The Key to Selling a property online

Selling property online is not a new method its just one
that over time has become more and more popular. The
popularity of selling a home privately may be a reaction to
housing slumps and the costs involved in selling a
property. Home owners faced with trying to find a buyer
need to save every penny and selling real estate without an
agent can save thousands. One thing is certain once you
have had the pleasure of selling a property by yourself its
hard to go back to more traditional methods.

So what is the key to selling your home online. There is no
one single answer it is a mixture of realistic pricing,
presentation , good images and choosing the right property
websites for maximum exposure.

Preparing your house before you photograph it is an
important aspect of presenting your home when selling it
online. You will be inviting thousands of people into your
home via your photographs .

A well-kept garden, pathway and fence, plus a freshly
painted front door are immediately appealing, whereas a
scruffy outdoor space with a litter bin outside the front
door may turn many prospective buyers away.

De-clutter - don't underestimate the appeal of a tidy
property. Throw out the junk - use moving as a good excuse
to get rid of old, unwanted and unused items.

Clean - dust and clean the whole house thoroughly, from
cobwebs on the ceiling to crumbs and stains on carpets and
rugs. Remember to wash down paintwork and clean windows.

Natural Colours - research shows that, most buyers prefer
natural, earthy colours to bright, bold shades. Although
there is a wide range of paint colours available, magnolia
is still the top-selling colour.

Add a bit of colour - to prevent rooms looking too bland,
use strong colours for accent walls or cushions and
accessories.

De-personalise - remove personal items, such as family
photographs and children's drawings, which may distract
potential buyers.It may sound harsh but it really helps
sell property

Maintenance - Complete all minor repairs. Major Jobs- If
you don't spend out on home improvements to complete major
repairs it could have a disproportionate affect on the
value of the property.

Lighting - the right lighting can improve the mood of a
room. A room looks cozier with a few table lamps rather
than bright general lighting.

Take pets out - ask friends or family to look after pets
during viewings. Fresh flowers and fruit - flowers and a
bowl of fruit will brighten up a room and provide a
pleasant smell.

Define your rooms - a property will be more appealing if
rooms have a specific purpose and this allows buyers to see
the full potential of the property.

Last of all when writing your property description makes
sure it includes details for those who may want to buy it
as an investment . So gather rental values  this will
increase the scope of people who may wish to buy your
property.


----------------------------------------------------
Nicholas Marr is a lifetime overseas property investor and
CEO of Marr International Ltd a UK based property marketing
company that is responsible for international real estate
web site at http://www.homesgofast.com/sell_my_home.php

 

6 Tips for Protecting Your Home - and Yourself - During a Remodeling Project

Spring and summer in Northern New England means relief from
the cold, the end of the school year, and a boom in home
remodeling projects.

"This is the busiest time of year for us," said Ed
Campbell, VP of Operations for Nashua, NH-based remodeling
firm G.M. Roth. "With the warmer weather, people can
finally open up their homes and start the big home
improvement projects - ones that take more than a couple of
days, and expose the home to the outside air with more than
just an open window."

For anyone looking to tackle a large project - remodeling a
kitchen or bathroom, or adding a porch or in-law suite, for
example - here are six things for the top of your home
improvement to-do list:

Check the weather. Rainy days are frequent in spring and
summer months, and depending on the length of time your
remodeling project will take, you might need to protect
your home from the elements - and from contractors tracking
the elements into your home. Make sure you account for this
possibility before and during the remodeling process.

Don't forget about winter so soon. Sure, the weather is
warming up right now. But if your remodeling project
requires new doors, windows, or changes to exterior walls,
be sure you discuss adequate insulation and energy
efficiency options with your contractor. Come winter, you
don't want to be left in the cold.

Get real about the project timeline. We all have the best
intentions, and we all like to hear the best-case
scenarios. But life isn't always that simple, and neither
are remodeling projects. Ask every contractor from whom you
get a quote to provide an honest estimate of how long the
project will take - no sugarcoating, no rose-colored
glasses.

Call your insurance agent. Since home remodeling often
increases the value of your home, you'll want your
insurance coverage to come up to speed with the
improvements. Plus, your agent can tell you if you'll be
covered in case of things like weather damage during the
remodeling, injuries to workers, and other unexpected
events.

Get it all in writing. The agreement you have with your
contractor should specify who's responsible for cleanup
during and after the remodeling project. Also,
responsibility for protection of your property from
construction damage should be spelled out, too.

Get out, if you can. There may be times where fumes or dust
give you no choice but to stay with friends, family, or a
local motel for short spells. But kitchen remodeling, for
example, often denies homeowners the use of major
appliances and drinking water. Rather than set up a
temporary kitchen with paper goods in the spare bedroom, it
might be easier to crash with the in-laws for a couple of
weeks, and spring for their groceries as well as yours.

Planning ahead, the key to success in so many areas of
life, is just as important for home remodeling projects.
And with the industry about to go through the high-demand
phase of its business cycle, taking time to plan before you
start a major home improvement won't just increase in the
value of your home. It'll pay off in peace of mind as well.


----------------------------------------------------
About G.M. Roth
Since 1986, G.M. Roth Design and Remodeling has been
designing and building award-winning projects. From kitchen
and bath remodeling to in-law suites, porches and decks,
clients get their "Dreams Delivered" by G.M. Roth. To find
out more about G.M. Roth, and how their commitment to the
Design/Build philosophy provides flexibility for your
project while preventing time delays and cost overruns, go
to http://www.GMRoth.com .

 

Twelve Tips For Writing A FSBO Ad

How To Write A FSBO Ad

Who knows you have a house for sale? You need to advertise.
You need to write an ad for your For Sale by Owner house
but you don't know what to say. We know how you feel. We've
felt that way many times and what we've found are a dozen
tips to help you breeze through the ad writing dilemma.

We've been there and it's tough:

. You've got a great house.  . You've staged it for the
market.  . You've priced it just right.  . No one knows
about it.   The Twelve Ad Writing Tips Are:

1. Know Your Target Market

You need to know who to target in order to write an
effective ad. Buyers are your target market. Target buyers
who are represented by an agent and those who choose to buy
with no representation. Target buyers who are moving into
your area. These buyers will pick up local newspapers and
thrifty ad magazines to look for houses. You need to
advertise in both types of publications.

Buyers look for:

. Location   . Price   . Terms   . Features   . Benefits

2. Create A Killer Headline For Your Ad

Grab the buyer's attention. Select the best feature or
benefit your house has to offer. Use it as your headline.

Is your house:

. Beachfront?   . Mountain view?   . Lake front?   . Priced
under appraisal?   . Are you offering owner financing?   .
Is it zoned for horses?   . Close to open space?   Get the
idea?  Select the best feature or benefit for your
headline. Limit the headline to eight words or less.

3. If You Want A Call - Don't Tell It All

Give buyers just enough information to grab and hold their
attention. Remember.  Your ad is a teaser not the entire
movie. The buyer will lose interest if you tell them
everything in a long ad; there'll be no reason for the them
to call.

4. What Are The Best Four Or Five Features?

. What attracted you to this house?     . Why did you buy
this house?   . What's your favorite feature?   Tell the
buyer about these features. Then list four or five
benefits.  Why would they buy this house rather than one
down the block? Sell them on benefits and features. List
features and benefits in short compact sentences. You pay
for ad space by the word.

5. Create Desire

Create desire by using feature and benefit lists. Avoid
trite phrasing and long descriptive dialogue. Flowing
dialogue does not create desire. It does create boredom. It
can actually drive the buyer away. Crisp clear sentences
are the best

6. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Use as many photos as your ad budget will allow. Photos
grab attention far better than words. Phrases tell - Photos
sell.

7. The Buyer Must Be Reeled In by Your Ad

Create a headline that grabs their attention; one that
holds their interest and stimulates desire.

To do that:

. Emphasize your features and benefits.   . Compose your
entire ad in short concise sentences.   . Use photos.   .
Ask the buyer to call.   . Urge them to take action.   .
Create a sense of urgency.

8. Use Action Phrases

Use phrases that suggest:

. Your price is only valid for limited time.   . A quick
closing - Quick possession   . An open house only this
weekend.   . They shouldn't miss this opportunity   . Take
action. Call today.   . The Asking price is less than the
appraised value.   Urge buyers to take action.

9. Get The Most Exposure For Your Advertising Dollar

Internet space is cheaper than classified advertising and
has real potential to reach several hundred times the
number of buyers a hard copy ad will reach. Search on line
to find sites that specialize in advertising FSBO houses.
Online advertising is supplemental advertising; it does not
eliminate the need to advertise in  newspapers and thrifty
magazines,

10. Give Buyers Lots Of Ways To Contact You

. List a phone number or two   . Give a cell phone number 
. Give an email address   . Give a fax number

Make yourself available to answer calls. You'd be amazed at
the number of For Sale by Owners who run ads and then are
not available to take calls. Respond promptly  to all
inquiries.

Do Not have a voice message recorded by your children.
People will hang up. While the house is on the market the
voice message must be an adult

11. You Should Always include:

. Your asking price.

. The number of baths.   . The number of garage spaces.   .
The lot or acreage size.   You want to eliminate calls from
unqualified buyers. If a buyer needs a four-bedroom house
and yours is a two-bedroom; do yourself a favor, eliminate
unnecessary calls by listing pertinent information in your
ad.

12. Summary Points

Your ad should contain three key points which say to the
buyer:   . Here's what it is.

. Here's what it can do for you.

. Here's the action you need to take.

EXAMPLE:

. For sale by owner ads offer you exposure to hundreds of
buyers. . Your ad will help you sell faster. . Take
advantage-run an ad today.


----------------------------------------------------
Wee Dilts created the original for sale by owner flat fee
MLS program, authored the best selling "How to Sell Real
Estate by Owner" book, and has assisted FSBOS since 1983.
Colorado For Sale by Owners can register for MLS, purchase
her book, or download Free FSBO tips at
http://www.fsbofriend.com
Have a FSBO questions? Send it to fsbofriend@msn.com

 

Buying a Home 'As-Is' - Should You Be Worried?

Most homes are sold 'as is." In fact, the form Residential
Purchase Agreement used by most brokers has a pre-printed
'as is' clause stating that the property is sold 'as is'
without any warranty and in its present physical condition.
 In a recent purchase, I was asked by the seller to also
sign a special lawyer-prepared document which reiterated
(in a full page of legalese) that the property was being
sold 'as is.'  My first instinct was to ask: What is wrong
with this property and am I losing all of my rights by
agreeing to buy it 'as is?

There is no clear-cut answer but a quick explanation of the
law should put your mind at ease when buying a property 'as
is.'

What is wrong with This Property?

As the Agreement notes, 'as is' means that the Seller is
not making any warranties about the condition of the
property.  Selling 'as is' does not necessarily mean that
anything is wrong with the property.  The Buyer, however,
should have a professional inspector look at the property
and accompany the inspector as he examines the property.
The inspector's trained eye will catch items that you may
not notice.

Am I losing All of My Rights?

If it turns out that a problem arises with the property
after the deal has been closed, what remedy does a Buyer
have in an 'as is' sale?  The 'as is' clause works in
concert with other laws, most notably California Civil Code
§1102.  This section requires that the Seller provide the
Buyer with a detailed Real Estate Transfer Disclosure
Statement.

The Disclosure Statement addresses almost every conceivable
defect with the property-from the presence of contaminants
to lawsuits against the property.  In general, the Seller
is under a duty to disclose any and all facts materially
affecting the value or desirability of the property which
are known only to him and which he knows are not known to,
or reasonably discoverable by, the Buyer.  Even loud or
obnoxious neighbors must be disclosed.

If the problem has been disclosed by the Seller, the Buyer
has no cause to complain at a later date.  He could have
walked away from the deal or renegotiated.  However, if the
Seller knew about the problem but did not disclose it, the
Buyer may have a claim against the Seller.

In a recent case, our client purchased a multi-million
dollar home only to find that the winter rains brought
extensive leaking.  The professional inspection had noted
that the roof should be maintained yearly and would have to
be replaced in three years.  However, it had not uncovered
any leaking, and the Seller made no mention of roof leaks
in the Disclosure Statement.  However, the gardener and
housekeeper, both of whom had worked for the Seller,
remembered numerous roof leaks while the Seller lived in
the house.

The Seller argued that (1) the house was being sold 'as is'
and (2) the inspection put the Buyer on notice that the
roof was in bad shape, thereby absolving her of any
liability.  In any event, she also claimed to have repaired
the leaks and thought that they had been fixed.

While the inspector may have noted the limited life of the
roof, the Seller was still required to disclose the
leaking.  The leaks were a material fact affecting the
value (and habitability) of the home.  In this case,
neither the Buyer nor the inspector could have discovered
the leaks in a visual inspection of the property.
(Interestingly, because of liability issues, professional
inspectors often will not allow the Buyer to follow them up
to the roof, at least not on the inspector's ladder!)  The
Seller settled with the Buyer, and the roof was replaced.

So, rest assured, although you may be buying the house 'as
is,' the Seller is not excused from disclosing material
problems in the Disclosure Statement.  And in the event the
Seller fails to make these required disclosures, the Buyer
has a legal remedy, despite the 'as is' provisions of the
Agreement.


----------------------------------------------------
Laine T. Wagenseller is the founder of Wagenseller Law
Firm, a full service real estate litigation firm in
downtown Los Angeles. The firm represents real estate
developers, owners, and investors. For more information
visit http://www.wagensellerlaw.com or contact Mr.
Wagenseller at (213) 996-8338.