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Old-Fashioned Advice

Jun28
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

house for sale

Having a hard time selling your house? Even though all you hear about these days is new ways of marketing, in a competitive market like this one, sometimes good old-fashioned advice will take you the furthest. This involves you stepping out of your comfort zone.

Hopefully you already completed the first step, which is advertising with Buy Owner. Once your advertisement is set up, you have the support of the nation’s leading for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) company at your disposal. Buy Owner will promote your listing nationwide 24/7 through BuyOwner.com, its 1-800 number and its magazine.

You should do everything you can, too. Take the initiative to “sell” your house everywhere you go.

Use techniques like these:

• Talk to strangers. Though we’re taught not to as children, networking with those around you in grocery stores, churches, libraries, coffee shops and on public transportation might score you a home buyer. You never know, these seeming strangers may be the future homeowner of your house, or they might know someone who is looking. You might as well share your story!

• Hand out flyers or business cards when those you talk to seem interested. Unless you give them a reminder, they’ll forget. On the flyer or card, include the web link to your Buy Owner advertisement and the phone number on your For Sale sign. These sources give all the information the people need. You just need people to go check them out.

• Advertise on Craigslist. Make the most of your Buy Owner advertising by copying the HTML from your Seller Tools that will reproduce your professional listing on Craigslist! Include a catchy title so that people will check it out.

What will sharing your Buy Owner web link and phone number do? It’ll show potential buyers that you’re serious about selling. You set up an advertisement with a credible company and now you’re going the extra mile to make sure that people see the ad.

What happens if you don’t go the extra mile? Buy Owner will advertise your house on social networking sites and on our website. We’ll advertise to people driving past your house when they see the bright yellow sign in your yard. We’ll go the extra mile so you don’t have to. But if your house still isn’t selling in this tough, competitive market, we’re just saying there is more you could do.

Remember, it’s U that makes the difference®!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buy owner advice, selling a house, selling fsbo, using buy owner
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Should you buy NOW?

Apr01
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

If you’re one of the many Americans who’s been waiting to dip your toes in the real estate waters, a recent article at CNN Money has your name all over it.

In “Is now the time to snag a great real estate deal,” your questions are answered, on topics ranging from the tax credit to what you have to lose by waiting to the odds of being able to sell your current home before buying another.

True, there are a lot of incentives towards buying NOW. But, as reporter Beth Braverman points out, “[B]uying right now is not a no-brainer. In some areas home prices may fall further. If you own a house now, it may take longer than you expect to sell it, and you may walk away with less cash than you thought.”

To consider these and other points, head over to the full article at CNN Money!

Posted in Market News - Tagged buying a home, cnn money, economy, fsbo, handy article, incentives, real estate buying, real estate market
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Reason #17 to Sell with Buy Owner: No Middle Man

Jan17
2010
1 Comment Written by Carrie

31 reasons

When you are selling your home, why waste time going between agents and lawyers? No one knows your home as good as you do, so who better to speak directly to the buyer than you?

Buy Owner cuts out all the people in between and allows the buyer to come directly to you with questions, concerns and offers! When you list your property, you may post contact information so potential buyers are able to speak to you directly. Schedule an open house, chat about carpet allowance, negotiate price. U can do it all using Buy Owner!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged agent, buy owner, fsbo, lawyer, no middle man, real estate, Selling Tips
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Selling a Home in 2009

Jan05
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Happy New Year from Buy Owner®! A new year means a fresh start: a chance to begin again and do things differently. Are you selling a home? What will you do to market your home more effectively? This new year is the perfect opportunity to put a few key marketing choices into play.

To begin, here are three basic tips:

1. Price it right.

Probably the #1 most important selling tip for today’s market comes down to pricing. You have to price your home aggressively in this buyers’ market. If you don’t, you lose the opportunity to make the all-important first impression that can make or break the sale. For more information on pricing your home correctly, read these Buy Owner Blog articles: “The #1 Mistake of Home Sellers”, “Is It Time to Drop Your Price?” and “Why Your Home Isn’t Selling.

Aim to price your home just below its appraised value and/or similar for-sale properties in the area. This will make it attractive to potential buyers and is sure to get it off the market faster.

2. Show it right.

After you’ve priced aggressively, your second goal needs to be turning your home into the best showcase possible. Think about curb appeal, clutter, potential renovations. Do whatever you can to make your residence look move-in-ready. For more information on showing your home to its best, take a look at these Buy Owner Blog articles: “Why Staging Works”, “Top 5 Mistakes Sellers Make When Showing Homes”, “Smile for the Camera Staging Your Home” and “How to Get Showing Feedback”.

3. Advertise it right.

If your home is priced right and staged right, there’s only one factor left to focus on, and it’s an important one: advertising. Through BuyOwner.com, you have the opportunity to market your for-sale property to millions of viewers around the world. Meet with a Buy Owner marketing professional to hand-select length of text, amount of professional photographs/virtual tours, placement in BuyOwner.com search results and more. You can also check out these Buy Owner Blog articles for more information on making the most of Buy Owner advertising: “The Value of Virtual Tours”, “Why Descriptions Matter”, “The Secret to Selling Buy Owner”, Extra Tricks for Drawing Buyers.

Follow these tips, and you’re sure to see your home sold. After all, it’s 2009, a new year for you to make the most of!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged fsbo, how to sell a home, importance of pricing a home, new year resolutions, new year's resolutions, pricing a home, selling a home, selling a home in 2009, selling Buy Owner
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Holiday Joys of Home Ownership

Dec23
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Never are the joys of home ownership as sweet as around the holidays. Friends and family gather to share food and gifts, usually in someone’s house, celebrating their blessings by fellowshipping together and making new memories.

And if you’re hoping to own your property someday, these are the dreams pushing you forward as you save money for a down payment, research neighborhoods and plan for the future.

Think of the experiences you will enjoy in your own home: painting the rooms to your specifications, hanging framed photos of your loved ones, setting the dining room table for company, cooking up festive gourmet meals, hosting overnight and out-of-town friends, celebrating important firsts like Baby’s first steps or your big promotion at work. Around the holidays, you can decorate your property with twinkling lights and other seasonal accents, creating your own distinguishing curb appeal for everyone who passes by.

As you celebrate this holiday season, picture yourself experiencing the next in your own home!

To check out properties currently listed for sale by owner, go to BuyOwner.com!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buy owner, holidays, home ownership, real estate, seasonal joy
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How to Get Showing Feedback

Nov24
2008
1 Comment Written by Shanna

One of the most important steps to selling your home is getting buyers to come see it. This is what advertising is all about: getting the word out about your for-sale property and bringing people through your home to show off its features. But what should you do if, after they come to visit, potential buyers aren’t making offers?

If many people have come through your home without making any legitimate offers, it’s time to reconsider your selling strategy. First and foremost: are you priced correctly? In recent Buy Owner Blog article, “The #1 Mistake of Home Sellers,“ we pointed out that pricing your home incorrectly can prevent buyers from inquiring or visiting your property. Likewise, overpricing may become even more obvious for the sellers that do come for a home tour. If your home’s been on the market for a while, especially, you’ll want to reevaluate the asking price, making sure it’s in line with current values in your area and for similar homes.

Another important consideration is the way you show your home. Be careful to avoid common showing mistakes (see this article, ”The Top 5 Mistakes Sellers Make When Showing Homes”). Also, you may want to ask for feedback in a conversational way after the buyers have visited. Getting answers from them will help you see trends, if any, that are preventing buyers from making offers.

For some ideas of what to ask, consider the following questions:

• Are there any questions I can answer for you?
• What did you like?
• Was there anything you didn’t like?
• How does this home compare to others you’ve toured?
• Have other properties you’ve looked at been in the same price range?
• Did other properties in this price range have similar amenities?

When holding an open house that draws many potential buyers at one time, a great way to gather feedback is by putting out comment cards, complete with pens, near a basket or box. Invite visitors to anonymously fill out these cards after touring your residence, providing you with a variety of opinions at once.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged dealing with buyers, fsbo selling, getting buyer feedback, selling a home, selling a home fsbo, selling Buy Owner, selling your home by owner, showing a home
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101 Tips for Selling Your Home

Oct12
2008
6 Comments Written by Shanna

If you’re selling your home, this list of 101 tips is definitely a must-read. In today’s slower market, it’s not enough to stick a sign in the front yard and continue life as usual. Buyers have more than enough homes to choose from, so sellers need to be proactive about getting their properties noticed.

Essentially, selling in a slow market is all about outshining the competition. Here are some specific tips, tricks and ideas to send you on your way:

1. Price accurately.
2. Be aware of market conditions.
3. Look at other for-sale homes within a half mile or less.
4. Look at other similar, recently sold (within the last three months) homes in the area.
5. Get a presale home inspection or appraisal.
6. Set an asking price that reflects an understanding of the current market.
7. If you want to sell fast, aim to be 10% lower than similar homes in the same area. Buyers will take notice!
8. Offer incentives, if possible.

9. Market aggressively through Buy Owner.
10. Consult a Buy Owner representative.
11. Communicate your home’s features to your rep.
12. Ask him or her any questions that are on your mind.
13. Work with the rep to create a customized ad package to meet your needs.
14. Take advantage of Buy Owner’s professional photography.
15. Feature virtual tours in your online advertising.
16. Review the ad copy created by Buy Owner and edit anything you need to.
17. Use your seller tools to create flyers.
18. Distribute these flyers anywhere you can.
19. Link to your Buy Owner ad through free sites online.
20. Use your seller tools to check the stats on your property.

21. Make a good first impression!
22. Aim to make your home stand out amongst the competition.
23. Repaint or power-wash the exterior.
24. Check the exterior of your home for signs of wear and damage & correct them (examples: peeling paint, foundation cracks or loose shingles).
25. Repaint the front door.
26. Make sure the doorbell works.
27. Add decorative accents like a wreath.
28. Place colorful potted plants at the entry.
29. Plant flowers amongst the landscaping.
30. Trim the bushes and add fresh mulch.
31. Fertilize the lawn; make sure it’s manicured.
32. Rake leaves in autumn.
33. Shovel and salt the driveway and walkways in winter.
34. Power-wash the driveway.
35. Clean out the garage.
36. Clean all the windows.

37. Declutter the living spaces.
38. Hold a garage sale to get rid of things you don’t need.
39. Move about half of your stuff to storage.
40. Stage the interior with strategically chosen furniture.
41. Remove all personal items (photos, diplomas, religious items).
42. Clean off the fridge!
43. Organize the closets; put as much away in storage as possible.
44. Remove everything from the floors of closets.
45. Hide away unsightly cords and wiring.
46. Top the beds with fresh sheets.
47. Put out fresh towels in the bathrooms.
48. Scrub the walls and floors thoroughly.

49. Focus on the heart of the home: the kitchen.
50. Replace any damaged or extremely outdated appliances (with good, but not most expensive, alternatives).
51. If cabinets are outdated, consider updating, rather than replacing, them: new knobs or doors can make a big difference.
52. Consider updating fixtures for another cost-effective change.
53. Clear the countertops.
54. Organize the cabinets and the pantry.
55. Clean and wax the floors.
56. Put away unused smaller appliances like stand-mixers and toasters.

57. Fix up the interior.
58. Direct your lighting to highlight key areas.
59. Add lights to all corners of major rooms.
60. Replace lightbulbs with higher wattage ones.
61. Repaint walls with neutral colors.
62. Fix anything that’s broken.
63. Thoroughly clean or replace carpeting.
64. Consider improvements or renovations carefully.
65. Get rid of any unpleasant smells.

66. Create a backyard oasis.
67. Look for ways to play up your outdoor space.
68. Plant a garden to spruce up the look of your verdant landscaping.
69. Keep the pool immaculate and make it seem as low-maintenance as possible.
70. Take care of any surrounding tiling, decking or landscaping around the pool.
71. Adjust the chemical balance to make the water sparkling clear!
72. Keep hoses neatly wrapped up and put away.

73. Be ready to talk to buyers.
74. Known how to screen callers.
75. Ask if they’ve been prequalified.
76. Find out how far along in the selling process they are.
77. Be sure to get contact information.
78. Have key attributes of your home ready to bring up in the conversation.

79. Be available to show your home.
80. Try to be accommodating of the buyer’s schedule.
81. Only show your home when it’s in showing condition.
82. Don’t show your home alone.
83. Be prepared to “quick clean” when necessary.
84. Ask buyers to be prequalified (Refer them to Guaranteed Rate).
85. Keep pets out of sight if at all possible.

86. Hold open houses.
87. Schedule the open house for a weekend afternoon when not a lot of community events are going on.
88. Set the date and flag your open house on BuyOwner.com, through your Buy Owner seller tools.
89. Promote your open house everywhere you can.
90. Make the most of other open houses in the area. Check local ads, and when an open house is scheduled nearby, put out a sign and draw those visitors to your home.
91. 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.
92. Set the internal temperature of your home to a comfortable level (turn on the A/C or heat, depending on the time of year).
93. Give buyers space when touring your home.
94. Answer any questions they raise.

95. Know how to negotiate.
96. Be as neutral as possible.
97. Build rapport with buyers.
98. Consider all offers.
99. Respond to concerns.
100. Counteroffer.
101. Make concessions.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buyowner opinions, buyowner.com, fsbo, how to sell your home, selling Buy Owner, selling by owner, selling your home, should you sell your home by owner, using buy owner
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City Spotlight: Chicago

May24
2008
Leave a Comment Written by Sarah

chicagoWith 26 miles of lakefront and a world-class culture, Chicago is known as the oasis of the Midwest. Home to some of the most distinct neighborhoods in the country, Chicago creates a truly diverse urban experience, with unique art, cuisine, and people in every corner of the city.

Chicago was once the most formidable locale in architecture and design, and you can see the most impressive architectural feats from Lake Michigan and the winding Chicago River. Summers in Chicago are truly spectacular, with street festivals, free movie screenings, and a bustling lakefront that provide cheap and diverse entertainment for the warmest months of the year.

Once known as an industrial hub, Chicago has been given a new look by recent development. Older brick buildings have been renovated into trendy lofts, while quieter neighborhoods have been revitalized by new business and residents. High-rises, condominiums and single-family homes are being built every year, and residents are finding more and more art, culture, and entertainment in each neighborhood.

Chicago is also known to have a bustling art community, with over 35 galleries in the West Loop alone. Rush Street, Michigan Avenue, and the lakefront have historically housed the rich and the famous, with top-notch bars, restaurants, and shopping within walking distance of each other.

Today, Chicago is home to a bustling film and tourist industry, with celebrities often living in or passing through the Windy City. The Chicago theater scene has produced several film and theater celebrities, and spawned the Second City, one of the largest comedy theaters in the country. Several Loop and off-Loop productions have been featured on Broadway, and Chicago maintains a solid breeding ground for entertainers of all kinds. With the height of urban culture at your fingertips, Chicago brings you the best that the Midwest has to offer.

Check out hot for-sale properties in the Chicago area at Buyowner.com!

Posted in General Information, Regional Info, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a home in chicago, chicago fsbo, chicago real estate, chicagoland fsbo, chicagoland real estate, midwest fsbo
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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.

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