Posts tagged real estate marketing

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 , ,

Reason #3 to Sell with Buy Owner: the Internet

Jan03
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

31 reasons

What’s the best way for home buyers to find their next home? Hint: it’s also the easiest. They shop online.

Not only is the Internet available worldwide, streamed into offices and living rooms 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but it also is convenient whether the weather is sunny or 20 below. As many parts of the Unites States experience frigid temperatures and snowfall this January, keeping many buyers away from open houses or home tours, there’s one thing you can be sure they’re still doing: looking online.

In today’s society, there’s no question that the Internet is an all-important tool in maximizing real estate marketing. Through strategically chosen descriptions and images, you can allow interested buyers to tour your property without leaving their living rooms. That’s a benefit everyone can appreciate.

That’s why it makes sense to advertise with an Internet giant like Buy Owner: you’re putting your home where the buyers are already looking.

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

Reason #2 to Sell with Buy Owner: Market until Sold!

Jan02
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

31 reasons

When you choose Buy Owner advertising, you have the comfort of knowing your home will be showcased until sold, however long it takes. There are no time limits. There’s no certain period in which your home must sell. Buy Owner doesn’t give you a month, two months, a year; we just promise to advertise your property until sold. It’s that simple.

As long as you want it advertised, Buy Owner will keep it online.

Plus, you have total control over when it’s displayed – Want to remove your advertising for a while because you’re going out of town? No problem! Your property’s listing will still be available when you’re done. Just let the customer service department know, and they’ll remove it and reactivate it when you’d like.

At Buy Owner, it’s all about putting the power back in your hands. That’s the difference.

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

The Value of Buy Owner Ad-Writing

Nov17
2008 1 Comment Written by Carrie

Time and time again, Buy Owner® real estate marketing has proven to be an effective tool to help homeowners sell their own properties, cutting out the middle men and helping you pocket the difference. Just take a look at these testimonials!

Q: But what, exactly, goes into creating a Buy Owner advertisement?

A: In many regional markets, Buy Owner’s in-house writing department crafts your copy. After carefully examining photographs taken by your sales rep, the writers create text about the exterior portion of your home and take potential buyers through each of the rooms as they are laid out inside the house. Each Buy Owner writer takes a lot into consideration when writing an advertisement for a residential real estate property.

Sentence variation

While Buy Owner writers do use simple sentences, they also utilize creative adjectives and verbiage to vary their sentences.

Here’s an example of simple sentences describing a home’s exterior:

 Colorful perennials, vibrant bushes and distinctive flower boxes add curb appeal. The front yard is gated. The sidewalk is made of custom curved brick. The covered front porch as been renovated.

Here’s an example of a Buy Owner writer’s description of a home’s exterior:

 Colorful perennials, vibrant bushes and distinctive flower boxes create charming curb appeal in the gated front yard. A custom curved brick sidewalk winds around to a renovated covered porch.

Adjective and verbiage variation

There are most likely a variety of features in your home that you would like to see highlighted in your Buy Owner ad, whether it’s upgraded carpeting, brand-new bathrooms, stainless steel appliances or something else. Rather than writing “The living room has this,” The family room has that” or “The kitchen has these,” Buy Owner writers choose from 100+ adjectives and verbs to keep potential buyers interested in reading more about your property.

Here’s an example of a simple description of a home’s living room:

 The living room is next to the foyer. It has plush carpeting and neutral-painted walls with crown molding. The casement windows have custom treatments. The living room also has French doors to the family room.

Here’s an example of a Buy Owner writer’s description of a home’s living room:

 Adjacent to the foyer, the living room welcomes you with new plush carpeting and neutral-painted walls, detailed with crisp crown molding. Custom treatments, including top-down/bottom-up blinds and draperies, garnish the casement windows for the perfect amount of natural light, while a set of French doors grants access to the family room.

Descriptive headers

Many Buy Owner advertisements are topped with descriptive headers that give you a general overview of the entire property.

Here are examples of generic headers:

 BRICK HOUSE
 WOOD FLOORS
 VIEW OF LAKE
 APPLIANCES
 NICE LOCATION

Here are examples of descriptive Buy Owner headers

 CHARMING BRICK BUNGALOW
 GLEAMING HARDWOOD FLOORS
 FANTASTIC WATERFRONT VIEW
 STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES
 15 MINUTES TO HWY/TRAIN

For more reasons why these Buy Owner descriptions matter, check out this post! And with Buy Owner, you as the customer always have complete authority over everything in your ad. If you want to tweak the description or hope to highlight something specific, Buy Owner is happy to help!

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

How to Be a Creative Seller

Mar20
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

SellingIn today’s buyers’ market, it’s not enough to list your home for sale. Putting a sign in the front yard is a start, but usually it will take more–much more–to find a buyer for a property.

You need to maximize your selling power, getting the word out to as many people as possible. Casting a wide net increases your chances of finding a buyer.

How can you do this?

Step One: Choose the best Buy Owner advertising package available.

Meeting with a Buy Owner marketing person will allow you to see the options available. With Buy Owner, you have all the power: select photos, virtual tours, length of description and advertising placement. Plus, enjoy editorial authority over everything the advertising staff creates!

Step Two: Let your Buy Owner advertising work for you.

Once you’ve selected your advertising package and customized it to your preferences, you’re already well on your way to a smart sale. Let your marketing materials work for you on the incredibly popular Buy Owner website (www.buyowner.com). Reaching a nationwide audience, this ad showcases your property’s strengths and features. You’ll also be able to log into your seller tools and create flyers, check stats and more. Use these features to their fullest, consulting the Buy Owner customer service department with any questions, 7 days a week.

Step Three: Combine the power of your Buy Owner advertising with a little creativity.

There are ways you can strengthen your ad’s effectiveness; all you need is a little creativity. The key principle to keep in mind is casting a wide net: remember, the more people who see your ad, the more likely you are to find a buyer!

Find places online where you can post free links to your online ad: think about Craigslist or Google. E-mail your online address book with links to your ad, asking friends to pass it along to anyone who may be interested. Blog about your home sale. Talk to friends and neighbors. Hold open houses, and use your seller tools to mark the dates online.

Do everything you can to generate interest.

The Result:

Taking these steps will put you in the driver’s seat of your home sale, increasing the views on your advertisement and drawing potential buyers. Keep the creative juices flowing, and see what additional ideas you can come up with to get the word out about your home!

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

Selling a Vacant Home

Feb25
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Carrie

Selling a vacant home can be difficult. For example, without seeing a kitchen table or a living room sofa, it might be hard for potential buyers to picture their belongings in your home. On the other hand, it might eliminate the distractions of decor that doesn’t match a certain buyer’s taste.

Making an empty house appeal to buyers is not an impossible task! Here’s what to do:

1. Remember that first impressions always count. The front exterior is the first thing people are going to see when they come to your house for a showing. For tips on sprucing up your curb appeal, check out this Buy Owner article: Why Curb Appeal Is Important.

Also remember to keep the seasons in mind. For example, in Chicago, you have a lot to consider!

  • Spring: Check out the latest post from Sarah to see what you can do to improve your curb appeal as spring approaches.
  • Summer: Keep your lawn a luscious green by watering it regularly.
  • Fall: If your property is surrounded by trees, make sure to rake up all those stray leaves!
  • Winter: Plow or shovel driveways and sidewalks. You don’t want to make your buyers trudge through three feet of snow just to get to your front door.

2. Clean Up! Since your home is completely void of furniture, the floors and the walls must be immaculate, because they are in plain view. Vacuum carpets, scrub floors, and touch up painted walls. If you don’t need to upgrade your flooring, perhaps you may want to lay down an ornate rug to spruce up a room. Adding a bold or neutral accent color to one wall could also liven up the space and grab the attention of a buyer.

3. Leave a few things. Empty rooms tend to look smaller, even when you know they are very spacious. Try to keep some type of furniture in a room, if possible. Leaving a small chair or a floor lamp behind does make a difference. Also, custom treatments and blinds on windows add depth to a room, while creating a homey, lived-in look. And just like the flooring and the walls, make sure that you dust the small pieces of furniture, the window treatments and the blinds regularly. When a room is not completely furnished, every speck of dirt is exposed!

When selling your home, keep in mind that buyers may prefer your vacant home, since they can move in right away! They don’t have to wait for you to move out, and no one has to worry about banging up walls or scuffing floors while moving furniture. It’s simple. Keep it spotless inside and out, and stay motivated!

Chair

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

Why You’re the Expert on Your Home

Jan07
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

House

No one knows your home like you do. No certifications or title can substitute for personal history and experience.

So it makes sense, then, that you’d be the most qualified person to sell your property. Who else knows your home’s features, right down to the year things were upgraded and the type of materials you used in that home improvement project?

Think about some of the things you now know about your home, simply by having lived in it:

  1. Local Attractions
  2. Convenience to Shops, Dining
  3. Proximity to Transportation
  4. History
  5. Special Features
  6. Upgrades & Improvements
  7. Taxes
  8. Schools
  9. Association/Development Info
  10. Overall feel of the Community

Embrace your expert knowledge and use it to market your home to its finest. By teaming up with Buy Owner, you’ve armed yourself with an abundance of information. The combination of your firsthand experience, Buy Owner’s marketing professionals and a high-traffic web site creates an unbeatable plan to showcase your property.

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

25 Extra Tricks for Drawing Buyers

Nov09
2007 6 Comments Written by Shanna

Idea Bulb When you’re selling your home with Buy Owner, your property receives a  premium marketing plan, which could include up to all of the following options (not all options available with all plans):

  • National advertising on the Buy Owner website
  • Appearance in Buy Owner Magazine
  • Talking yard sign
  • Participation in the computer matchmaking system
  • Toll-free number
  • Stunning photographs of the exterior, interior, and community
  • Descriptive text that highlights your home’s features
  • Professional, 360-degree virtual tours

Maximize the impact of your Buy Owner advertising by putting a little legwork into your sale to get the word out! Remember, goal #1 in selling your home: get your phone to ring!

DISTRIBUTE FLYERS: Print out flyers using your Buy Owner seller tools*, and distribute them everywhere you can**:

  1. Area supermarkets and stores.
  2. Cafes.
  3. Local schools.
  4. Non-profit organizations.
  5. Libraries.
  6. Laundromats.
  7. Independent booksellers.
  8. Any additional place where you can obtain permission to post!
  9. Keep flyers with you at all times, ready to hand out.

    10. USE YOUR CONNECTIONS

  10. Post on the bulletin board at work, if possible.
  11. 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.
  12. Your town/city may have a similar bulletin board option at the town center.
  13. Fax your flyer to the human resources departments of area businesses for relocation purposes.

    14. TELL YOUR FRIENDS

  14. Talk about your home sale with your friends and family.
  15. Mention it at work, at stores, with new acquaintances.
  16. Bring it up at book club, community events, parties, showers, holiday gatherings.
  17. Be on the lookout for people who are house-hunting. You never know who will lead to your buyer!

    18. LINK TO YOUR BUY OWNER AD

  18. Create free online ads at places like Craigslist and Google that link to your Buy Owner page. You’ll be drawing even more people to look at your home’s photos, tours and text!
  19. 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.
  20. 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.

    21. HOLD AN OPEN HOUSE

  21. 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.
  22. Promote your open house everywhere (see above for suggestions about flyers).
  23. 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.
  24. Mark your open house online, through your Buy Owner seller tools*.
  25. Make the most of other open houses in the area. Check local ads, and when an open house is scheduled in nearby, put out a sign and draw those visitors to your home.

    26. *Call Buy Owner’s customer service department if you need help navigating through your seller tools.

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

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

Writing Quality Captions

Nov08
2007 1 Comment Written by Shanna

idea bulb 2As a Buy Owner seller, your advertising packet may feature showcase-worthy, professional photographs with possibility for captions. If you are writing your own captions, you will want to focus on targeting buyer interest by providing key information.

The most important thing to do when creating captions is to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Potential buyers will most often view your photographs in a cycle:

  • Quick Glance: A momentary look provides them with the most obvious information available. Subtle aspects of the picture may not register at this point; it’s more of an overall glimpse.
  • Interested Search for Info: If a particular photo sparks any interest, then readers typically look just below the photo for more information. That’s when your captions become important. The viewer who’s looking for additional info is a buyer who likes what’s appearing; you want to heighten that interest by what you write.
  • Return to Photo: Buyers read your captions, understand the information and return to the photographs. Your goal is to enhance this return look by explaining anything that needs to be described.

Include information that will address potential buyer questions. These questions may include:

  • What am I looking at?
  • Where is this in relation to other aspects of the home?
  • What home features does it highlight?
  • Why is this picture important?
  • What’s valuable here?

Based on the way visitors will view your home and attempting to answer questions before they’re asked, write feature-packed, easy-to-understand captions. Make sure your text sounds professional—consider having someone else double-check it. You’ll want to be sure there are no spelling mistakes, typos, or transposed letters. Making an extra effort to produce quality captions may make a big difference in turning an interested viewer into an serious buyer.

*To learn more about inserting captions, or if you have any questions about changing them in your Seller Tools, contact Buy Owner’s customer service department.

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

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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