Becoming a "Super Agent" in Real Estate

Writen by Barrett A Niehus

As many as 75% of real estate agents get their license and list between one and zero homes per year. In addition, most real estate agents end up earning less than $28,000 per year, even though they spend thousands of hours trying to generate business. If this is the case, then why is it that the other 25% of real estate agents go on to make hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and end up listing so many homes that they need to hire additional agents, just to manage the work load?

In this series, we will explore what these “super agents” do right, and how you can use their success as a guide to help you achieve their level of success. Now before we begin, I want to go over some very simple fundamentals of marketing. For many of you this will be rudimentary, but we always begin with a solid foundation and build from it. So to begin, anytime you are selling a product or service, you must identify the four P’s. These are simply Product, Price, Placement and Promotion. To explain these concepts further, think of them in follow way:

Product: What are you selling? For you as a real estate agent, in most instances, you are selling yourself. You are selling guidance, advice, filing services, coordination services, marketing services, negotiation services, and many more intangible services. In almost all cases, you are the primary product. We will get into how to make that product unique in a moment, but for now know that in real estate transactions, YOU are the product.

Price: How much will the product cost? Most economists will use the term utility to describe the amount of intangible value that a client will put on a product. What is the price of your service? Is it competitive with your market and the services you offer?

Placement: How will clients find the product, and how will it be different from the competition? Where will they be able to learn about it? Will they read about it, hear about it from friends, see it on TV or hear it on radio? How will the product be placed so that the target market can find learn about it? As above, if you are the product, what will your placement be in order to receive maximum exposure? How will your offerings compare to your competition?

Promotion: What offerings and methods of communication will you use to get clients to buy your product? What specific services will you offer in order to garner the maximum value?

These are the fundamentals of marketing and should be included whenever you try to define exactly how you are going to make your real estate business successful.

Now moving on to how to make YOU the product unique and valuable to your target market, let’s talk about a unique selling proposition. However, before we begin, I want you to lay out all of your current mailers, door hangers, flyers and promotional pieces in front of you. Now if you can, put yourself in the shoes of your prospective client. They have just received one of these pieces and know nothing else about you. In looking at the marketing piece, answer the question: What benefit does this agent provide me?

Now, in looking at the piece as the real estate agent, what benefit do you provide your target client that you can do better than any other agent in your area? Would this be seen as a major benefit by your target client? Would this be seen as a major benefit by as most of your target clients?

What we are trying to identify with this exercise is your unique selling proposition. The one selling advantage that will make a prospective client choose you over anybody else. This exercise is usually very difficult for most people and they initially come up with answers that are not unique or compelling. Many agent first responses with this exercise are to list their level of quality or service. Although these can be benefits, many other agents also list these and they are typically not unique or compelling. Instead of focusing on services that everybody offers, focus on specialization and unique knowledge to create your unique selling proposition. Below I have listed a three unique selling propositions and one ineffective selling proposition for you to review and to get an idea of what is needed. See if you can’t spot the proposition that is neither unique nor effective.

I guarantee that I can sell your home within 90 days.

Providing great quality for the past six years.

Comprehensive marketing services to make sure that you get top dollar for your home.

The agent of choice for the Arrow Wood community; masters at providing you with a great buying experience.

To reiterate the points from above, identify the unique benefit that you can provide to your target clients. Make sure that the benefit is something that they will value that will answer the question, why should I list with you?

So now that you have identified your unique selling proposition, it is time to figure out exactly how you will communicate it to your target market. This is another area that separates the super agents from the rest. Many agents attempt to promote themselves to as many people as possible using one or two tools. This shotgun approach is typically very expensive, very inefficient, and results in very few sales.

Instead of trying to be all things to all people, take a look at your unique selling proposition and identify exactly what your ideal prospective client looks like. What do they ready, what do they watch; what do they listen to? How do they stay current on world events, what do they value? Identify as specifically as possible your ideal candidate so that you can understand exactly where to spend your marketing dollars to get the best response. Some groups will be more receptive to mail, others need to read about your offerings. Some respond to promotional giveaways, some need to meet you in person. Try to determine what will trigger the greatest response from your target audience and what specific variation or wording of your unique selling proposition will resonate most with them. In short, identify your target market, and target them as directly and specifically as possible. This type of specialization will result in significantly more listings sales and revenue than the traditional shotgun approach.

So far you should have identified how your product (YOU) fits in with the four P’s of marketing; your unique selling proposition, and your target market. Now it is time to evaluate how best to teach that target market about your service offerings and how to convince that market they need to buy your product. This essentially results from periodicity of your communication, and the type and content of the pieces. The goal of this portion of the lesson is to teach you how to create a continual flow of qualified leads so that you will never need to cold call again. We are creating a prospecting engine that will continually feed you qualified clients so that you can spend your valuable time on projects that will actually make you money.

Let’s begin first by commenting on periodicity, or the number of times you touch a client with your message. Before moving forward, answer the following questions:

Given 100 people in your neighborhood, how many want to sell their home right now? Of these 100 people, how many do you think will want to sell their home within the next four years? How many in ten years?

Statistically speaking, four want to sell now; 20 will want to sell within the next four years and 80 within the next ten. Instead of spending thousands of dollars to find that four, why not spend the same amount and line up the first 20%, and remaining 80%, and simultaneously get the first four ready to use your services?

It sounds like a great idea, doesn’t it? Well that is exactly what a prospecting engine like 4MySales.com does. It leverages proven marketing tools to create a tangible relationship with your large prospective market. So how does a prospecting engine such as 4MySales.com work? It provides a complete target marketing system to continually promote your unique selling proposition to your target clients. The system works on the following principles:

1) Periodicity: It is a know fact that people will recognize a branded product (YOU) after being exposed to that message five times. They will be inclined to act on that message after around seven exposures if the selling advantage is compelling. This market will be able to associate specific traits with a branded product after between fifteen and twenty exposures. Essentially this means that you will need a system to make sure that those four clients that are ready to list right now receive your message at least seven times, and those that have a four or ten year sales horizon see your message consistently enough that they will know you and your unique selling advantage. Promoting yourself in this manner will guarantee that you will be one of the first choices when you target market decides that they need a real estate agent.

2) A single message across many mediums: When you think about Nike shoes, what comes to mind? How about BMW automobiles? What about when you hear the word Rolex? For each product, a specific message comes to mind. The reason is simply that those companies have spent a great deal of time and money making sure that every marketing piece that is released to the public has a specific and consistent message. For Nike, it is Sports, Just Do It; for BMW the message is the ultimate driving machine. Rolex is synonymous with opulence, even though it is actually one of the less expensive high end watches. How can we incorporate this observation to increase our own business? Simply include your unique selling proposition in every marketing piece that you send out. The message should be consistent in your listing descriptions, direct mail pieces, email newsletters, email updates, promotional tools and sales presentations.

With regard to the mediums that you should use, utilize communication tools that accurately target your specific market. 4MySales provided direct mail and email marketing tools as well as drip marketing and client management resources. Utilize these in a consistent manner to make sure that your target market receives a consistent message on a consistent basis.

3) Unique promotional tools: How many door hangers have you distributed? What about postcards? How many flyers have you printed up? The 4MySales.com system provides these tools, but it also provides some unique promotional tools to help set you apart from your competition. What if instead of sending text and links in your email newsletters, you could also include an audio file so that prospective clients can hear your voice? Prospects are significantly more likely to respond to a marketing message if they hear it as well as read it, and 4MySales.com provides a simple tool to take advantage of this fact. In addition tools to help you build relationships with prospective clients and manage the expectations of existing clients help to increase your close rate.

Using a system such as 4MySales.com to automate the prospecting process allows you more time to focus on the primary revenue generating aspects of your business. Use the system to automate your marketing endeavors to continually send your unique selling proposition to your target marketing using email, online tools, your website, your web blog, as well as through traditional direct mail, flyers and post cards.

As I indicated above, a prospecting engine is an automated system that continually feeds you with a stream of new clients. The system simply distributes your consistent unique selling proposition in as many different forms as possible to your target market so that those who are ready to act will do so, and those that are not yet ready will choose you first when they finally choose to take action. The system sends consistent messages often enough that prospective clients will recognize the value proposition and will associate that value proposition with you. Putting this type of system in place is the first step in moving you toward the ranks of the super agents that make millions of dollars per year.

Let us bring clients to you. 4MySales.com http://www.4mysales.com is a simple system to help real estate agents close more sales. This unique prospecting engine helps the real estate agent maximize every revenue generating aspect of their business.

Building Your Dream Home Part 1

Writen by Mark Donovan

For most of my adult life I had thought about someday building my Dream Home. Several years ago I finally got the chance. I had purchased a lake front lot with a small cottage on it. My initial intention was to use the property “as is”, and someday raze the old cottage and build a new home in its place. After a couple of weekends in the musty old camp I came to the conclusion that I needed to speed up my timetable.

Part of the dream in building my own home was to act as the General Contractor and to personally supply a great deal of sweat equity. I accomplished both of these goals, however it was not easy. There were many roadblocks and bends in the road along the way. In the subsequent parts of this chronology, I will review my experiences in hopes that others may gain from my experiences.

Determining the Home Style and Size

After making the decision to raze the cottage and build a new home, I had to first determine what type and size of home to build. My lot was limited in size and required careful planning to ensure that I would meet all of the setbacks governed by the town I lived in. Although I had these concerns, I decided to forgo the Architect route. I deemed it too expensive and probably not necessary for the style of home I wanted to build. Instead I picked up a handful of Home Plan magazines and surfed the internet for home designs. I also picked up an inexpensive software package for designing homes and floorplans. After a week of reviewing home plans, I found one that met most of my requirements in terms of a floorplan. The footprint was smaller than I wanted, but I concluded that I could redraw the floor plan accordingly using my newly purchased Home Design Software Package.

The Home Design Software package was not as simple to use as the instruction manual implied, however after a couple of weeks I had a floorplan with all the dimensional information.

Assuming the role as the General Contractor

As I had indicated earlier, one of my goals was to assume the role as General Contractor on this project. I quickly learned that banks frown upon lending construction mortgages to everyday homeowners and to folks who have little professional building experience. I got around this issue by deciding not to use the banks for financing. However, from what I learned later, it may have been possible for me to assume a construction mortgage if I had quit my day job and applied for the loan as a “full time General Contractor”. Indeed, I would have needed to complete a full proposal to the bank with all costs and subcontractors identified, but this is necessary anyways.

As the General Contractor I developed a build schedule and task list. Some of the top items included: Identifying subcontractors, pulling permits, and having a septic design approved.

Carefully Pick your Sub Contractors

Identifying the right subcontractors is the most important task a General Contractor performs. Poor selection of subcontractors can lead to delays in schedules, cost overruns, poor workmanship and strife between the various subcontractors on the job. Prior to hiring subcontractors, it is important to visit their current jobsites. Review their work on existing jobsites and mingle with the other subs to judge the working relationship. In addition get two or three reference checks on the subcontractors. If there are poor workmanship, personality issues, or references move on. Do not settle for second rate subs, even if it means slipping your schedule or costs goals, as you will more than likely suffer even larger schedule slips or higher costs by hiring the wrong people.

Pulling Permits

Once you have selected and hired your excavator, chief framer, and foundation company, review with them your plans. Make sure you walk the site with them, and carefully stake out the house footprint, paying careful attention to lot setbacks, septic tanks, leach fields and well location. Once all are agreed upon with the house plans and the location of the home, contact the building inspector and review with him/her your plans. You will need to submit a very thorough package to the building inspector prior to getting approval. There are frequently town and state forms that need to be filled out regarding wetlands, and home thermal analysis. In addition, detailed engineering drawings of the proposed home may be required. In my case the Framer was able to assist in developing additional sketches of the house plan to ensure structural compliance to local, state and federal building codes. If I had used the initial home plans I had obtained, those would have been sufficient. I also could have contacted an architect with my selected plans to provide additional details, however it was not necessary in my case.

After about a week and several hundred dollars later I had the permit to build a new home.

Septic Design

My home required its own septic system on site. As a result, I required a septic design and an associated permit for the new home. I recommend pursuing this as early as possible in any new home project as this can take up to 2 3 months to complete as both town and state approvals are required, not to mention site and engineering work.

Without knowing exactly where the septic system and tank will reside, it may be difficult to locate the exact position of the home and in many cases the building inspector may not approve the building permit until the septic design permit has been obtained. I was fortunate in that the property already had a small septic system on the lot, so the building inspector gave me approval. I was at financial risk, however, in the event the new septic design was not approved or needed to be repositioned from the proposed location. Fortunately that was not the case and I was able to move forward on razing the cottage and beginning site work.

To Be Continued .

In Part 2 of “Building Your Dream House”, I will cover razing an existing building, performing site prep work, and pouring foundation walls. Stay tuned

me_donovan@comcast.net
http://homeadditionplus.com
http://homeaddition.blogspot.com

Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. Mr. Donovan’s formal education and profession has been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

The Advantages of Buying a Home

Writen by Vicki Walker

Buying a Home is at the heart of the “American Dream”. It can bring happiness and provide a solid foundation for you and your family. It has many benefits, but the following three in particular -

Tax Breaks

When compared to other investments, few can generate the healthy and long lasting tax breaks that home ownership does. When you become a homeowner, there may be tax breaks that you can take advantage of the renters and non homeowners cannot, the mortgage interest deduction being just one of them. In addition, the deduction of your real estate tax on your federal income tax return is a common practice. Some homeowners choose to use their homes equity to obtain Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC) or home equity loans. Interest on these loans may also be tax deductible. With proper planning you may receive tax advantages that last a lifetime. As always, consult with your own tax advisor as to the specific benefits of home ownership that apply to you.

Equity

A home is an investment that can, and usually does, increase in value over time. In some markets, home values have been rising dramatically in recent years (California, Florida, Nevada, etc.). In other markets the rise has been more slow and steady.

In addition, you can use your own hard work to make improvements that will increase the value of your home. Each improvement that you make will add to the overall value of your home and your way of living.

As the value of your home increases, and the amount of your mortgage shrinks, you build equity. That is, the money that would be left over if you sold your home and paid off the mortgage. As mentioned above, you can borrow against this equity should the need arise. It’s almost like a savings account that you live in.

Community

Moving into a home gives you a chance to meet new people, get involved in your community, patronize local merchants, and shape your new neighborhood. It’s a way to put down roots and invest in your town. Home ownership provides a sense of permanence and a solid foundation for our lives.

Buying a home may be the single, largest investment you will make in your life. But there are so many benefits, some tangible and some emotional. Maybe now is the time for you to take the plunge and buy a home, condominium or townhouse and experience this part of the “American Dream”.

Vicki Walker is a Realtor in Yolo County, California. For more information you can visit her two websites Davis California Real Estate or Woodland CA Homes.

How Has Hurricane Katrina Hurt Investing?

Writen by Chad McCall

With Hurricane Katrina impacting the entire nation, a big question still looms, “How will real estate investing be affected?” The hurricane not only impacted the petroleum industry but the commodities industry, like grain, as well. The impact was estimated to have hurt more than 600,000 jobs. Without jobs, how are bills paid, and how can a city then collect taxes? The problems go to the top of the chain, not just the residents. As you can see a few other issues are still among those that were affected.

The real estate market in the affected areas has been crippled. The once established area, full of industry and gambling is on a much needed rebound. This rebound is at a time of total desperation, and another set back could be devastating. For those investors that were looking to cash in on the government foreclosures or HUD properties they must now rethink their position. The HUD/FHA market is nonexistent at this time. Due to the damage and abundance of homeless families, HUD has gathered their properties and offered them as shelter for the victims. There is no set time on how long things will take to iron out in that part of the country, but we can only wish them the best and keep them in our prayers.

Chad McCall has been a real estate investor for the past 15 years. He has authored a book on buying HUD properties here. He has worked with numerous students and gurus such as Bruce A. Berman and Robert Shemin. He is currently with the Professional Real Estate Investors Group in Salt Lake City, Utah.

10 Suggestions that will Help Sell your Florida Real Estate

Writen by Greg Staker

1. Lights, camera, action. Have your Realtor take quality pictures of your Florida home, that are then used online and in paper advertising. This will assist in capturing and drawing attention to your home or property over the competitors. The more potential buyers viewing your home increases the chance of selling your real estate near or at your asking price.

2. Always have bread on the shelf. When a buyer wants it, they want it now. If you are looking to buy a loaf of bread and your favorite neighborhood store is closed or out of stock, you will very likely head down the street to the competition to pick up the bread. Your Florida property should always be available for qualified buyers to see during normal business hours. Ask about having a secure lockbox placed on your home so that it is always available when a buyer wants in.

3. If these walls could talk. Make sure that your home is communicating with every buyer that drives by. Brochure boxes should be kept full with flyers that provide just enough information to entice a buyer to call. Real estate companies that are up on the best marketing techniques usually use automated phone services that allow customers to call a number on their real estate signs to hear all about the features and amenities that their listed homes offer.

4. Make them an offer they can’t refuse. A seller can go a long way to insure their home will sell by offering prospective buyers a reason to buy. Have mortgage information available to show the interested buyer interest rate and payment information specific to your home. Offer a home warranty to help ease buyers fears of future problems. If feasible, offer to contribute to the purchasers closing costs with a full price offer. Give the buyer a reason to purchase your home over your neighbors.

5. Try walking into the closet. If you are going to advertise that your home is spacious, plenty of room or offers storage areas, make sure when the buyers stop by, they are able to see this for themselves. Are the closets bursting at the hinges? Is the garage too full to park a matchbox car? Do you own enough furniture to accommodate several families? Now is the time to part with that most cherished item that you have not seen in years and quite frankly forgot you owned. Have a garage sale or donate items to charity. Make the home “roomy” and buyers will drool in envy at all the space available to store their treasured items.

6. You only get one first impression. Make sure the grass is cut and trimmed. Clean the roof and gutters. Wash the front door. Clean the carpets. Replace missing and broken electrical plates and light switched. Clean the air filter. Patch the hole in the wall. Little elbow grease items can mean bigger profits if you address them at the beginning.

7. Get into the mood. When you know a buyer is going to view your home, set the mood. Turn on all lights and open all drapes and curtains. Low volume playing music in the background is known to relax people, have your stereo on a softer music station. A lighter and brighter home is spacious looking. Air fresheners can be used. While the buyer is there, give them room. Excuse yourself and step out while the Realtor does their job.

8. Leave hoop jumping to the circus animals. People hate to jump through hoops. The more obstacles that are placed in front of a buyer the less likely they will be buying your home. Extreme closing dates, the inability to obtain immediate possession. Allowing only certain types of financing and other stipulations will limit the offers you receive. Try and lessen the amount of contingencies you ask of your buyers.

9. Feedback. So you have had 100 people visit your home over the last few weeks and still no offers? Your realtor should provide you with feedback from the buyers or the buyer’s realtor. If the same feedback is given by many of the buyers, see if you and your Realtor can correct or resolve this issue(s). A lot can be learned from those who did not buy.

10. Hire a professional. Make sure that the Realtor you have hired is the man/woman for the job. Ask to see references. Have them provide a marketing plan. Visit their company and personal websites. Spending time interviewing Realtors should help decrease the chances that a sign will be placed in your yard never seeing them again and increase the chance your home will sell for the highest possible price in the best time frame.

Greg Staker is a Broker Associate and Assistant Manager with Watson Realty Corp. in Central Florida.
http://www.gregstaker.com

Location, Location, Location There is More to this Saying than Meets the Eye!

Writen by Edward Blinn

Over the years, you have probably heard the saying, “Location, Location, Location”.

It is true that location is a key element in selecting real estate. It is important to the resale value of a property to be in a desirable location. But there is a lot that goes into making “Location” that desirable entity that it has become.

Let’s take a look at a few factors that not only make up a desirable location but will help you to select a location that is right for you?

First off, I suggest having your Exclusive Buyers Broker compile reports for closed sales in any area you are currently considering. This will be very helpful in determining a trend in resale values and determining desirable locations. These reports help give you an idea of what you may expect several years up the road as far as the potential appreciation of the property you are considering. An area that shows a steady increase in sales prices for properties sold over the last 3 5 years would be a good area to delve into.

When looking for a home, it is preferable to locate a property not only in a nice residential area, but one that is also close to commercial and business districts as well. Having a nice balance of residential, commercial, and business not only provides potential jobs for the residents but income to the city as well which could be used for added services or maintenance and upgrades of the area roadways.

Deciding on which community you want to live in is your next step.

Let’s check out the curb appeal.

First and foremost, take a drive through a community that interests you. Look at the homes around you. Is there a sense of pride of ownership among the residents? Are the lawns neatly mowed and trimmed or are some unkempt? Is there a continuity of architecture among the homes? Are some properties in disrepair? What about the neighborhood streets? Are they well lit, nicely maintained? Potholes or poor drainage are signs that the community does not get the attention it needs. Any of these findings could adversely affect property values. What amenities does the community offer for you or your family? For example, having a community pool, golf course, clubhouse, or tennis courts would be nice if you enjoy participating in any of these on a social basis. However, these amenities come at a price and are usually paid for in an annual fee. Check to see if there is a homeowners association and if it is mandatory for all residents.

Okay, so far let’s say you like what you have seen. Let’s talk safety.

Where is the nearest fire station? What type of rating does it have? How far from the property is the closest fire hydrant? Knowing the location of and distance to both fire stations and hydrants is important as it will affect the rating you get and how much you pay for your homeowners insurance. Also, note locations of other fire stations. Are they located strategically enough to provide additional response if an emergency arose?

What is the crime rate? Check with the local sheriff’s office or police station and see what the statistics are for the community and city you are considering. This will also affect your potential resale values.

Schools are another important factor. The better the rating, the better property values will tend to be. If you have children, there are a number of things that will affect where you buy. Will your children be able to attend the school closest to the prospective home? If not, why. Are the schools in that area over crowded? Are there plans to build additional schools to support the growing population?

Many areas now allow school choice. However, you must sign up for the school of choice ahead of the coming school year. If you are relocating during the school term, check to see if there are waiting lists. It is possible that a student will move out of the area and a slot become available for your child. Check to see how the local students have scored on the standardized tests? You want your children to get the best education possible. You may obtain free testing results for schools in your area by looking on the internet. Simply search for “standardized test results city state” and replace the words city and state with the one you are concerned with.

Does the community have activities such as youth sponsored sports? Are there facilities such as a park or gym nearby that you or your family could benefit from? A community that has a nice blend parks and activities for young children, teenagers, adults and seniors is a community worth looking into.

So, next let’s take a look at the property taxes. Not every area is taxed the same. One county could pay much higher property taxes compared to another. This may affect the way you view a potential property and its desirability. After all, taxes generally tend to increase as time goes by. Know your budget and take the area property taxes into consideration. Remember, the property taxes reported on the house you are considering are based on the present value of the property. Unless the owner is selling at a great loss, you can be assured that the property taxes will increase after closing due to the properties increased value resulting from the sale.

Another factor to consider is the price per square foot. How are various properties in different communities comparing to one another in their price per square foot? I would not base my decision to purchase on this fact alone, but it is one you may wish to consider. Many times, properties that are located in areas of higher taxes actually have lower price per square foot ratios.

When you take all these items into consideration (closed sales in the area, pride of ownership, location of emergency personnel, community activities and resources, rating of area schools) you come to understand just how important location can be.

Taking the time to do a little research will can make the difference between simply buying a property or making a wise real estate investment.

Next we will look more closely at the property itself and discover how different features can affect property values. However, that will have to wait until my next article.

Best of luck in all your real estate endeavors.

©2006. Edward K. Blinn, P. A. is an Exclusive Buyers Broker at RE/MAX Sundance Realty in Bonita Springs, Florida who knows the value of SW Florida real estate, area communities, and their amenities. http://www.FloridaBuyersBroker.com

Beach Front Property in Rehoboth Beach Delaware

Writen by Ashley Andyshak

From Coast to Coast

When thinking of an ocean view, many people automatically picture Malibu or the white sands of the Caribbean. While these are both beautiful locations, there are more types of ocean front property then you may first think.

There are many gorgeous locations in the North that beach goers do not often consider. The rocky shores of Newport, Cape Cod and Bar Harbor are just a few New England options for those looking to explore the rustic and historic shores of the United States. The shores of Canada are also a choice for those who enjoy cooler weather. While the temperature may drop in these locations during the winter months, they allow the residents to enjoy the beauty of winter mixed with the splendor of an ocean view.

Of course, if colder temperatures do not appeal to you, there is a plethora of southern properties by the beach to choose from. Locations from Virginia to the Caribbean Islands to the Gulf of Mexico and the California coast offer more stability in climate and consistency in year round activities. Once you have decided what climate you are looking for, you can delve right into the searching process.

Searching for the Perfect Property

Purchasing a new home or property is one of the biggest decisions a person can make. There are many things to remember when searching for your own ocean front property to buy or rent. Some of them include:

• Be sure to consider the year round climate of the location. If the temperatures are too hot in summer or too cold in winter for your liking, perhaps consider moving to a beach farther north or south.
• Find an expert in the local area to advise you about real estate trends, etc. that may affect the purchase or future value of your home or property.
• Find out if the homes you are looking to purchase are having open houses. This will give you a chance to see the home in its natural setting before making a decision.
• As with all home purchases, be sure that all areas of the property and house are checked for safety factors and for small flaws that could become big problems in the future.

While many areas of ocean front property contain an existing house, a number of people choose to build their own home on their newly purchased property. The choice is completely up to you, as you can choose the convenience of an already existing home or the creativity and flexibility of designing and building your own dream home with an ocean view.

A Myriad of Choices

The available beach front property is changing every day. Be sure to research thoroughly and accurately using the services of a local real estate expert or the Internet. A property that is available today may be off the market tomorrow, and new properties are added to listings regularly. The more often you research the market, the more choices you are likely to find, increasing your chance of finding the perfect property for you.

Inside Rehoboth Beach Real Estate is a network entirely devoted to real estate information. The entire Inside Real Estate network has more than 100,000 pages of real estate for cities allover the United States. Inside Real Estate covers several topics from the basic “how to’s” of real estate to city specific real estate information.

Sell Your Home Faster With A Pre Listing Home Inspection

Writen by George Scott

The reports abound about a slow down in the real estate market. Homes are sitting on the market for longer periods of time, and sellers are finding that buyers are more concerned with the condition of the home. With more homes on the market to choose from, buyers can afford to walk away from a deal, if the conditions of the home are not to their satisfaction.

How well do you know YOUR home?

Why wait for a buyer’s Home Inspector to uncover hidden problems, after you have already accepted an offer that could end up costing you thousands in a lower negotiated selling price?
A Professional Seller’s Pre Listing Home Inspection can help you identify critical areas of concern up front
You decide whether to perform repairs or disclose during initial negotiations

Pre listing Home Inspection Benefits

There are many benefits to having your home inspected before listing. With a pre listing inspection your home could sell faster and for more money without any renegotiations because results of the inspection will be presented ahead of time. Your potential buyer will be reassured about the condition of the home from the detailed inspection report. A pre inspected listing will also give you the ability to fix any problems and deal with any issues ahead of time, so there won’t be any surprises.

1. Home could sell faster!
2. Home could sell for more money!
3. No more buyers walking away because they think there is a problem with the house.
4. No deal killing home inspector picking your home apart after the deal is done.
5. No 11th hour renegotiations based on the inspector’s findings.
6. No helpless feelings that an inspector has raised an issue that is not a big problem.
7. No more buyers getting cold feet when they find out the home is not perfect.
8. No more buyers walking away because they don’t have time for an inspection.
9. No more parade of inspectors through your home before a multiple offer situation.
10. You choose the inspector based on reputation and credentials.
11. You resolve any differences of opinion before the house goes on the market.
12. You fix any problems you like or recognize the problem and reflect it in the purchase price take it off the table as a negotiating tool against you.
13. Inspection Report can be made available as an HTML web page link, to be included on your listing agent’s web site. That way, prospective buyer’s can see the report in advance.

Many inspectors will come back to re inspect fixes

If you fix or improve areas noted in the report, many home inspectors will return to the home, to update the report to reflect the current status. This can be a big selling advantage, in particular in a slower market, where buyers are more concerned with condition and value.

As real estate market conditions continue to soften, you need every advantage possible to help your home sell. Don’t wait with your fingers crossed, hoping the buyer’s home inspector doesn’t find any problems. Consider a pre listing home inspection to put you in the driver’s seat and to present your home in the proper light.

Scott Home Inspection A Colorado Professional Home Inspection company serving Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Greeley and surrounding areas, including Radon testing, Mold inspector.

http://www.scotthomeinspection.com/

Delaware Real Estate Living on the Water

Writen by Raynor James

A classic Atlantic state, Delaware is known for beaches and towns on the Atlantic Ocean. Delaware real estate prices aren’t bad and appreciation is excellent.

Delaware

Delaware is a state with a lot of coastline. When you think of wind swept beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, you’re thinking of Delaware. The beach areas come in a variety of forms with sleepy little villages, laid back resorts and energized tourist areas. Much of the state is within a few hours of the major cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a mid sized city, but the largest in Delaware. Not the most striking of cities, Wilmington is a bit schizophrenic. Parts of the town are dreary and industrial while others contain pleasant parks and walking areas. In the pleasant areas, you’ll find brick paved walkways with little caf