Posts by mary.w

Perform CPR on your Home Sale!

Jul23
2017 Written by mary.w

Just like a heart that has stopped beating, sometimes you have to jump start…electrify your marketing to bring your listing back to life.  CPR has 3 components: Airway…Breathing…Circulation. Let’s use that same concept to revive your home marketing.

Airway: After your home  has been on the market for awhile, you can feel the air of excitement become blocked by time…other homes that have come on the market at a lower price… your unwillingness to lower your price or accept that the market will not accept your valuation…reduction of showings…and just an overall blockage of results.

Breathing: Breathe new life into your listing by: lowering your price…increasing your marketing… holding a “Fresh to the Market Open House”…being completely available for showings and willing to at least listen to all offers…open to agents showing your home and offer a strong buyer’s agent commission (if you haven’t already done so).

Circulation: Circulate the news that your home price has been lowered, that you’re willing to negotiate, that you are having an amazing Open House (review some great ideas in previous blog posts, etc. Do this via social media such as Facebook and Twitter asking your friends to please share…via flyers on local community boards, in coffee shops and mailed to HR departments of police and fire departments, universities & hospitals…these all bring in new employees all the time who will be looking for housing…bring attention to your sign when other open houses are happening in your neighborhood by adding balloons and attaching flyers.

It’s very easy to become discouraged even fearful when your home is not selling as you’d hoped it would. Take a deep breath, determine a new strategy and perform CPR on your home’s marketing campaign. Then proceed with confidence into your desired future!

Posted in Uncategorized

IT’S ALL IN PERSPECTIVE!

Jul13
2017 Written by mary.w

Why is it a good time to sell?

  • Interest Rates Are Still Low
  • Interest Rates Might Be Going Up
  • Economy on Upswing
  • Prices Are Still Rising or are Stable
  • Buyers Are Still Shopping

Why is it a good time to buy?

  • Interest Rates Are Still Low
  • Interest Rates Might Be Going Up
  • Economy on Upswing
  • Prices Are Still Rising or are Stable
  • Buyers Are Still Shopping

Get the point? It’s all in perspective. If you want to sell…sell! If you want to buy…buy!  We’re in a unique time so take advantage and give yourself the authority to move forward into your future!!

Posted in Uncategorized

BE SAFE, SECURE & SMART WHILE TRAVELING THIS SUMMER!

Jun29
2017 Written by mary.w

Often during the summer, even though your home is on the market, you still do a lot of traveling to weddings, reunions, family picnics and family vacations.  You might only be gone over a weekend or perhaps a week or two.  So what can you do to ensure that your home is secure while you’re away from home? Here’s a few tips.

  • It’s great to put your lights on timers but it’s a mistake to use one that illuminates the same lights at the same times every day. A better choice is using timers that can be set for different times each day and to not all go on at that same time. You want it to appear that you are randomly moving from room to room throughout the day and evening.
  • There are numerous systems with apps now that you can purchase that allow you to control your lights from wherever you are. If you travel a lot, this may be the best way to provide yourself with a stress free trip.
  • If you’re road tripping in your own vehicle, see if a neighbor, friend or family member can stop by at different times while you’re gone and pick up your mail or just hang out for short periods of time so there are cars in your driveway while you’re gone. If the live nearby and can leave their car in your driveway overnight once in a while even better!
  • In the past it’s been suggested that you have your mail delivery stopped while you’re gone. This can be an ok idea but keep in mind that you are letting people in the local post office with whom you’re not acquainted know that no one is home. Better to have someone pick up your mail or if it drops through your mail slot, just gather it up when you get home.
  • This may be the most important tip. DO NOT POST on social media that you are heading out to your reunion or someone’s wedding or that you’re anxious to hop on that cruise…..WAIT and when you return you can post that you just got back and what a great time you had. Still get to share but do so wisely!
  • Don’t be afraid to let your local police department know that you’ll be gone and ask if they can periodically patrol your street and keep an eye on your home. They really don’t mind doing so.

With a few well thought out plans, you can enjoy your summer journeys while still marketing your home and feel safe and secure all the while!

Posted in Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

PROACTIVELY PROMOTE YOUR HOME ALL DAY LONG!!

Jun08
2017 Written by mary.w

Maximize the impact of your BuyOwner.com advertising by proactively promoting your home throughout your daily activities.  Also, take a few hours a week and be deliberate with your personal marketing. You might not connect with your buyer but rather with someone who will share it with their friend or family member who wants to live in your area. Think beyond your buyer and create a network of marketers sharing your home with others.

Goal #1: Get your phone to ring or your email or social media messages to load up!

DISTRIBUTE FLYERS: Use your BuyOwner.com Online Seller Tool titled “Create Flyers” to personalize and print out eye catching flyers and then distribute them everywhere you can**:

    1. Area supermarkets and stores.
    2. Cafes.
    3. Local schools.
    4. Police and Fire Departments (many require that they reside within the city they protect).
    5. Non-profit organizations.
    6. Libraries.
    7. Laundromats.
    8. Independent booksellers.
    9. Nearby University, Colleges or Hospitals. Put on Community Boards but also give to HR departments who might be hiring new Professors/Doctors/Nurses/Staff, etc.
    10. Any additional place where you can obtain permission to post!
    11. Keep flyers with you at all times, ready to hand out!!  (flyers typically result in a 1% response so the more flyers you distribute the better your chances of reaching a prospective buyer!)

USE YOUR CONNECTIONS

    1. Post on the bulletin board at work or your gym, if possible.
    2. If your subdivision/neighborhood offers a bulletin board or some kind of announcement section, post your flyer there! By posting in the neighborhood, you’re targeting people who are already attracted to your location.
    3. Your town/city may have a similar bulletin board option at the town center or community rec center.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS

    1. Talk about your home sale with your friends and family.
    2. Mention it at work, at stores, with new acquaintances.
    3. Be bold! If you’re standing in line at the coffee shop, bank, etc., and you hear someone talking about wanting to move into the area, excuse yourself for ‘eavesdropping’ but let them know you might have the home for them and hand them your flyer! Don’t walk away too quickly as they may have questions and engage immediately, especially if they are relocating or their home is already sold and time is of the essence!
    4. Bring it up at book club, community events, parties, showers, holiday gatherings.

LINK TO YOUR BUYOWNER.COM AD

    1. Create free online ads at places like Craigslist and Google that link to your BuyOwner.com page. You’ll be drawing even more people to look at your home’s photos, tours and text!
    2. Post on your Facebook page and ask that people viewing it share it on their pages as well.
    3. Instagram or twitter including a link to your BuyOwner.com webpage.
    4. E-mail everyone in your e-mail address book a link to your online ad and ask them to pass it on to anyone who’s in the market.
    5. Blog about your home sale. If you, or someone you know, blogs regularly, that can be a great way to spread the word about your property. Try to get a post written that links to your advertisement and mentions some of your home’s key features.

HOLD AN OPEN HOUSE

    1. Schedule an open house on a weekend afternoon when not a lot of community events are happening. Hint: don’t plan the open house on the day of a big football game or the weekend of a holiday.
    2. Promote your open house everywhere (see above for suggestions about flyers).
    3. On the day of the open house, have a niece or nephew run a lemonade stand out front. This will help draw in other passers-by, inviting them inside.
    4. Mark your open house online, through your ByOwner seller dashboard. Contact Customer Care to add it to your MLS & realtor.com listings.
    5. Make the most of other open houses in the area. Check local ads, and when an open house is scheduled in nearby, put out several signs and draw those visitors to your home.

**Be careful to abide by all local ordinances regarding private property and only post the flyer after obtaining permission.**

Don’t hesitate to call your BuyOwner.com Customer Care Rep or your Personal Marketing Consultant and ask for help! We are here to make  your experience positive while helping you achieve your home selling goals!!

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

BEWARE OF RENTAL and RENT TO OWN SCAMS!

Jun08
2017 Written by mary.w

You’ve probably seen several listings online (often posted on Zillow and Craigslist) that seem “too good to be true” because of how low the rent is or because you can rent to own the property with very little down, low rent and a less than stellar credit score.  They seem too good to be true because most likely they are. These scams have become much more prevalent over the last couple of years and though your head might be screaming “This is a scam” your heart may be saying, “Wow it would be great to live in that neighborhood and maybe it’s true that the owner is building a bridge in Nigeria or has already moved and just wants to know that someone will love the home as much as they did”  and is looking for a perfect renter/buyer. Below are some red flags to look for and hopefully wave you in the other direction!

* They can’t meet you in person and show you the home because they are out of town or out of the country BUT they trust you so as soon as you send funds via wire transfer or Western Union to cover the security deposit and/or first or first and last month’s rent, they will send you the keys. Note: If they send you a long heartfelt email about why they can’t be there or share a sob story, google search the first couple of lines of the email and you may find that it is one that is used over and over again in the scam market. Run!

* Don’t assume because the ad includes a realtor’s name that this is an actual listing. Research the name, agency and phone number to see if they exist and are actively working in the marketplace. Even if you discover that they do exist and are actively working, take the extra very important step to see if the home is listed differently on the realtor’s website. If so, and clearly their listing has been hijacked by a scammer, take a moment and call the agent to let them know so they can handle it on their end and protect their client. Good Karma!

* They will always ask you for your personal and financial information either via the internet, an email or over the phone. SCAM! Hang up or shut down. Never provide any financial information over the phone or online to anyone you don’t know, haven’t met or cannot verify as legitimate.

* If you cannot tour the home with an agent or the owner prior to committing to the rental, take a pass! This is Scam 101!

* If they try to rush you because there are so many others who want the property and it’s first come “with the deposit”, think twice. This might be the case sometimes, but never rush without doing due diligence.

* If you see a home with a big Rent To Own regardless of credit or Rent to Own this home for a few hundred dollars move on to the next listing. These are typically fraudulent. Don’t hesitate to notify the site or even local law enforcement of these scams so as to protect others who might not have read this blog!

KEYS: Be diligent. Do your research. Don’t rush into anything. Decide with your mind and not your feelings. And as always, remember that usually if it seems too good to be true, it is!

 

Posted in General Information, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

BE MEMORABLE!!

May25
2017 Written by mary.w

So you’ve had an open house or a showing. Odds are those buyers have looked at other homes besides yours today or within the last few days. So, how do you make yours the one they remember?

  • Have prospective buyers sign a guest book before they walk through your Open House….Do not say “you must sign this or you cannot walk through”. But, if as soon as they arrive you greet them with a friendly hello and a smile while immediately asking them to sign in most likely they will. Prepare the book with a column for Name, Phone Number, Email Address. They might not give you all of it but the purpose is to hopefully have an opportunity to follow up with them after the event or showing.
  • If a realtor brings their prospective buyer through ask them to please leave a card. They should give it to you on their own, but if they don’t, don’t hesitate to ask for it.
  • Have a prepared “give away” sheet to give them when they arrive, not when they are leaving.  Detail it room by room noting any recent update, upgrades, etc. Include a photo file if possible (easily created on your BuyOwner.com seller’s dashboard!). This allows them to see all your home is offering them plus once they’ve left and are reviewing the homes they’ve seen, something you’ve noted on your sheet may be the very item that stands out to them as a deal maker!
  • Have small chilled water bottles for them to grab and enjoy as they walk through your home.  Even better, create labels on your printer with a photo of your home, your address and your contact info and tape it to the bottles. Remember, you’re trying to stand out above the crowd!
  • Don’t be afraid to follow up with anyone (buyer or realtor) who have walked through your home and ask for their feedback. Even if they are not interested, their input might prove valuable for your next showing.
  • Be friendly….smile…..show no fear….don’t over talk….let them know you’re happy to answer any of their questions.  First impressions of you can be as valuable as a first impression of your home.

The best way to become memorable to prospective buyers is to think like one of them and not as a seller…..what can you do that would cause you to positively remember a walk through of your home? Then add that to the list above. Now go sell your home!!

Posted in Uncategorized

CURB APPEAL WOES?

May25
2017 Written by mary.w

You’ve heard it over and over again….curb appeal is critical when selling your home. First impressions are important but what if you can’t afford to landscape or paint your home? curb-appealAre your selling hopes diminished? Not if you take advantage of the following tips!

  • Clean up weeds, sticks, leaves and other distractions from the mowingthelawnlandscape areas around your home. Keep your lawn mowed and trimmed so it always looks crisp and attractive.
  • Buy mulch at the big box store for $2-3/bag.  You’re doing this for aesthetics so it’s not necessary to purchase the more expensive mulches. Choose a color that is either neutral or blends well with your home’s exterior.
  • Buy flats of flowers that spread quickly or buy enough to fill in your area if you’re looking for a quick fix. Don’t want to plant? Buy container plants (this is a more expensive option) and disperse them throughout your area to add color and beauty to your finished look.
  • Use a rake or hoe to turn the dirt and create a fresh work pallette.
  • Before putting down any plants cover the dirt with plastic to impede future weeds from popping up. You can buy sheets that are specific to this purpose or a cheaper option is to buy a box of generic black garbage bags, cut them into full sheets and then cover the exposed dirt with them.
  • Once you have the ground covered, pour and spread out the mulch so that all the plastic is covered. Go all the way up to your bushes and plants or around your containers if you’ve chosen that route.
  • Add hanging baskets and additional container plants to your entryways, porches and patios. Try to use bright summer colors that enhance your home’s exterior Backyardand add splashes of color visible from the street. If possible create little sitting areas that reflect a great natural place to relax.
  • Does your home’s exterior need painting but you can’t afford to have it done and aren’t able to do it yourself? You have a couple of options: (1) Boldly offer an allowance in your advertising for the exterior work that needs to be completed. house2(2) Make it clear in your advertising that your price reflects the work that needs to be done. (3) Paint or power wash the trim, gutters and soffits around your home and entry ways to provide a fresh look OR paint/power wash the parts of your home that are visible from the street to give you an advantage with drive-bys. Then note in your advertising the allowance you’re offering for the work to be completed or again, note that your price reflect what needs to be done.

Once you’ve done what you can, take great photos and get your home out to prospective buyers in the marketplace confident that you’re now one step closer to SOLD!

Posted in Uncategorized

More Effective Ad Writing

Apr21
2017 Written by mary.w

One of the areas of selling on your own that can be somewhat intimidating is writing your ad….what to include…what to leave out….how to describe your home’s features most effectively….oversell or undersell….what will get you the results you desire?

One thing that will help keep you focused in the right direction is to understand the goal of your online ad. When someone is looking at properties online, they’re asking themselves… “Why should I pay that price for that home in that location?” The job of your ad is to answer with “This is why..this is why…this is why”.  Instead of hoping buyers will choose to walk through your home…Inspire them to want to come over NOW!

You only have a few moments to capture a buyer’s interest so your words need to grab their attention.

Words Matter:                                                                                                                                  Home instead of House:  A house is a building. A home is somewhere you create memories and raise a family. (Includes Townhome instead of Townhouse)

Spacious is more enticing than huge.  Freshly painted in neutral tones is enough…avoid “each room has been painted in neutral tones so as to allow you to come in and create your own  special spaces, etc etc etc. Another example of this elongated drone would be “Bonus room can be extra bedroom, den, office, workout room, hobby room, etc”. “Bonus room” is enough.

Be careful not to overuse words. If you say: beautiful this and beautiful that, comfy/cozy, nestled, dream come true, won’t last, must see, etc….Buyer reads: blah blah blah blah.  Be specific and to the point: Finely detailed…Upgraded throughout….Breathtaking views (but only if they really take your breath away!). Fully renovated. Recently updated. New appliances. Short and again to the point. If your photos are strong (and they need to be) then your words are there to validate what they see.

With regard to location it’s important to include things like: Close to  highways, public transportation, shopping, restaurants, nightlife, schools, parks, hospitals….whatever drives people to your area should be emphasized.

There was a time when fluff was effective because the internet wasn’t available to allow buyers to actually walk though your home before they ever arrive. That’s all changed now. Your ad opens…they look at the photos. If they like what they see, they will read what you write BUT only if it isn’t tedious. Remember, you’re writing and ad not a novel.

Note: If writing intimidates your, consider using the BuyOwner.com Elite or Premium + Photography option. Both include having your ad professionally written!

Posted in Uncategorized

CREATIVELY RESOLVE YOUR STORAGE SPACE DILEMMA!

Apr07
2017 Written by mary.w

What do you do when you’re selling your home and storage space is limited creating a less than orderly appearance in several areas of your home?  Or maybe you’re buying your dream home that offers you everything you seek except  storage space is a challenge. You can purge a lot of items but that’s not always a viable solution. You can rent a storage container but the monthly fee can get costly. OR you can maximize your storage while minimizing your cost to do so by thinking outside the box and using every day low cost items for something other than what they were designed.

  • Look no further than the back of your linen closet or laundry closet door. Purchase an inexpensive over the door plastic shoe bag and Storage-Cleaning Suppliesstart filling it up. Not only does everything stay neater, they are more easily accessible when you need them and can be completely hidden away by simply closing the door.
  • Bakers RackDon’t have a lot of Kitchen cabinet space? Make them look roomier by displaying your prettiest dishes and pans on a Baker’s rack. This creates more space within your cabinets while also adding to your staging in a positive way.
  • Add baskets to an existing piece of furniture which not only looks nice but is helpful for last minute showings giving you thsome place to throw items you want to clear from tables or the floor.
  • HOME INTERIOR 006 - CopyAdd 12″ cabinets above your standard    30″ cabinets creating the high desire     42″  height while providing lots of extra storage room for Kitchen items you don’t need a lot but are adding clutter to your base cabinets.

 

Simply put, before you throw in the towel or determine you just can’t afford to fix your storage dilemma, stop and think creatively. The only problem might be that now that you minimized your mess and maximized your storage, you might not want to sell anymore. That’s ok…Enjoy!!

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

EMOTIONAL SABOTAGE

Apr07
2017 Written by mary.w

So you’ve decided to sell your home. You have prepped, cleaned, cleared, shined, landscaped, staged and done everything else you’ve been told you should do. Yet, your home is not selling. Your price is good. People are showing an interest. Everyone says it shows great and yet you wonder why isn’t anyone buying my perfect home? If all those previous items are accurate, perhaps you need to consider that you are the reason your home has not sold. Perhaps you are emotionally sabotaging the sale of your home.

“UH OH I’M SABOTAGING MY SALE” CHECKLIST!

____   I keep finding new projects to complete before putting my home on the market.

____   I don’t respond to calls or emails from prospective buyers promptly.

____   I find any reason for my home to not be available for showing.

____   I actually tell people more negative than positive things about my home.

____   I get defensive when other people say negative things about my home.

____   I ignore advice from people who actually know about selling homes.

____   I cry every time someone shows even the slightest interest in making an offer.

____   I often walk room to room saying, “I really love my home. It will be hard to leave.”

If you’re looking at that list and realizing that not only a couple of them apply to you but you could actually check mark every item, you might need to look in the mirror and proclaim, “I am the reason my home is not selling.”

Your next step? Think through it all and determine that either you’re not ready to sell and that’s ok. Or find some friends/family who will listen to your heart and allow you to share your sadness when necessary while at the same time helping you look to your future plans with a sense of joy and anticipation. Selling your “home” can sometimes be more difficult emotionally that it is practically. Accept that….allow yourself to feel it…..and keep your checklist handy so you can stay on top of your emotions and minimize your moments of sabotage.  Remember, leaving your house doesn’t mean leaving your home behind. You will always have your memories and those keep your home in your heart forever!

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized
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