Tuesday, August 12, 2008
In today's computer age, most home buyers usually begin a home search online and so good photos of your home are essential. Listing without a photo or a photo showing only the exterior are often ignored by prospective buyers. Follow the following tips when shooting your home so that you can win over the buyers - crop out sidewalks and streets, remove vehicles from driveway / front of home, shoot up-close and angled photos, avoid shade on the house, clear away vegetation blocking front door or path to door.
If you happen to own a condo or town home without a yard, then take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts. If you have a yard, buyers will only be too eager to see it. To emphasize space it is good to shoot long - but make sure to mow the lawn, trim the bushes, remove evidence of pets, put aside children's toys and avoid shooting into the sun. Take photographs preferably of every room and when you do that, open drapes and blinds, turn on all the lights, focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle, remove trash cans and close toilet lids in bathrooms, use floral arrangements in kitchens and dining rooms, avoid shooting into mirrors because it will reflect your image.
These days buyers expect to see a virtual tour, even if it is only two spins. Most buyers are crazy about virtual tours. A good virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead the person from room to room, showing a 360-degree view. Depending on the tour company, you can add sound, music or an exciting, professionally written description that scrolls with the movement of the tour. Virtual tours can also include individual photos available for download or to print.
Signage is important as it prompts real estate agents and may be a couple of buyers to immediately call you or your agent. If your home is a corner lot, you have the advantage of putting up even two signs. Signs should include the phone number of the closest office of the Agent (if the brokerage operates multiple offices) and the agent's cell or voice mail number.
Print advertising reaches buyers who regularly read newspapers and online ads reaches many more. Insert ads in all major newspapers preferably on a Sunday when it draws maximum readership and in local newspapers where you can probably run a larger ad for less money. Most online listings are free. Even assuming you have no agent, you can buy the mailing lists from list brokers. If you are represented by an agent, ask about a direct mail program. The direct mail program should cover your neighbors as everybody has friends and relatives, who might want to move near them, agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood and buyers who live in other areas but wanting to relocate to your neighborhood.
All the above tips will help you sell your house fast, but these tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to other houses selling in your neighborhood.
The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth. To sell your house fast, you have to find the right price that is attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Find out how much they sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses went for.
If you happen to own a condo or town home without a yard, then take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts. If you have a yard, buyers will only be too eager to see it. To emphasize space it is good to shoot long - but make sure to mow the lawn, trim the bushes, remove evidence of pets, put aside children's toys and avoid shooting into the sun. Take photographs preferably of every room and when you do that, open drapes and blinds, turn on all the lights, focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle, remove trash cans and close toilet lids in bathrooms, use floral arrangements in kitchens and dining rooms, avoid shooting into mirrors because it will reflect your image.
These days buyers expect to see a virtual tour, even if it is only two spins. Most buyers are crazy about virtual tours. A good virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead the person from room to room, showing a 360-degree view. Depending on the tour company, you can add sound, music or an exciting, professionally written description that scrolls with the movement of the tour. Virtual tours can also include individual photos available for download or to print.
Signage is important as it prompts real estate agents and may be a couple of buyers to immediately call you or your agent. If your home is a corner lot, you have the advantage of putting up even two signs. Signs should include the phone number of the closest office of the Agent (if the brokerage operates multiple offices) and the agent's cell or voice mail number.
Print advertising reaches buyers who regularly read newspapers and online ads reaches many more. Insert ads in all major newspapers preferably on a Sunday when it draws maximum readership and in local newspapers where you can probably run a larger ad for less money. Most online listings are free. Even assuming you have no agent, you can buy the mailing lists from list brokers. If you are represented by an agent, ask about a direct mail program. The direct mail program should cover your neighbors as everybody has friends and relatives, who might want to move near them, agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood and buyers who live in other areas but wanting to relocate to your neighborhood.
All the above tips will help you sell your house fast, but these tips will only help if your home is in reasonably good shape when compared to other houses selling in your neighborhood.
The price of your home should not be what you personally think it is worth. To sell your house fast, you have to find the right price that is attractive to buyers. The best way to do this is to look for comparable houses in your neighborhood that sold fast. Find out how much they sold for and compare your price to the prices the other houses went for.
Labels: Sell-your-home-fast
Monday, August 04, 2008
The best time of the year to buy a house is during the period Thanksgiving to mid-January when the season slows down and there are fewer home buyers in the market. Homes listed and available during the slow season are from serious home sellers. Most people do not want to shift houses until the summer months are over and thus they do not start actively looking to buy homes until early spring.
If you are looking for ways to save money, shop for mortgage even before you start looking for homes so that you can get your best rate and be sure of the amount of your pre-approval. A pre-approval is a negotiating advantage for you and is an absolute necessity in a hot market with competing offers. When looking homes for sale, prior knowledge how much you can comfortably afford to pay will ensure you are looking in the right price range and prevent you from buying a home that will strain you financially later on.
Home inspectors say that all houses, including brand new homes, have defects - most of which you will find hard to detect. Some seperficial defects may be obvious to you, but many others like technical flaws will need the skill of a professional home inspector.
If you are looking for ways to save money, shop for mortgage even before you start looking for homes so that you can get your best rate and be sure of the amount of your pre-approval. A pre-approval is a negotiating advantage for you and is an absolute necessity in a hot market with competing offers. When looking homes for sale, prior knowledge how much you can comfortably afford to pay will ensure you are looking in the right price range and prevent you from buying a home that will strain you financially later on.
Home inspectors say that all houses, including brand new homes, have defects - most of which you will find hard to detect. Some seperficial defects may be obvious to you, but many others like technical flaws will need the skill of a professional home inspector.
Labels: buy-a-house
