Real estate > For Sale By Owner: Priming the Real Estate Pump

For Sale By Owner: Priming the Real Estate Pump

by: Chris Robertson

Perhaps you've decided to relocate. Or maybe you've outgrown your home and need to find homes for sale that will accommodate your growing family. Or perhaps your children are grown, you've made the decision to downsize, and are in the market for real estate that will better suit your needs. Or maybe you've decided to take the leap, buy some land, and build the home of your dreams. Whatever the reason, you need to sell the home you currently own, and you've decided to bypass real estate agents and go the "for sale by owner" route.

Before taking the plunge and listing your home, there are a number of steps you should take in order to increase your home's market price and save yourself future hassles.

Just as you would dress appropriately to make a good first impression to those you meet, you want your home to make a good first impression on potential buyers. This means that you'll need to spend some time and money sprucing it up. You don't have to - and shouldn't - invest a lot of money on major improvements. Instead, focus on the little things that make your house memorable to potential buyers.

Spend a day inspecting your house, outside and in, top to bottom. Have a pad of paper and a pen handy during your inspection, and take note of items that need your attention. Use a critical eye when going from room to room. You may never have noticed that the electrical outlet plate in your living room has a crack, and you've worked around that loose door handle in the kitchen. Now's the time to make your list of the minor repairs that will help sell your piece of residential real estate.

Spend the time necessary to make all the repairs on your list. Keep in mind that the purpose is to improve the cosmetic appeal of your home. Once the repairs have been made, take another look and determine the steps you can take to further enhance your home's appearance. For example, give the interior walls a fresh coat of paint (in a neutral color), spruce up your landscaping, and consider renting a storage unit for excess furniture and items you've been storing in the garage. Getting rid of the clutter gives the appearance of spaciousness, which is always a plus to potential homebuyers.

Once your home is prepared, it's time to list it as "for sale by owner." According to the National Association of Realtors, only 24 percent of those using the "for sale by owner" method utilize the Internet as a way to advertise their homes. In contrast, 74 percent of buyers use the Internet as an information source when they search homes. Internet real estate listing services outpace newspaper ads (53 percent) and open houses (51 percent) as information sources for potential buyers. It behooves you, then, to list your property with an Internet source, preferably one that offers both "for sale by owner" homes and Multiple Listing Services.

When you take the necessary steps to effectively prepare and market your home, you will reap the benefits of a higher sales price and a smoother transaction.

About The Author

Chris Robertson is a published author of

Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com

To learn more about subjects like for sale by owner please visit the web site at:

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Real Estate Investing Works In Your Area Too!

Real Estate Investing Works In Your Area Too!

by: Josh Brown

I hope you had a spectacular weekend!

Things have been going great here at Investor Wealth Academy, and we are very excited about some major developments coming down the line for us later this summer.

Real Estate Market Conditions

by: Kim Polinsky

The winter season gives real estate agent/brokers a chance to sit back and evaluate the previous season-Yes? No! These days, the chance to sit back is merely a dream. Agents and Brokers must build their business with new market niches in order to stay on top of their field.

Yes, the ?bubble? has burst. Burst into a finely tuned, quickly burning engine that has grown to a new level of expertise and profits!! Real estate marketing IS changing, and the newer, inexperienced, hungry agent/broker is finding a level playing field on the new path of real estate.

Recently, the trade is encouraged by the fact that this year, unseasonably warm temperatures found across the nation are fueling not just tourism. The warm temperatures are attracting ready and willing buyers, matched with sellers willing to turn some profit.
Mountains in Colorado, beaches in California, the list goes on and on regarding...

Real Estate Market Conditions

Real estate > Real Estate Market Conditions

Why Do Real Estate Agents Need Websites?

by: Madison Lockwood

There is no question that the advent of the internet as an ecommerce hosting tool has transformed the real estate industry. The internet is a particularly well qualified platform for real estate presentation. Today's large real estate websites will sort available properties by area and then present them with a combination of written information, photos and often video segments. Nationwide firms such as Coldwell Banker operate sites that act as national listing services.

A home buyer can now do his initial research seated in front of a computer terminal. The traditional approach of contacting an agent and having the agent arrange for home viewings that may or may not suit the client is no longer the first step. Today, the home buyer can select a range of houses suitable for viewing on the internet and then have a real estate agent arrange the home visits.

This new reality means...

Why Do Real Estate Agents Need Websites?

Real estate > Why Do Real Estate Agents Need Websites?

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

by: Gary Woods

So, where is Montecito Real Estate??? Well as with the rest of Santa Barbara Real Estate the area is south facing to the ocean. So starting on the East it begins in Toro Canyon about Foothill. Then it continues up Toro Canyon and goes West along East Valley Rd. up to Ortega Ridge where it goes Southwest down to Sheffield. From there it goes South on Sheffield and on out to sea.

On the West of Montecito is Hot Springs Rd. The border goes North on Hot Springs and then West on Alston Rd. From there it goes over the hill and meets up with Sycamore Canyon. Rd. On the South Montecito goes to the Ocean and then to the North it goes up above East Mountain Rd.

Okay, so now that you know where you are let?s talk about the different areas in Montecito. On the South you?ve got Miramar Beach Rd and Edgecliff with some incredible estates and small beach rentals. Farther West there?s Bonnymede...

Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Real estate > Montecito Real Estate from here to there?.

Categories of Real Estate Investment

Categories of Real Estate Investment

by: Steve Gillman

Below are ten categories of real estate, and different ways to invest in them. The best one for you is something only you can decide, according to your particular needs. To help you do that, I list a couple good points and bad points for each type.

1. Renting single family homes. Good points: An easier way to get started, and good long term return on investment. Bad points: Being a landlord isn't much fun, and you typically wait a long time for the big pay-off. You also lose all your income when a house is vacant.

2. Fixer-uppers. Good points: Fast return on your investment, and it can be more creative work. Bad points: More risk (many unpredictables), and you get taxed heavily on the gain.

3. Low income housing. Good points: Similar to any other rentals, but with higher cash flow. Bad points: Similar to any other rentals, but with more repairs and tenant problems.

4. Selling...

Categories of Real Estate Investment

Real estate > Categories of Real Estate Investment

Real Estate, How Much Should I Pay For This House?

by: Lou Castillo

We probably answer this question for someone a couple times every week. The problem is that they don?t have a good formula for determining the most they can pay and still make a profit ? so they?re scared to make any offer. Here?s what we use for single family homes:

The (MAO) Maximum Allowable Offer is calculated by first determining what the house will be worth after renovation - the ARV (After Repaired Value); less the rehab dollars required; less the Buy/Sell/Hold (B/S/H) costs; less profit margins.

MAO = ARV ? Rehab ? B/S/H ? Profit

So let?s break that down a little further. To determine the ARV, study comparable sales data. Comparable sales are those properties which sold in the last 6 months to 1 year, and within ? to 1 mile from the subject house. But other factors must be considered as well. The more characteristics between the properties that are similar...

Real Estate, How Much Should I Pay For This House?

Real estate > Real Estate, How Much Should I Pay For This House?