Those Elusive Vacant Houses - They Can Be Staged For Less Than You Think!

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Those Elusive Vacant Houses - They Can Be Staged For Less Than You Think!

I don't know about others, but until lately, I had a very difficult time landing the vacants. The truth of the matter is that the houses are either new, and in that case built on speculation, or the houses are 'flips' that were bought and reconditioned to sell for more money. In either case, the owner invests a lot of money - sometimes all that they have and then some (through partners, loans, etc).

There is a way to make it work, however. By using a combination of rental furnishings and the stager's own furnishings and accessories, an agreeable price can be achieved. Perhaps, the seller has some furniture that they can lend in order to keep costs down, or maybe you will only stage the first few impact areas that buyers will view. It is still possible to do it in a way that will produce the desired result - love at first sight!

The key is to be creative and resilient! Make it work!

Here are some pictures of a vacant that I staged last week in Huntington, NY (Suffolk County):

The budget was super tight and I kept the cost per month for rental furniture around the $700 mark (including tax). It goes without saying that I could have done so much more if the budget were larger, but I supplemented with a lot of my own smaller furnishings (end tables, lamps, rugs, accent pillows & throws, framed prints, drapes, accessories, bookshelf, queen sized bed with 2 nightstands & lamps, greenery and silk trees, etc.). I only charged a nominal fee for my 'props' and my standard per hour charge.

In spite of the budget, the house has a wonderful, homey feel to it. On the day after I finished the 2 -day project, the listing realtor held an Open House. The response was exciting! There was one couple in particular who fell in love with it! I'm hoping that it sells in the first week!

visit Staged 2 Sell NY here

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FSBO Homes Santa Barbara, California

For More Info : FSBO Homes Santa Barbara, California
Address :591 Rosa Linda Santa Barbara, CA 93111

Wow! We sell and preview MANY estates, and this is simply the most magnificent home we have ever seen! 9 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, 2 guest houses, and 7,000+ sft of space, and much much more. Statues, fountains, ponds, rare artifacts, and brilliant artwork great almost every view of this unbelievable estate. Pictures simply don\\\\\\\'t do it justice. Live a life of luxury in the city of celebrities and fair weather: Santa Barbara, California. Take the extended virtual tour at www.McKaigProperties.com. For more infomation, contact the listing agents: Adam McKaig 805-452-6884 or Christopher Page 805-284-8422, 888-284-8422 (toll-free)

FSBO Homes Chicago, Illinois

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FSBO Homes Chicago, Illinois

For More Info : FSBO Homes Chicago, Illinois
Address :1618 W. Winona Chicago, IL 60640

Beautiful, fully-rehabbed single family home in a fantstic neighborhood. 4 BR, 2.5BA with hardwood floors and eat-in kitchen with cherry cabinets and granite countertops. Great closet space with CA closets, finished basement, large, landscaped backyard with patio, and much more. Steps away from downtown Andersonville, lake, Metra and El.
Rec Room: 12x16
Dining Room: 11x15
Living Room: 11x15
Kitchen: 10x15
Eat-in Area: 5x9
Master Bedroom: 11x15 + walk-in closet
Bedroom 2: 11x15
Bedroom 3: 10x14
Bedroom 4: 7x10
2-car garage
Central Cooling

For Sale By Owner Misconceptions

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For Sale By Owner Misconceptions

By Kevin Bilberry

With the rising popularity of selling homes by owner, have risen some misconceptions that should be straightened out to clarify the process. The first thing that we should look at is how financing works in the FSBO world. One thing that occurs more often than it should is when buyers think that “for sale by owner” means that the owner is also offering financing. Most of the time this is not the case. This error is usually seen when people with little or damaged credit feel that it is in their best interest to avoid mortgage brokers & realtors. This is a huge mistake as individuals such as mortgage brokers are experienced and trained to deal with these individuals and to help them repair their credit and obtain a favorable mortgage.

Its a good idea to seek out a mortgage company that is experienced, even specializes in the financing of FSBO sales. These companies differ from most mortgage companies in that their services are more comprehensive than most. They have expanded their offerings to include many things not usually covered by traditional mortgage companies such as closing contracts, title issues and inspections. The closing of a home contract is one of the more confusing aspects of the purchase process and should be handled by a trained professional. Also take into account that most mortgage companies rely on realtors to bring them the bulk of their business, therefore they are ill-equipped to provide educated FSBO financing. This is why its good to find a FSBO specialist mortgage company when dealing with someone who is selling their home themselves.

Another misconception deals with the fact that the buyer is saving money by dealing with an FSBO situation. The truth is that usually the seller is the one trying to save money on agent commissions. If they have subtracted the price of the agent from their asking price, it is possible to save some cash.But this is hardly ever the case. Most FSBO sellers are listing their homes at market value as if an agent was selling the home. Then they attempt to do everything themselves and pocket the cash that would normally go to the agent.

HomesByLender.com is the elite source for FSBO financing and homes for sale by owners. Utilize our nationwide search to locate FSBO homes in any state or town. HomesByLender.com is your one-stop FSBO information source.

FSBO Homes Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

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FSBO Homes Mt Pleasant, South Carolina




For More Info : FSBO Homes Mt Pleasant, South Carolina
Address :3497 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle Mt Pleasant, SC 29466


Original owners, located in the gated, country club, Dunes West community, 10 minutes from the beach, 20 minutes from downtown Charleston. Easy access to schools, shopping and community churches. Huge (1 acre)landscaped corner lot across from the 1st tee of golf course. Semi-circular and side access driveways. Large backyard enclosed by six foot wooden privacy fence. Free form gunite in-ground pool with raised spa. Complete irrigation system from deep well. Traditional red-brick home with many amenites, large den and master bedroom suite. Two and two half baths. Two heat pumps. Nine foot ceilings with extensive crown molding and chair rail in dining room and foyer. Propane gas log fireplace in den. Huge jacuzzi tub in master bath and jacuzzi tub in hall bath.



Buyer's agent will receive 2 1/2 percent commission.

Owners will always be available to show house at potential buyer's convenience.

Posted by Brian at 5:23 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Simple Solutions

Simple Solutions

Staging a relatively newer home can be trickier than staging a "lived-in" home because they often haven't seen a lick of paint since the builder applied that lovely shade of off-white.

The builder's grade paint is not washable and shows every speck or dirt and hand print. Leaving the walls looking dull and dirty. The problem is amplified by every room looking this way. Try telling the homeowner that they need to paint the house top to bottom and then pull it all together with staging. Most homeowners will become weak in the knees and turn progressive shades of white.

This is where you need to keep it simple. Minimize painting costs by using one main colour to cover the bulk of the home. At a minimum, focus on the master bedroom and dining room, choosing a different colour for each. If you can also include one child's room.

This dining room was painted a neutral colour and a simple table runner and candles added some personality. Cost $40 for paint and $20 for the accessories.

The master bedroom was anything but! The walls were painted a warm coffee colour, side-table accents and fluffy pillows completed the look for $100.

What kids would want to move into this room? A coat of paint cleaned up this room tied in with character bedding and a simple framed poster, revved up this room for $80.

When the entire home needs your home staging attention keep a simple approach with the homeowner. Break the project down into "stages" with fees assigned to each. Give the homeowner the option to just start with the painting and work from there. By giving them the reigns, they be less overwhelmed and more likely to hire you for the whole project!

This site is worth a visit... visit the site here

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The Importance Home Inspection...

The Importance Home Inspection

It is pretty safe to assume that a buyer who contracts to buy your house will want to have a professional whole house inspection conducted. Most sale contracts are written with a "contingent upon an acceptable whole house inspection" clause. So why not wait unitl you have a buyer who wants and will pay for an inspection?

While many sellers do wait for just this situation, there are a few compelling reasons for you, the seller, to invest in a professional whole house inspection before listing your house.

1) If you were planning to do any cosmetic repairs or remodeling before listing your house, an inspection may reveal additional defects that your cosmetic repairs could have masked.

A pre-listing inspection gives you the opportunity to fix possible underlying problems right the first time. This saves you the time, trouble, and money of fixing a seemingly small repair, then finding out there is a larger problem, forcing you to destroy your work, fix the underlying problem, and then do the cosmetic repair all over again.

2) You will know, in advance, of defects. You will have an opportunity to repair them before the first potential buyer ever sees your house. Experience has shown that when a buyer, through their own home inspection, finds a defect, they tend to look for more.

3) A completed whole house inspection signals to buyers that you are a conscientious seller. If a buyer is torn between two houses--your house and another that has not been pre-inspected--it is very possible they may feel more comfortable with yours.

4) It removes an "unknown" from your selling process. There are plenty of "unknowns" when you sell a house--when will it sell? How much will it sell for? Will the buyer's financing be approved? By discovering (and repairing) any defects up front, you remove at least one uncertainty from the selling process.

Finding a Whole House Inspector: If you are looking for a professional home inspector, Service Magic offers a locator service throughout the U.S. Simply fill out their easy form and they will contact you will the names of pre-screened Inspectors in your area. Click here.

What to look for in a professional inspector and inspection.

NOTE: Doing a pre-listing whole house inspection does not guarantee that a buyer will not opt to have another done at the time of the contract. Nor does it guarantee that the second inspector will not find items that first did not discover (or think important enough to note). What it does guarantee, though, is evidence that you have spent the time (and the money) to make sure that the house is without defect. In addition, if you get into a contract squabble over repairs at contract time, you will have evidence backing up your position.
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In home selling, stagers say looks are everything

In home selling, stagers say looks are everything
Local designers spruce up houses to help speed sales, increase value
BY TAMMY MCKILLIP
Correspondent

HOLMDEL - Ask any Realtor, and they'll probably tell you that selling a home in today's competitive market requires more than simple curb appeal. With the tremendous increase in available homes over the past three years, what was considered a "boom" seems to have gone bust, and together with all-time low interest rates, today's saturated market has put buyers in control at the negotiating table.

Where there's a need, the market develops a niche. Enter Staged Homes New Jersey, the Holmdel-based branch of a national home design phenomenon that specializes in creating a lasting first impression on home-browsers and buyers.

"The real estate industry today is tough," said Gail Meyer, of Holmdel, vice president and treasurer of Staged Homes New Jersey. "You need marketing tools to help you. We don't just put a vase of flowers on a table. We take a critical look at the house from the exterior, from curb appeal to the interior of the home. We focus on maximizing the highlights of the home."

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How to Sell Your Home For A Higher Price (After it already didn't sell...

How to Sell Your Home For A Higher Price (After it already didn't sell...

It can be accepted as a general truth that the main thing that keeps a home from selling is price. While many Listing Clients consider a minimum bottom line price for their home a MUST, let's take a look at all of the things that can be changed to make that happen.

Assuming that you absolutely CAN'T Lower your price, Here's What you MUST DO:

1) Do what has worked all along: Hire an agent who will market your property with the most market saturation. Make sure that they are going to hit all of the print marketing necessary to penetrate deep into the market and dig out the buyers.

2) Target 80% of the Market: Make sure that your agent also gets good marketing penetration online. The agent doing this should have several websites, a blog, the agent must monitor their website traffic, and be somehow accountable to you with regard to how many buyers are finding your property online.

3) Sweeten the pot: Discuss a commission structure that will get buyers agents thinking about nothing EXCEPT selling your home. Adding an extra percentage to the buyer's agent commission will have them staying awake at night thinking how they can sell your home.

4) Consider staging: staging your home may be a viable expense for you if you just haven't had the offer quality that you need. This is something to consider if you are getting tons of showings, but NO OFFERS.

5) Find a name you can trust: If top dollar is your goal, it is best not to risk shopping around for a cafeteria plan of real estate services, you need a full service broker, and you need them NOW! If a full service broker already let you down, it's time to start shopping the agents on their individual merits, but choosing a business model in this case that doesn't offer full service, just won't work out.

Posted by Rory on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 at 3:38 PM

Lynne...

Most North American Homes Going a Healthy Shade of Green

Most North American Homes Going a Healthy Shade of Green

06 March 2007 10:59

Growth of Icynene® Insulation Ten Times that of Insulation Industry

The robust demand for energy-efficient and healthy homes is reflected in a 70% increase in the number of green homes built in 2002, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

A recent survey by Greater Atlanta Home Builders’ Association also found that 80% of home buyers say that they would be willing to pay more for a green home that is energy resource efficient.

The expanding market for more energy-efficient and healthier building materials proves that going green makes economic sense for builders and trades with the benefits being measurable in greater profitability. One healthy building success story is Icynene, manufacturer of The Icynene Insulation System®, whose growth is far outpacing that of the insulation industry as a whole.

Healthy Insulation Market Expands

The Icynene Insulation System, a soft spray-in-place expanding foam insulation, is enjoying soaring success in the building industry due to its unique ability to seal homes, prevent air leakage and create healthier and more energy-efficient living environments.

In 2002, Icynene grew by more than 30%, compared to about 3% growth of the insulation industry as a whole (National Insulation Association). This continues the company’s strong growth over the last five years.

To meet increasing demand, Icynene has expanded production with the opening of a new factory in January 2003.

Growing interest in green building among homebuyers is also reflected in the desire of building product manufacturers to lessen their environmental impact. Icynene recently became ISO: 9002 registered, a key step towards achieving the increasingly sought-after ISO: 14000 certification for environmental management and sustainability.

As interest in green buildings rises, so has the importance of measurable industry standards such as the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. Icynene can help builders support key elements of the LEED rating system for green building, including energy performance, indoor air quality management and thermal comfort.

Green Goes Mainstream

The specification of building materials like Icynene for high-profile building initiatives also reflects a high level of interest among builders to meet consumer demands for healthier, more durable and environmentally friendly buildings.

The National Association of Home Builders selected Icynene as the official insulation of The New American Home®, its showcase project of the 2003 International Builder’s Show.

Numerous green building initiatives, such as the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s EarthCraft Homes, are using Icynene to demonstrate how builders benefit from marketing more energy-efficient and healthier construction practices.

The American Lung Association’s Health House project in Woodbury, Minnesota has selected Icynene as its insulation partner.

Icynene is one of the top 100 suppliers to the American housing industry, recognised by its membership of the National Council of the Housing Industry, the supplier group of the National Association of Home Builders.

New Solutions to Risky Mould Business

Icynene also reports that builders are using products, such as The Icynene Insulation System, that protect the integrity and durability of the building envelope to help reduce their exposure to legal liability and escalating liability premiums resulting from mold and moisture related building failure. In 2001 alone, mold settlements cost insurance underwriters more than $1.3 billion.

For example, by creating a continuous air barrier to stop air leakage, Icynene can help prevent the intrusion of airborne moisture that contributes to mold growth, building failure and an unhealthy indoor environment. Research in building envelope performance has found that 98% of moisture control (a leading cause of mold and poor indoor air quality) is achieved through air leakage control rather than vapour diffusion control (Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy).

Products that help minimize moisture and mold intrusion into the building envelope can help builders negotiate more favorable insurance terms by showing how they are reducing the risk of building failure and can help enhance a builder’s reputation and profits by creating happier homeowners.

Lynne...

Home Staging is Sweat Equity ON STERIODS!

Craig Schiller
January 10, 2007

Realtors, with the spring selling season just around the corner I think now is the time to FLEX YOUR MINDS to make a very GOOD point! While home staging does not raise the appraised value of a property, IT STILL CAN BE A VERY PROFITABLE VENTURE!

Here's why... As every realtor knows, a home that goes to market has a possible low/high list price point range. This low/high price is primarily based on location, condition, features, and finishes.

But you might not know is that if staging is done correctly, and at the right time, the asking price can be raised toward the high side of the range... considerably in some cases!

So, look at staging as "sweat equity on steroids!" And if you are able to convey that fact to sellers BEFORE it is listed (in fact that is a good way to explain to sellers staging is) then staging can bring HUGE returns to the seller... and a faster sale to you.

Our (Real Estaging's) best "sweat equity on steroids" success story was for couple who last spring ended up LISTING their home for $20,000 MORE from what the agent originally was going to list it for, HAD WE NOT STAGED IT!

YES, you can stage a house after it has been on the market... but timing matters. If everyone (seller, agent and stager) wins bigger from by staging prior to listing the property... then why not do it?

Realtor and seller both need to understand that staging BEFORE a property goes to market is key to tapping into the financial rewards possible from staging. That is why we at Real Estaging have coined a simple phrase... "stage it, list it, show it, sell it." THAT ORDER WORKS THE BEST!

So FLEX YOUR MINDS... and bring new sweaty and profitable ventures to your sellers.

Lynne...

Does this sound like your agent...

See Video Here

IF YOU HAVE TO USE A REALTOR, CONSIDER THIS...

3/6/07

Client Bill of Rights. Can Your Agent Match This? From The Real Estate Gadfly

"Gadfly," 1) a term for people who upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant. 2) any of various flies, like a horsefly, that bite or annoy livestock...

Recently JetBlue left customers on the runway for 10 hours. They felt bad so they came out with a Bill of Rights.

Then last week a Class Action lawsuit was brought against C0ldwell Banker (Read Washington Post Article) for violating RESPA laws by steering clients to a particular title company in exchange for money or shares.

I'm fed up with Realtors getting a bad wrap! I have written numerous blogs about how I hate ABAs and other shady real estate practices including MLS fudging (featured in Businessweek). I'm officially cutting out all remotely shady practices, will you join me?

Watch this blog via Youtube:

Google Your Dream Home...

Google Your Dream Home
Scott Goldstein
Trenton Bureau
3/2/2007

More than 500,000 property listings that currently reside on the Century 21, Coldwell Banker, and ERA brand Web sites will appear on Google and Trulia.com search engines making it easier for buyers to access, under a marketing agreement announced today by Parsippany-based Realogy (NYSE:H). Shares traded at $29.56, $0.05, this afternoon.

Realogy, a franchising network that serves estate brokerages and relocation and title services, said the more accessible online listings will help 320,000 real estate sales professionals who belong to its network. This serves as a milestone in our strategy to maximize the advantages of the Web for the benefit of our franchisees, our operating company and our customers," says Richard A. Smith, president of Realogy.

Joshua Tree prefab homes...

Pre Fab is hot and this is just one example of the options you have when considering a pre fab home...take a look...

Bright, open, eco-friendly and inviting. We likey.

The Desert House, designed by Marmol Radziner is a sustainable prefab prototype. Radziner offers both prefab model designs, and customization, on either your site or theirs.

Speaking of theirs, we think this is cool, too. Located near the main entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, Skyline Modern is offering two new Marmol Radziner Prefab homes for sale, only 2 hours drive from LA.

With expansive views and indoor/outdoor living space, these prefabs feature recycled steel frames, bamboo flooring, Bosch appliances and other green living amenities. Located near the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, this would make a perfect retreat. Find more info about this offer, @ visit the site here

Home-selling slump nears 17th down month

Home-selling slump nears 17th down month

Quite a week with updates from four leading measures of regional home prices! The latest data, the freshest reading of the bunch comes from DataQuick. The median selling price for all kinds of residences remains just above year-ago levels -- and 5 percent below June's peak of $642,500.

Activity remains sluggish.This will likely be the 17th straight month that shoppers bought less homes than the year-ago period. The last such streak longer than a year ran 15 months and ended in Dec. 1995. If the current pace of decline holds, last month will have been the slowest-selling February since 1995.

Posted by Jon Lansner at March 2, 2007 05:54 AM
Read the article here

Marketing your home...

When selling your own house, as opposed to using a realtor, you are responsible for the work entailed with the home sale. This includes pricing the home and advertising the home. If you have never sold a home before, you might have difficulty with the steps involved. Many home sellers find that marketing their home is one of the hardest parts about selling their own home.

If you want people to make offers on the home you have for sale, you must first let them know that you have real estate in Alabama for sale. There are several ways you can do this. The most traditional way is to put a sign in your yard stating the home is for sale.

You can take it a step further and also place signs around the neighborhood. The drawback to this method is that it does not reach a lot of people. The only people who will be exposed to this method of advertising are those that drive through your neighborhood. Even if you live in a high traffic area, this won’t amount to a large number of people.

Another option you have for marketing your home for sale by owner is by placing an advertisement in the newspaper. By placing an ad in the newspaper, you are increasing exposure. This method alerts more people that your home is for sale. The best day to run your ad is on Sunday. While Sunday ads cost more, more people purchase Sunday papers than any other day.

A final method you can use for marketing the home you have for sale is through use of a for sale by owner website. A website of this kind allows you to list your home similar to the way you would list it in a newspaper. This method is perhaps the most effective because it reaches a larger number of prospective homebuyers both in and out of your state.

Have a great weekend,
Lynne

Why FSBO instead of a real estate agent ?

March 01, 2007
Why FSBO instead of a real estate agent ?

FSBO v Real Estate Agent

There are almost 2 million real estate agents in the United States, that is almost 1% of the population chasing a limited number of real estate deals and why not ?

With commissions of up to 7% on offer on a typically priced $250,000 property that's a huge $17,500 chunk of cash going begging. Fact is that there are not enough deals going around these days to sustain so many agents, and many of those agents are simply in the industry because on a handful of deals a year they make their living but in truth they are not actually adding real value to your real estate deal.

Increasingly there are services being offered to assist FSBO (For Sale By Owner) and intermediate support services that do not conform to the traditional commission and we will list you model marketed by real estate agents.

IHS Realty is at the forefront of tried and tested, value for money real estate marketing services that deliver real results with real savings for our clients - just look at some of the testimonials we have from very satisfied clients who have saved thousands of dollars in real estate commissions.

IHS Realty and support services for FSBO's

Just a quick reminder...

The Real Estate Bubble...

You can Read the article here

Scammers Target Homeowners

Scammers Target Homeowners
As Foreclosures Increase

By Lingling Wei
From The Wall Street Journal Online

As the number of foreclosures rises, homeowners unable to make their mortgage payments are facing another growing threat: "foreclosure rescue" scams.

State and federal authorities say they are investigating an increasing number of homeowner complaints about fraud and deception by companies that engage in lending to financially distressed borrowers seeking to avoid foreclosure. Several states have recently passed or are contemplating new laws to provide more protection against dishonest businesses trying to take advantage of already vulnerable homeowners. Read the article here

Have a great day!
Lynne