Posts by Shanna

Using BuyOwner.com to Buy Your Home

Jul21
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

There are so many great reasons to buy your own home. Are you ready? Wondering how to get the best deal and how to make the most informed decision? Maybe it’s time to consider Buy Owner!

As the nation’s leading for-sale-by-owner marketing company, Buy Owner provides the strength of an established advertising company and the resource of thousands of for-sale properties nationwide. Buy Owner sellers are great to work with, as they’re looking to cut commissions/costs just as much as you are, in order for everyone to get the best deal.

Ready to get started?

Here’s how to buy a home with Buy Owner:

  1. Go to BuyOwner.com and search!
  2. Narrow down your criteria and choose which homes you’re most interested in.
  3. Contact the Buy Owner sellers of those homes, and ask questions you may have.
  4. Schedule private showings of the homes.
  5. Make an offer on the home you want.
  6. Negotiate.
  7. BUY! And in the process… Save money. Enjoy being in control of your purchase. Reap the rewards for years to come.

Of course the prospect of buying a home, whether it’s your first one or not, can be daunting. But with Buy Owner, you have the comfort of knowing you’re dealing with motivated sellers and saving commission costs! That’s why using Buy Owner to buy your home makes so much sense.

What are you waiting for? Get started today!

Go to BuyOwner.com.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Using BuyOwner.com to Sell Your Home

Jul12
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Are you planning to sell your property and wondering how to do it? Have you heard about selling by owner and wanted to learn more? Would you like to cut commission costs to make a better profit on the sale?

Buy Owner is here to help.

As the leading for-sale-by-owner company in today’s market, Buy Owner not only offers 25 years of experience but also an unparalleled marketing scheme to help you sell.

It is the best way to sell your home on your own, and here’s why:

  1. MONEY: By cutting out high commissions, home sellers with Buy Owner save thousands of dollars. If your home costs $250,000, for example, selling on your own means saving $15,000. With Buy Owner, your property is listed on the Buy Owner website until it sells!
  2. PROFESSIONAL MARKETING: With Buy Owner, a skilled marketing consultant helps you design a customized advertising package, utilizing the company’s professional skills in photography, copywriting, virtual tours, mapping and more!
  3. ROUND-THE-CLOCK HELP: Anytime you want to change your photos or add some more information to your text, just call 1-800-771-7777 and you will instantly be connected to the proper people who can help you. You have the final say on every aspect of your advertising package, and you can change your photos and text at any time. Buy Owner knows that many people work Monday through Friday. That is why we are also open every Saturday and Sunday… for your convenience!
  4. TRUST: There’s no better assurance of quality service than satisfied customers. Buy Owner is a company you can trust. Check out testimonials of previous clients to see for yourself!
Posted in From Buy Owner Customers, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

6 Ways to Green the Kitchen

Jul01
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

6 ways to green the kitchen

For many of us, the kitchen is the center of our home. It’s where we cook and share meals, it’s where we spend our mornings and evenings, it’s where we congregate when friends come to visit.

So it makes sense to start with the kitchen when you’re looking for quick ways to implement a greener lifestyle. Think about it: if there are a few small changes you can make to improve your home’s eco-friendliness, beginning in the kitchen, why wouldn’t you?

    Here are six simple ways to get started:

  1. Turn your dishwasher’s water temperature to a lower setting, if possible.
  2. Heat small things up with small electric pans or toaster ovens rather than your large stove or oven, and you may cut your energy consumption by two thirds!
  3. Air dry your dishes.
  4. Check the oven by turning the light instead of opening the door, which reduces the temp by about 25 degrees and increases cooking time.
  5. Use energy-efficient lighting when you can’t just use daylight.
  6. Install energy-efficient appliances. Old refrigerators alone use so much energy, they can account for 15% of a home’s consumption! Look into Energy Star options for savings.

As we’ve said before here at the Buy Owner Blog, green living is not only good for you while you live in your home, but it’s also beneficial for resale. Implement these simple tips to be on your way to a greener kitchen and therefore a greener home!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Featured City: Deltona, FL

Jun22
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Deltona

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Today’s City: Deltona, FL

Thinking of buying a home in Deltona? Located in the heart of southwestern Volusia County, Deltona is a principle city in Florida’s Fun Coast. Diverse in its cultural makeup, this dynamic community has about 90,000 residents according to the city’s official website.

Not only does Deltona offer a city website but also a 24-hour government-access T.V. channel (DTV) through Channel 199 on BrightHouse Networks and an Emergency Radio Station at 1610 AM. The WebPage, DTV channel and radio station offer a multitude of opportunities to stay informed about activities and issues throughout Deltona!

Image credit: RealEstate.AOL.com

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Florida Home Prices Dropping

Jun18
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

florida

According to a recent article at HousingWatch.com, Florida house prices are dropping, even in the state’s most expensive city: Key West.

What was once an impossible location for many buyers in the Sunshine State has become surprisingly attainable. A Miami Herald article cites a couple who “paid $157,000 for the foreclosure that an investor bought in 2004 for $370,000 and in 2006 was appraised for $463,000.”

So while it’s true these numbers reflect problems in the market, it’s also true that they offer good news for those looking to make the most of the downturn.

And for abundant listings throughout Florida and other states, head over to BuyOwner.com and begin searching!

Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Featured City: Bradenton, FL

Jun15
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area!

Bradenton

Today’s featured city: Bradenton, FL!

Located along U.S. 41 between Tampa and Sarasota, Bradenton is a beautiful Florida community loaded with waterways, bordered on the north by the Manatee River and separated from the outer barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key by the Intracoastal. Enjoy beaches, water sports, boating and more! Plus, this area also features several golf courses.

Cultural attractions in Bradenton include Riverfront Theatre, the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium, Parker Manatee Aquarium, ArtCenter Manatee and Village of the Arts, a neighborhood that’s specifically designated for residents to live and work in their homes. The Myakka River State Park is just seven miles east of Sarasota and

Take a look at these Buy Owner properties currently for sale in Bradenton!

Image Credit: Byron Packwood

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , ,

After Your Ad is Live

Jun14
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

after your ad is live

Congratulations on taking the first step towards selling your home on your own: Using Buy Owner!

As the nation’s leading FSBO company, Buy Owner offers the strength and stability of an established company, as well as the hallmark of being the most popular FSBO destination online, delivering over 10 million page views per month.

    Now that your ad is live, your home benefits from exposure to potential buyers through Buy Owner’s ultra-aggressive advertising campaign that includes:

  • An aggressively advertised toll-free number (800-771-7777)
  • Our constantly visited website, BuyOwner.com
  • Buy Owner Magazine

These resources do the hard work of getting your property exposed and marketed, so that you can get it sold!

While you’re selling with Buy Owner, you can improve your chances of selling by putting a little legwork into your sale. Check out these helpful tips from previous Buy Owner Blog articles!

  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.” 25 Extra Tricks for Drawing Buyers
  2. “By cleaning, decluttering and repairing your home, you set it ahead of the pack, and you make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves inside.” (from “Beating the Market: How to Sell Now!“)
  3. “If there’s one keyword to keep in mind when you’re planning a home showing, it’s this: detail…When you prepare for a home showing, you’re preparing your home in a very similar way. Just like your vehicle needs to smell good, look good, be in absolute mint condition, so should your home be when potential buyers come to call.” (from “The Key to Showing Well: Detailing”)
  4. “When done right, curb appeal has the power to pull potential buyers in, implying that the interior of your home will be just as impressive as the façade.” (from “8 Ways to Improve Curb Appeal“)
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , , , ,

How to Be Realistic about Price

Jun07
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

pricing realistically

As a home seller eager to make a profit on your sale, it can be easy to lose sight of an important truth: Your house is worth what a buyer is willing to pay.

Not what it sold for.

Not what you invested.

Not what you want a buyer to pay.

Your house is worth what a buyer is willing to pay.

So when you’re trying to price your home realistically, it’s helpful to think in terms of that fact, asking yourself what price a buyer would realistically be willing to pay for your home.

How can you best estimate what price that would be?

Ask yourself some questions:

  • What do other sellers of similar homes think buyers will pay?
  • What have other buyers paid for similar homes recently?
  • How will my home compare to the competition?
  • How fast are homes selling in my area?

These questions will help you gather valuable information that can lead to an estimated range for pricing your property. Ideally, you want to price just a little higher (around 2 to 5 %) than what you think a buyer will pay, in order to leave room for negotiation.

Of course it’s always tempting to price higher, in hopes that someone will come along who wants your place. But the only person who loses in that situation is you, while you wait longer on the market.

So price carefully, and you’ll price right.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Green Real Estate Roundup

Jun03
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

think green!

Wondering how the Internet has been buzzing with green information over the last month? Check out this roundup of great articles, filled with information and stories about green living as it relates to real estate and home building!

Posted in Green Living, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

What They Wish They’d Known

Jun01
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

buying a house

or, before you buy a house: beware!

Buying your first home is an exciting time. You’ve saved money, you’ve decided where you want to live and you’re ready to take the plunge into a big commitment that will give you rewards for years to come!

But buying your first home is also a scary time, filled with new experiences and unknowns. To help take some of the guess work out of the equation, welcome to a post filled with information new home owners wish they’d known!

If you’re planning to buy a home in the near future, here’s what you want to know!

1. Go into it with good finances. If you do the hard work of improving your credit score, reducing/eliminating debt and preparing for a home purchase beforehand, you set yourself up to reap the benefits.

2. Think long-term. Buying a property really is a commitment. If you’re not ready to stay put in the area for five years or more, you’re not ready to buy. Why? When you add up all the extra costs of ownership and don’t have the long amount of time to gain value, you may actually lose money by buying instead of renting. So if you’re going to buy, buy to stay. At least for a little while.

3. Think realistically. It’s not as easy to get a mortgage these days as it was at the height of the real estate boom, but that doesn’t mean you should always jump at a mortgage you’re approved for. Look at your income, cost of living, long-term plans, debts, etc. Assess whether or not you can afford to buy.

4. Think about selling points. Sure, it sounds strange to think about resale value when you’re just about to purchase a home, but that’s exactly what savvy buyers do.

The most important thing to remember when you’re buying a home is to be informed! That way, you can buy your first place and enjoy it, without worrying about what you wish you’d known.

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,
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About the BuyOwner.com Blog

Welcome to the BuyOwner.com Blog, your source for regularly updated market information!

Founded in 1984, BuyOwner.com® is the leading provider of real estate marketing services. We pioneered the "For Sale by Owner" (FSBO) market, which today represents over 20 percent of all residential real estate transactions.

You can read more about BuyOwner.com here.

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