Real Estate Blog

In the movie “Tomorrow Never Dies,” James Bond says; “You forgot the first rule of mass media, Elliot! GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT!” Well, knowing what they want is half the battle.

What Do Home Buyers Want?

Everyone has heard the saying that “A picture is worth a thousand words…” but realize this; the wrong picture will hurt you. It doesn’t even have to be a bad picture. If it’s not what the buyer wants to see, by default they will decide against even looking at your home. Continue reading ‘Give the Buyers What They Want – Do You Know What They Want?’ »

The internet has certainly leveled the playing field for people that want to sell by owner. Let’s not forget that there are still some basic marketing principles involved in the process. There are two things you must know to increase your chances of selling by owner.

Know Your “Comps”

Most homeowners look to similar homes nearby to approximate the value of their own home. Most homeowners also stop right there. Here’s how you can increase your odds of success: Get the whole picture. The price you ask for your home should be arrived at based on several very different criteria. The first is obvious. The industry calls them “comps” or comparisons. Nearby homes that have sold in the last couple of months that are similar in style, square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, year built, garage size are among the first set of numbers that need to be collected. The trouble is, when you are selling by owner, there are plenty of things you may not know to take into consideration. Location is a big one. This is where industry professionals can be a helpful resource. For example do you know how much it affects the value of two identical homes in the same neighborhood if one of them is on a busy street? It can vary from city to city. Doing thorough research will likely involve the expertise of local professionals. Work with experts that don’t have a financial motive in the sale of your home, like real estate appraisers, and trust their expertise. Continue reading ‘Selling by Owner? You Need to Know These Two Things’ »

Anyone can sell their home themselves and make a better profit than if they would have used a Real Estate agent. However, often times your worst enemy is yourself. Humans have a natural instinct to sabotage our own work and this is true in the for sale by owner game also. Here are some tips on how to be successful at selling your house.

1. Keep A Positive Mind – If you’ve done your homework, priced your home right, learned everything you have to do at closing you are ready to sell your home yourself. Be confident it that. Continue reading ‘For Sale by Owner Real Estate Tips – How to Sell Your House Like a Pro’ »

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For Sale By Owner homes are on the rise as people seek to save money while they are selling their homes. While FSBO’s are very attractive from the seller’s perspective, they may not always be for the buyer. The following are some considerations that you may want to take in account when you see a For Sale By Owner property in your desired neighborhoods.

Generally speaking buying a FSBO property is a risky move. Although the seller thinks they are saving themselves, and you, money by leaving real estate agents out of the mix, sellers actually end up with less money compared to what they would net by using a real estate agent. From the buyer’s perspective, you could be facing some real risks by purchasing a FSBO home. Continue reading ‘Are All For Sale by Owners a Good Deal?’ »

First impressions mean a lot, and everyone has them.

Have you seen a house that has bushes so high that you can’t see the windows? Or perhaps, you drive by that house on the corner that has the perfectly manicured lawn and beautiful flower beds. In both situations, you formed an impression in your mind. It is important to consider which impression your prospective buyers are going to form when they first see your property.

In the industry, this is referred to as Curb Appeal . Curb Appeal is the way your home looks combined with the feeling that is created when a prospective buyer sees your house. It is their ‘first impression’. Continue reading ‘FSBO – First Impressions Can Make a Big Difference’ »

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Once you’ve done all your homework and set the correct asking price, had a few open houses and advertised in all the right places you are now ready to receive your first offer on your for sale by owner property. Someone has looked at the house, decided that they want to buy it and have made you an offer. Now what?

Well you can either reject, accept or make a counter offer. It is always good to make a counter offer unless someone is offering you your full asking price. To not make a counter offer lets the buyer think they offered too much and it may cause you to accept a lot less than the buyer is actually willing to pay. Continue reading ‘What to Do When You Get an Offer on Your FSBO’ »