This is going to take a little bit of work on your part. It helps of course, to watch the market, the neighbourhood, the average selling price for your community, city etc. You can do this by looking at flyers, your newspapers or watching the news - even chatty neighbours who always seem to know what the "guy down the street sold his house for".
Remember that everyone's home is their castle BUT to a buyer - your castle may just be a lot of work ahead of them.
Before you can determine the value of your property - you must check the following items:
1. Is your home clean, fresh, bright? Does it get a lot of sunshine? Does it smell good? Is it inviting? Does it feel warm and friendly?
2. Does your home offer extras such as gas fireplace, finished basement, extra bathrooms, extra parking, double car garage, central air conditioning, air purifiers or cleaners, water softeners, city sewers (instead of septic), high efficiency furnace (or other forms of heating).
3. Are you close to schools? Shopping? Parks? Hospitals? Doctor/Dentist Offices, Community Centres? Bus Stops? Libraries? This is important for people with families, or elderlies.
4. Do you have bonus items such as paved driveways, landscaping, big backyard full of trees, flowers, garden? Do you have privacy fence? Well-Maintained patios or decks? Swimming Pool?
5. Do you have any pets? Do they live inside the house or in the backyard?
6. Is your home tastefully decorated or do you have purple and blue walls?
These are just a few items that are considered by buyers when shopping around for a home.
The first impression a buyer gets as soon as they walk in the front door is -Does it feel like home? Also, does it feel warm, inviting, cozy, comfortable, etc.
Once they get past that then they start analyzing everything - walls, paint, flooring, tiles, heating and air conditioning, windows, roof tops, basement, is the kitchen large enough to entertain, are there any cracks in the foundation, does the house smell of pet odour, are the bathrooms run down, etc.
If your home is move in condition - you can get TOP dollar for your home. If your home is NOT in a move-in condition and the buyer, after moving in, has to spend money fixing broken items or upgrading outdated items, etc. of course this will reflect in your selling Price.
Put yourself in a buyers situation - if you walked into a home - what would YOU be looking for?
The best option or route I suggest you take is to clean up your home BEFORE you decide you want to sell it - give it a fresh painting or touch up (you can do this yourself for next to nothing and it will increase the value of your home by so much more!).
Once you feel your house is up to par, then contact an Agent and ask them to give you a Property Evaluation. Don't just stop there. Invite more than 1 Agent from DIFFERENT companies and Real Estate offices to give you a Property Evaluation. (Don't worry - these are FREE to you and Agents will beat down your door to give you one because it could mean a potential listing!)
Ask for 2 things in particular - 1. What do they feel the house could be listed for? and 2. What do they feel the house could actually SELL for? The Agents will also tell you (if they are honest enough!) what you could do to improve your home or if it is fine the way it is.
If you get 3 Agents and you get 3 different prices - then you need to invite yet another Agent and find a medium price that will make YOU happy and your Agent willing to list your home with the hopes of selling it.
Come back tomorrow where I will talk about "Putting your house on the market"
Where I'm doing business:
http://homeincomeportal.com/livmic651
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
How to Choose a Real Estate Agent
Okay, the #1 question I am always asked is - How do you choose the right Agent?
Well for starters, usually in and around your neighbourhood you see for sale signs - depending on where you live - they are practically everywhere.
When you see the SAME Agent over and over again you tend to remember some names more than others. This doesn't automatically mean he or she is a good Agent - it just means they work and get a lot of listings.
What you DO want to check for is how many of those listings actually SELL.
So when you're driving around your neighbourhood, check out the Agent's names on the signs - its what they live for :) and then check to see how many of those FOR SALE signs actually turn into SOLD signs and how quickly. I can list 100 properties that are overpriced or over evaluated just to have 100 signs up in the area, but if I'm not selling any of them - that doesnt exactly mean I'm a good Agent?
Also remember, that just because the sign says SOLD it doesnt mean the Listing Agent sold it, it just means they had the right advertising that got the job done.
Some Agents I've worked with in the past have focused their energies on SELLING. When you are a selling Agent, you go after clients that are looking to buy and then you search the areas for Properties that are listed for sale and then go after those to sell to your buyers. Some Agents focused their energies on Listings only. They went out and found people who were interested in selling their properties and listed them and waited for the Selling Agent to find a buyer who would buy it.
A Selling Agent in my opinion, has to work harder because not only does he have to find people who are looking to buy but then he has to shop around for the property that his clients are looking for so in reality, he has to do double the work, whereas a Listing Agent finds a seller, puts the sign on their front lawn and then goes on to the next client.
A GREAT Agent can double end their deals which means they not only list the property but they can even find the buyer and sell them the property at the same time, earning double the commissions. Working with a Buyer/Selling Agent sometimes can be of great benefit to both clients involved because he has the sole option of decreasing his commission to suit both the financial needs of the buyer and seller. When you are working with 2 Agents, a client would have to convince BOTH Agents to lower their commission so that everyone is happy with the final price. (That will be another post altogether!)
Check out the local newspapers, see the Agent's names that keep showing up, call them, book a consultation (usually it's free - at least in Canada it still is!)
Visit with them, check out their office - it costs you nothing to meet with them and consult with them. Find out if you can speak to people they've dealt with in the past who may recommend them (or not!) and also, by meeting with them, you can see how you feel around them, if you are comfortable with them or if you find them too pushy, or too laid back - remember this is the person that will be dealing with potential buyers so you want someone to work for you that wants the same results as you do.
You also want to make sure you don't get an Agent who is TOO popular, perhaps they are overloaded with work and can't tend to your issues personally. You want someone who is experienced enough but not a #1 Agent who just doesn't have the time to deal with you directly so they send in back up help or assistants. You want to deal with the Agent directly! Having an assistant to help with paperwork and filing and taking phone calls is one thing, but you want the Agent that is getting PAID with YOUR money to work FOR YOU.
You also want to make sure you are dealing with an Agent who is hungry for your business but not desperate to sell to make a quick sale because they need the commission.
Always make sure you are treated as a person when dealing with an Agent, you don't just want to be a number on their "To Do" list.
Buying or selling a house is a LIFETIME investment and you want to make sure your Agent knows how important this is to you.
Check out tomorrow where I'll explain how to determine the value of your property.
Good Luck!
Where I'm doing business:
http://homeincomeportal.com/livmic651
Well for starters, usually in and around your neighbourhood you see for sale signs - depending on where you live - they are practically everywhere.
When you see the SAME Agent over and over again you tend to remember some names more than others. This doesn't automatically mean he or she is a good Agent - it just means they work and get a lot of listings.
What you DO want to check for is how many of those listings actually SELL.
So when you're driving around your neighbourhood, check out the Agent's names on the signs - its what they live for :) and then check to see how many of those FOR SALE signs actually turn into SOLD signs and how quickly. I can list 100 properties that are overpriced or over evaluated just to have 100 signs up in the area, but if I'm not selling any of them - that doesnt exactly mean I'm a good Agent?
Also remember, that just because the sign says SOLD it doesnt mean the Listing Agent sold it, it just means they had the right advertising that got the job done.
Some Agents I've worked with in the past have focused their energies on SELLING. When you are a selling Agent, you go after clients that are looking to buy and then you search the areas for Properties that are listed for sale and then go after those to sell to your buyers. Some Agents focused their energies on Listings only. They went out and found people who were interested in selling their properties and listed them and waited for the Selling Agent to find a buyer who would buy it.
A Selling Agent in my opinion, has to work harder because not only does he have to find people who are looking to buy but then he has to shop around for the property that his clients are looking for so in reality, he has to do double the work, whereas a Listing Agent finds a seller, puts the sign on their front lawn and then goes on to the next client.
A GREAT Agent can double end their deals which means they not only list the property but they can even find the buyer and sell them the property at the same time, earning double the commissions. Working with a Buyer/Selling Agent sometimes can be of great benefit to both clients involved because he has the sole option of decreasing his commission to suit both the financial needs of the buyer and seller. When you are working with 2 Agents, a client would have to convince BOTH Agents to lower their commission so that everyone is happy with the final price. (That will be another post altogether!)
Check out the local newspapers, see the Agent's names that keep showing up, call them, book a consultation (usually it's free - at least in Canada it still is!)
Visit with them, check out their office - it costs you nothing to meet with them and consult with them. Find out if you can speak to people they've dealt with in the past who may recommend them (or not!) and also, by meeting with them, you can see how you feel around them, if you are comfortable with them or if you find them too pushy, or too laid back - remember this is the person that will be dealing with potential buyers so you want someone to work for you that wants the same results as you do.
You also want to make sure you don't get an Agent who is TOO popular, perhaps they are overloaded with work and can't tend to your issues personally. You want someone who is experienced enough but not a #1 Agent who just doesn't have the time to deal with you directly so they send in back up help or assistants. You want to deal with the Agent directly! Having an assistant to help with paperwork and filing and taking phone calls is one thing, but you want the Agent that is getting PAID with YOUR money to work FOR YOU.
You also want to make sure you are dealing with an Agent who is hungry for your business but not desperate to sell to make a quick sale because they need the commission.
Always make sure you are treated as a person when dealing with an Agent, you don't just want to be a number on their "To Do" list.
Buying or selling a house is a LIFETIME investment and you want to make sure your Agent knows how important this is to you.
Check out tomorrow where I'll explain how to determine the value of your property.
Good Luck!
Where I'm doing business:
http://homeincomeportal.com/livmic651
Friday, February 23, 2007
Real Estate Questions.....
Okay, it's REALLY COLD outside and I'm NOT in the mood to go shopping I know, this is very rare for me - but I wanted to bring something to your attention.
I have many, many years in the Real Estate field. I mean, I started out when I was 16, as a receptionist and have climbed my way thru "experience of life" to become Assistant Manager to one of the top franchises in North America.
With that said - I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE that ask me about Real Estate. Such as.....how do I get my property listed, how much should I list it for, what happens when I get an offer - how do I know the Agent or Broker I am using is trustworthy, what's a sign back, what's a multiple offer situation mean? etc.....
Well....I've decided that I'm going to take a break from the whole shopping thing - and actually sit down and do a FREE Real Estate lesson for whoever wants to read it.
If you're thinking of buying or selling - you may want to come back and read what I have to say. Although I'm not a Broker, I've worked in the industry for over 20 years, I've worked with small, medium and large offices as well as bottom feeders and top producers. I've worked with clients from all walks of life so there isn't too much that I have yet to see.
Come back tomorrow where I will talk about my very first question I was asked.....How to choose a Real Estate Agent.....
G'nite!
Where I'm doing business:
http://homeincomeportal.com/livmic651/
I have many, many years in the Real Estate field. I mean, I started out when I was 16, as a receptionist and have climbed my way thru "experience of life" to become Assistant Manager to one of the top franchises in North America.
With that said - I GET A LOT OF PEOPLE that ask me about Real Estate. Such as.....how do I get my property listed, how much should I list it for, what happens when I get an offer - how do I know the Agent or Broker I am using is trustworthy, what's a sign back, what's a multiple offer situation mean? etc.....
Well....I've decided that I'm going to take a break from the whole shopping thing - and actually sit down and do a FREE Real Estate lesson for whoever wants to read it.
If you're thinking of buying or selling - you may want to come back and read what I have to say. Although I'm not a Broker, I've worked in the industry for over 20 years, I've worked with small, medium and large offices as well as bottom feeders and top producers. I've worked with clients from all walks of life so there isn't too much that I have yet to see.
Come back tomorrow where I will talk about my very first question I was asked.....How to choose a Real Estate Agent.....
G'nite!
Where I'm doing business:
Friday, February 16, 2007
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If you are trying to make money with your BLOG - this is definetely SOFTWARE you need!
You will NEVER be accused of SPAM because all submissions are done through OUR servers (one time set up fee for this) PLUS - as a BONUS you'll receive access to our complete library of ebooks, scripts, software and other products WITH 100% RESALE RIGHTS so you can make money while WE fill the orders!
Even if 1% of those contacted view your Blog - that would be 750,000 HITS with ONE CLICK! This software is a MUST have and is extremely affordable!
You can submit once a day and a different URL each time.
Reach 75 million people who have OPTED-IN to be contacted by YOU.
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Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Work at Home Moms and Dads
Great Resource and Work At Home site for MOMS AND DADS!
If you've ever wanted to stay home and enjoy your children but weren't ready to sacrifice
your finances - THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!
Legitimate home based organization for Parents alike since 1994 !
Where I'm doing business:
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Friday, February 09, 2007
Anna Nicole Smith 1967 - 2007 R.I.P.
Anna Nicole Smith has died.
For everything she's been through, let us not forget, she is somebody's
mother.
Finally, Anna, you can now rest in peace.
Amen.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
MEN - do you suffer from THINNING hair?
95% of my posts are for shop-a-holics ( women) but once in awhile, I run into a product that helps BOTH MEN AND WOMEN!
GOOD LUCK!
GOOD LUCK!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
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