Article Archive for December 2007

What Movers Won’t Move
By Kim
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas on 16 December 2007
Stats: 408 views and No Comments

Moving into your new home? Planning to use movers? Before you grab those boxes and tape, there are a few things you should know about what movers won’t transport.
1. PETS
If you have any pets, you need to make arrangements for their move since movers will not transport them. A federal regulation prohibits moving companies from [...]

Why Descriptions Matter
By Shanna
Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 14 December 2007
Stats: 1,919 views and 5 Comments

If you’re new to Buy Owner marketing, you might be surprised to find full-paragraph home descriptions at the Buy Owner site.
This is quite unlike the quick, abbreviated, hard-to-understand real estate code of most real estate ads:
(Think ”fu fin bsmt” or “obo” or “mbs/off.”)
Buy Owner property descriptions are feature-packed, complete sentences, written by professional writers.
Why are these descriptions important?

THEY [...]

Add Value: A Home Office
By Theresa
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 12 December 2007
Stats: 381 views and No Comments

When your home’s on the market, you want to do everything possible to maximize value.
Ever considered adding a home office? HGTV lists having a home office as one top feature that increases a home’s value. With more and more people working from home, buyers delight in the idea of an extra room or space that can be dedicated [...]

Clean Out Your Closet!
By Shanna
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 11 December 2007
Stats: 702 views and 1 Comment

Did you know eliminating clutter from your home is one of the most cost-efficient, effective ways to improve its perceived value to buyers? In exchange for your effort, your home will seem larger, filled with potential, and much more desirable to viewers.
Think decluttering your home is too daunting a task? Try choosing just one thing [...]

“Oops:” How Mortgage Lending became a Crisis
By Sarah
Posted in General Information, Market News on 10 December 2007
Stats: 675 views and No Comments

Chances are, you have heard the phrase “mortgage crisis” more than a handful of times in the past few months.
If you are dipping your toes in the first-time mortgage pool, it is important to assess your own finances before relying on lending companies to guide you.
As this crisis has shown, you have to take responsibility [...]

Rethinking Curb Appeal
By Shanna
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 8 December 2007
Stats: 472 views and 2 Comments

Let’s be honest: when you’ve been driving up to your home for months, years or even decades, it can be hard to imagine the exterior looking any other way. You’re used to its appearance, even with the imperfections and the unusual touches. That’s just the way it is, and you’ve been happy with it, so [...]

Closing Costs
By Carrie
Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 7 December 2007
Stats: 489 views and No Comments

What are closing costs? Simply put, they are the actual expenses incurred in the origination of a new home loan.
They traditionally fall to the buyer, but sellers, take note: it is possible you may end up paying some or all of the following fees in your home sale. You may be required to do so, [...]

3 Reasons Your Home Isn’t Selling
By Shanna
Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 6 December 2007
Stats: 501 views and No Comments

With your Buy Owner advertising, your home is showcased to a national audience of potential buyers. You’ve custom-designed your marketing package with the help of a qualified consultant, highlighting your home’s features, appearance, and location.
Now, after your ad is just the way you want it and it’s available to view, you are left waiting for [...]

FSBO and Fluffy: Selling a Home When Pets Are Involved
By Becky
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 5 December 2007
Stats: 382 views and No Comments

If you are a pet owner who is trying to sell your home, there are a few important things you must be sure to do:

Clean all carpets and floors.
Make sure to remove any stains your pets may have left.
Repair or replace anything that may have been damaged by your pet.
Get rid of the odor. Even if [...]

When Are You Ready to Buy Your First Home?
By Shanna
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas on 4 December 2007
Stats: 1,410 views and 1 Comment

1. When you know what you want
Some things you may already know—how many bedrooms you need, what kind of a commute you’re willing to deal with—but some things might come up as you search. Browse through properties at www.buyowner.com and see the many home options. Prepare a list—even if just in your mind—of non-negotiables and [...]