solve the matter, CLICK HERE.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We invite you to place a Free Property Listing or Search for some great deals on our site. We have listings seen no where else and we have NO dead links or come on ad’s.
Tip for Faster Closings
If you are selling a home that qualifies for FHA financing, you are required to complete a Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), before the buyer’s loan can close. With closings taking up to 90 days to happen, it is imperitive that you don’t hold up your sale. See the criteria below to determine if you need to complete this form.
- If the home qualifies for FHA financing, and you occupy the home, you MUST complete this form in order to sell your property.
- If you are advertising your home as a “short sell” and live in the home, you MUST complete this form in order to sell your property.
- For those homes listed by an agent or broker, the agent only has to request the form from the seller 3 times and they are off the hook.
- This form is not required for non-owner occupied housing (ie: foreclosures and bank owned).
With the first time buyer tax credit expiring in a couple of months, you don’t want to lose a sale because you have not completed this simple form. Make sure you complete it and provide it to all buyer’s.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We are here to help you buy and sell real estate. Post a Free Ad on our website or Search our database, in complete privacy, for some great deals on houses. Home sales are definitely picking up, don’t let the end of the selling season pass you by. Have a great weekend and happy selling!!
Check out HGTV’s Real Estate Intervention
I have been watching HGTV’s “Real Estate Intervention” for a few weeks now. As a real estate professional for the last 25 years, I give this program a Big 2 Thumbs up!! If you are buying or selling real estate, this program is a must see. Check it out on Thursday nights at 10:30E/9:30C on HGTV.
The HGTV Synoposis of the Show is: In this current real estate market, pricing is everything. And the best way to really find out how much your house is worth is to check out the competition. Real Estate Intervention takes motivated sellers on a tour of other listings in the same area and same price range. They’ll get to see firsthand who their competition is and whether they’ve priced their house right. Does the competition have better closets? Granite counters? A bigger backyard? Which home is the best value for the dollar? We’ll help them determine the best way to get top dollar — and in the end we’ll see which home sells first!
Bonus: Do you want to be on TV??? If you are confused about how to price or market your home and want objective advise, can contact HGTV and be on the show. Click this link to contact HGTV. and tell them InfoTube.net sent you.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We are here to help you buy and sell real estate. If you like what we do and you want to receive updates about our short, informative articles, click on the RSS feed on the right hand side of the page.
What Location Really Means to Homebuyers
We’ve all heard the sage advise “Location, Location, Location” when it comes to successfully selecting a good piece of property. But, what is truly important to buyers as they search for their ideal Location?
Seller’s, the answer may surprise you! It isn’t being near fancy restaurants, parks, churches or friends and family.
The Top 5 Things Buyers Look for in a Great Location are:
-
#1 - Being Close to Work. By far, the most popular choice among homebuyers when selecting a home to buy.
-
#2 – Splitting the Distance to Work between Spouses. Runner up for most important factor in buying a home– an ideal location must be about half way between your job and mine.
-
#3 – Good Schools. No Surprise Here, other than we thought it would be #1. It’s Not. Could it be that a lot of buyer’s don’t have kids?
-
#4 - Entertainment. Convenience and having fun things to do nearby the home is still important to buyers.
-
#5 – Friends and Family. It made the list, but certainly isn’t a major factor for buyer’s looking for a good location.
(In case you’re wondering, Safety wasn’t apart of the location poll, because staying alive and robbery free is important to all of us. It is assumed that if you don’t feel safe, the commute time really doesn’t matter to you.)
Why does this information matter to home sellers??? This insight gets to the heart of what people will sacrifice for and what they will not. It seems that the true hunt for location is not based on prestige or having nearby boutiques, its one that allows for a balance between life and work.
Home Seller’s can profit from this knowledge by knowing their town, and by asking the buyers where they work and how they live. Smart seller’s learn where nearby large employment area’s are. They know the easiest, fastest or least traveled routes to major job centers and area’s of interest. They know about the neighborhood school district and the drive time to school, if the buyer has children. And, most importantly, they convey this information to the buyer, in the order of importance.
The Bottom Line is: If you find a home that is in a good neighborhood and close to your job, you will usually end up finding all the other things that are important to you, too. Now, show and sell.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale and rent FREE website. Place a FREE listing or Search in Privacy thru thousands of ideally located properties.
Today’s Article of Interest for Real Estate Lovers: 3 Reasons that Interest Rates will Stay Low.
Protect Your Vacant Home and Yourself.
The housing recession/depression and the long number of days on the market, means that many people need to move to a new location, before they sell their home. If you are facing this situation, please be aware of some special problems and concerns regarding vacant property before you decide to move on and leave your home behind.
- Insurance. Insurance companies place a higher risk, therefore cost, to insure vacant property. As many owner’s have also discovered, vacant homes are targets for thiefs, vagrants and vandals. In addition, vacant properties are more likely to suffer damage from fire and water. Add in the higher liability of “No one lives there…let’s play” and it is no wonder that the cost to insure a vacant home is substantially more expensive. Talk to your insurance agent, before you move out, to determine the best protection for the money.
- Protect Your Property. It’s a good idea to install a monitered security system in a vacant property. If the service moniters fire, smoke and theft, it can lower your insurance premiums. Also, don’t forget to install new batteries in all smoke detectors. You should also have a friend or neighbor check the property on a regular basis.
- Create the Illusion of Occupancy. Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway. Stop mail and newspaper service, or make sure someone collects it. Install timers on lights. Leave some window treatments and furniture in the home. Keep the lawn, landscape and home exterior maintained at all times.
- Rent it Out. Renting the home will insure it is occupied and the rent will offset the costs of carrying the property. The insurance will need to change to a rental policy, but rental insurance is much cheaper than the premium for vacant homes.
- Let a Friend Live in the Home. If you don’t want to tie the house up by renting it, consider letting a trusted friend or family member live in the home until it sells. If you don’t know anyone, hire a housesitter. Either way, the home remains occupied and vacancy problems are averted.
- Don’t Sneak. If your home is vacant for longer than your insurance policy allows, you could save a ton of money by sneaking. But, don’t. First, insurance fraud is a serious matter. Secondly, if your vacant home is damaged or totaled, the insurer can and will challenge your claim. Don’t commit fraud. The little bit of money you may save is just not worth it.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net, a Free Homes for Sale and Rent website. The market is certainly showing some positive signs. We have better than expected sales across the entire country, price declines have lessened, rates are low and banks are lending. If you need to buy or sell, InfoTube.net is the place to be.
Should You Use List Prices or Sales Data when Pricing Your Home?
A frequent question we receive about correctly pricing a home is “Should we use Comparable Listing Prices or Comparable Sales Data to correctly price our home?”
The answer is overwhelming, Comparable Sales Data.
Looking at the prices of listed property is a big mistake, when determining the correct asking price for a home. Take a moment and think about it. If the neighbors list price was motivating, the property would be Sold, not Still for Sale.
Always use accurate a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to correctly price your home. A CMA features only properties that have sold for all cash or a funded loan. This is important because many properities aren’t appraising or closing for anything near their “under contract” price. In our declining market, a home that is worth $250,000 today, may only be worth $220,000, 60 days later when it closes. Appraisers are aware of this fact and generally appraise very conservatively these days.
Click here To Read more about Appraisal Problems and What you Can do About it.
To obtain accurate Sales data about competing properties in your neighborhood, visit your local county tax assessor website. Or, research MLS data which can be viewed at sites like zillow.com.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. We are here to help you sell your home. Feel free to place a free property listing on our site or search for a great value on your dream home.
Bad Strategy for Home Sales
Question: What is the worst home selling strategy ever???
Answer: ”Let’s test the market”. “Let’s throw it up for sale at a high, unrealistic price and just see what happens…”
Testing the market…whatever that really means is the worst idea, ever. Buyer’s don’t live in a fantasy world. And, if they did, their home buying fantasy is finding a mansion for $100.
“Testing the market” by overpricing a property means that the listing loses its ”honeymoon” period. As a rule, properties receive more interest and more showings in the first 30 days, than they will ever see again. Why? Buyer’s who haven’t found the right home, rush to see new listings as soon as they appear on the market. And, new buyer’s coming into the market always look at new listings first.
If you overprice your home during the honeymoon, chances are high that it will sit on the market for a long time, eventually becoming a “stale” listing. It is possible to stir up more interest later by substantially dropping the price, but seller’s can never again recreate the attention the property would have received, had it been priced right when it made its debut.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. One GREAT IDEA for buying or selling real estate…Place a free property listing on our site or browse through thousands of great deals from the leisure of your home. Don’t be afraid, we never sell or distribute information to anyone, for any reason.
To place a property on the MLS, Realtor.com and a dozen other websites for real estate, CLICK HERE.
Pricing Your Home. What you paid doesn’t matter.
Big Mistake. A big mistake that home seller’s make is that they often set their asking price, based on what they paid for the property. For example, I hear frustrated, unsuccessful sellers justify overpricing their homes by rationalizing that ”We are asking $265,000 because we paid $250,000 and want to break even.”
The truth is, what you paid for your home doesn’t matter to anyone except you. While it is painful to admit a financial loss, don’t dig yourself in even deeper by thinking that someone else will pay for your mistake. They won’t. And, their lender and appraiser won’t, either
Real estate is just like the stock market. The Buyer determines the price they will pay, not the seller. For example, if you bought Citibank at $120 per share and its now trading at $3.00, then $3.00 is what the asset is worth. The fact you paid $120 a share is irrelevant to buyers in the marketplace. The situation is exactly the same for real estate.
If you want or need to sell a piece of real estate, forget about what you paid for the asset. The only thing that determines today’s value is what a buyer would be willing to pay today. To determine the realistic, current value of your home, research what other homes like yours have actually SOLD for by searching on your local, county property tax database or websites like Realtor.com or Zillow.com.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net. House are selling, but only the homes in the best location, condition and price. The summer selling season is rapidly passing by and its time to get serious. If not, you may find that home values are even lower next year. To reach 10 million home buyer’s each month, call us for an MLS and search engine listing for your property. You won’t find a better way to let the world know your home is for sale and time is passing you by.
Negotiate a Bad Home Inspection Report.
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.
First-Time Buyers Dominate Housing Market
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?
How to Improve Your Winter Curb Appeal
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 Inspections and Repairs. What you Should Know.
I receive a lot of questions from buyers and sellers about home inspections and repair issues. So, I decided to post links to a couple of articles I recently wrote about the subject. I hope the information clears up some of the confusion.
Buyer Repair Requests. What Repairs should the seller make.
Home Inspections. What you Should Know.
Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net homes for sale website. Search our database of homes for sale or post your property listing for FREE.