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Posts tagged location

Reason #10 to Sell with Buy Owner: Community Info

Jan10
2010
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

31 reasons

It’s the oldest rule of real estate: Location, Location, Location.

In most real estate advertisements, there isn’t room to talk about location. But with Buy Owner’s longer, more descriptive ads, you can highlight features of your home’s community!

    Things you could include in your ad:

  • Maps and lists of local schools
  • Proximity to shopping & dining
  • Area attractions, from parks to entertainment centers
  • Convenience to transportation (highways, trains, buses, etc.)
  • Neighborhood features, if applicable (pool, tennis, gated entry)
    For examples of how community can be showcased in a Buy Owner ad, check out these existing listings!

  • Chicago condo with tabs for community and development
  • Coral Gables, FL, luxury home with community info included in end of second paragraph
  • Atlanta home that starts and ends by discussing location
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged 31 reasons to sell with buy owner, community information, reasons to sell buy owner, selling Buy Owner
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Choosing the Right Location

Jun30
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

moving

Whether you’ve just gotten news about a job transfer, are looking to relocate somewhere nearby or haven’t decided when or how you’ll be moving next, one thing’s certain: you’ll care about location. Within a given region, there are cities; within cities, neighborhoods; within neighborhoods, subdivisions or developments or communities. How can you decide which is right for you? What issues matter most?

Beyond visiting homes and asking around, there are ways you can whittle down the possibilities, particularly through checklists. So if you’re coming up against a wall, location-wise, consider these questions as a preliminary guide:

1. Convenience:

  • How close are grocery stores?
  • How close are schools?
  • How close is your office/work?
  • How close are other places you visit often (entertainment, etc.)?
  • How close are highways/trains/airports?

2. Logistics

  • What’s the crime rate like?
  • What’s the tax rate like?
  • How are surrounding properties zoned? Will there be primarily houses around you or commercial areas?
  • What are the area’s demographics like?

3. Comfort

  • What’s the noise level like? At different times of day?
  • Is the area urban/rural/suburban? Whatever it is, are you comfortable with that?
  • Does the community seem tight-knit? Friendly?
  • What, if any, community amenities are available?

Of course, the ultimate deciding factor in a new home purchase can sometimes be your own gut instinct, along with the emotional response you have to a property. But these questions can sometimes help pull objective facts out of a showing that will help you make a more informed decision.

Happy house hunting!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a home, community, moving, neighborhood, real estate
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Top 10 Considerations before Buying a Condo

Feb03
2009
9 Comments Written by Carrie

Buying-a-Condo

Why rent a tiny apartment when you can own a spacious condo? If you have never lived inside of a condo complex before, there are many factors to consider before you purchase one.

Here are the Top 10 Things to Consider Before Buying a Condo, brought to you by Buy Owner®:

1. Floor location: This depends on the location of the condo! In one scenario, a first-floor condo may be ideal. If there is no elevator, who really wants to move all of their belongings up a few flights of stairs? However, if you are going to live in a big city, condos on the higher floors may be more desirable so you get breathtaking views of the waterfront or the city skyline.

2. Location of the condo within the building: Corner units are often preferred for several reasons. You may only have one neighbor, you get more windows (sunlight) and you get better city views!

3. H.O.A. fees: Most subdivisions require residents to pay a small fee in order to gain access to certain amenities (pools, sport fields, workout rooms), to have trash picked up, to have the lawn cared for, to use water/cable/electricity and more. Fees vary, and so do the amenities.

4. Amenities: Many communities offer residents access to plenty of amenities. You may move into a neighborhood that boasts a swimming pool, a dining facility, an 18-hole golf course and more! You need to find a condo community that suits your needs. If you are very active, you will want to look for tennis courts, a workout room, etc. If you would rather participate in community events, you may want to look for a place that has a huge clubhouse!

5. Maintenance of the grounds and facilities: Take a stroll around the neighborhood. Are the communal grounds nicely landscaped and well-kept? Is the equipment in the workout room in good condition? If the maintenance of the land and the facilities are included in the Association dues, and they are very unkept, you may want to consider searching for a condo in a different community.

6. Architecture: Older condos will feature straight-walled, four-sided rooms, possible plant shelves and standard ceilings. Newer ones will showcase angled walls, decorative wall cut-outs and cathedral/vaulted ceilings. It is up to you whether you want a more traditional or more modern looking home.

7. Construction: Not all of the buildings inside a condo community may have been built at the same time. There will most likely be a higher demand for condos inside the newer complexes. But keep in mind, the older condos could be upgraded to suit your own styles and needs!

8. Upgrades: Has the condo been updated? If you want a move-in-ready home, look for recently renovated condos that boast newer flooring, upgraded appliances and fresh paint. If you would rather do most of the redecorating yourself, you may want to look for a condo that comes with an allowance for upgrading. Lots of sellers are offering buyer incentives such as new carpeting or a painting allowance upon closing.

9. Rules and Regulations: Before you move into your new condo, you need to know all of the rules and regulations of the community. Do they allow pets? Is there a stipulation on outdoor furniture and decorations? Can you have a barbecue grill? Before you incur a fine, make sure you know all of the rules!

10. Buy Using BUY OWNER: While searching for a condo through the Buy Owner website, you can choose several features to be included in the search! For example, let’s say you would like a two-bedroom condo in Chicago that is nestled on the waterfront and offers access to a pool. All you do is check a few boxes and pick a price range. With Buy Owner, finding your dream home is just a few mouse clicks away!

Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged buying a condo, condo, home ownership, owning a home, top 10, top ten
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Know Your Location!

Jan12
2009
Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

When selling your home, you have the opportunity to use all of your built-up knowledge of the home to help the potential buyer realize it’s perfect for him or her! Even though you are most concentrated on the home itself, you should take advantage of each meeting with the buyer by not forgetting to discuss the home’s location too. Will this person fit into the neighborhood and the community? He or she wants to know. By completing some pre-selling research of this home’s surroundings, you may just help a buyer decide that this home is perfect!

Before a potential buyer comes to view your home, here are a few ideas to think about so that you are ready for any question from any personality!

First, sit down and think about what you love most about this location. Why do you love the neighborhood? Where you do most often go for entertainment? What will you miss most about the area? If you can show your true enthusiasm to your surroundings, the potential buyer will notice.

Next, consider what you would want to know most about a new area. Think about everyday affairs. How close are the grocery stores? Where do the buses pick up kids for school? How well are the local schools rated? What is the average age of the neighborhood residents? How close is the nearest hospital? Is anything conveniently in walking distance? Are there nearby train stations or expressways that make commuting simple? The circumstances that affect everyday lives are what potential buyers will want answers to.

Now, move onto what is special about this area. Aside from everyday needs, what makes this area unique? Is there a particular attraction that draws people to this location? Even if you don’t visit the local attractions, think about what a potential buyer would want to know about the area. Or is this a quiet location that no outsiders travel to, therefore always quiet and peaceful? Make sure you know what draws people here.

Also, make sure you keep up with the local news and do some minor research on recent occurrences in the area. Potential buyers may perform some research themselves and find out some negative information. If anything newsworthy has occurred, make sure you are knowledgeable about the situation and able to answer any questions they may have.

Now that you have thought about the positives and potential negatives about the area, be ready to turn a negative into a positive! Consider all age groups and family sizes when pondering different aspects of this location. Scenario: a retired couple loves your house but isn’t keen on the fact that most of the neighbors are young families. Turn this aspect into a positive by letting them know how friendly all the neighbors are, how they will make friends in no time and how someone is always available to help with whatever they may need help with.

Plan to ask the potential buyer what sort of pastime activities they enjoy. With your newly completed research, you should be quick on your feet to discover what this personality would be most interested to hear about the surroundings. Practice on friends and family members so that you are experienced with all types of personalities and interests.

Most importantly, be honest. Don’t go overboard and create falsities about the area to gain potential buyer’s interests. Don’t overdue it. This is merely a topic of conversation that can fill the gaps in discussions about the house. And maybe, with your newly gained information on the town, the potential buyers will see why this house and location can together create their new home.

For more information on what to research about your location, read this Buy Owner Blog article.

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged marketing a home, neighborhood, selling a home
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How Much is a View Worth?

Oct27
2008
2 Comments Written by Alicia

If you’re trying to prove what makes your home better than the rest, consider its everyday views. Views can make or break a property’s appeal when a buyer is contemplating between a few different options. Any waterfront home should be an impressive investment for you. But even a forest preserve, park or golf course behind your home could raise the value for you and the interest for the buyer! If your home boasts a premium view, make sure to focus on that aspect.

What makes a view so worthwhile? It adds a sense of peace whenever you look outside your window. It allows you privacy instead of backyard neighbors. It can cause your yard to look larger than it actually is. A quality view is worth more than you might realize!

A home on the waterfront obviously raises the value of your home. By much depends on where the home is located and what type of waterfront it is. To increase its significance, make sure the buyer is aware of its features. Is the water clean? Is it a public/private beach? Can you swim, boat or fish? Are there walking trails around it? A picture can only say so much. When using Buy Owner, make sure you give your sales rep as much information as you know.

Waterfront homes aren’t the only homes with ideal views. A home with a forest preserve behind it adds privacy, wildlife and shade from the sun. A park, greenbelt or corner lot will make your yard look larger and sound quieter. A golf course adds a ritzy vale to the property. Even mature trees or professional landscaping offer a colorful, vibrant view that is worth mentioning.

Not only is a view enjoyable when spending time outdoors, but it also spruces up your interior by adding a premium sight from your windows! Tell your sales rep if you can see a lake or forest preserve from the bedroom windows. Is there an extra wide window in the family room or a covered/screened lanai that overlooks the ocean? Let the buyers know! This way, they know where and how often they can enjoy the view.

When it is time for the photographers to take pictures of your home’s view, here are some pointers to showcase the view to the best of your ability:

  • If there is an outdoor oasis where you can enjoy the view, spruce it up! Stain the deck or paint the patio.
  • Remove weeds from around the focal point of your view, so that nothing can distract the buyer from its significance.
  • Clean windows and open blinds, so that pictures capture the perfect views that buyers will experience from inside their new homes.
  • Schedule your photography shoot during premium daylight hours. Or, if you can see the sun setting over the water, try to capture that moment.
  • Use props! Set out lawn furniture or a BBQ on a patio or deck so that potential buyers can envision themselves spending time here. Create a sand castle on a beach. Place colorful flowers on a windowsill, with the view behind it. Do anything you can to make the premium view the focal point of a picture.
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged advertising your home, photography, real estate tips, resale value, scenery, selling a home, views
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Location, Location, Location

Jan19
2008
2 Comments Written by Shanna

Neighborhood

 

Why it Matters & How You Can Sell Yours to Buyers

The truth is, a property’s location is its most important feature. No buyer will appreciate your home’s renovated kitchen, spacious bedrooms, or designer decorating without first seeing them, and no buyer will see those things if you’re home’s not in the right place.

Not sure if your home’s location makes for an ideal sale? It’s time for a fresh perspective: a great location isn’t just about expensive neighborhoods or proximity to attractions. In fact, there are dozens of factors that contribute to a desirable locale. Take a look at these categories, and determine which of your home’s features deserve most to be highlighted:

1. Type of neighborhood: Is it urban, suburban, or rural? Are there large lots set far apart from each other or smaller parcels side-by-side? Is there a downtown area?

2. Community amenities: Does your home belong to a subdivision or a community that provides certain features? Pools, clubhouses, golf courses, playgrounds, trails, and lake access are among some of the bonuses included with certain communities.

3. School districts: What are the local schools like? How many are there, and how close by are they? Is there anything noteworthy, like low teacher:student ratios or an award-winning education program?

4. Healthcare facilities: Hospitals, urgent-care clinics, medical professionals, and nearby ambulatory services may be worth mentioning. Buyers will be glad to know healthcare is accessible.

5. Local transportation options: Think expressways, major routes, back roads, public buses, trains, even bike paths. If a potential buyer is a commuter, travel times to neighboring cities will be important. How far away is the nearest airport?

6. Proximity to other places: Are there any cities nearby? Where do locals often visit?

7. Restaurants and shopping: What kinds of dining and shopping opportunities are in the area? How close by?

8. Entertainment options: Are there major attractions in the area? You may want to mention beaches, lakes, theme parks, forest preserves, museums, sporting facilities,

9. Parks and recreation: Does the Park District offer anything special? How many public parks are there? What programs are available?

10. Future plans: What kind of changes are coming to the area? Do some homework to find out what future expansions and developments are looming.

More than anything, you want to think back to your experience as a buyer. What prompted you to buy your home? Was it close to work, in a private location, near your friends? Keep those factors in mind! Combine your home’s best geographic features with your best experiences living there, and you’re ready to talk about your home’s locale. Use this information in marketing, showing, and selling your home!

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged features, home selling
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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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