 |
Real Estate Sales Tips for Winter 2008:
Author: Jeff Hammerberg  | Posted: 02-01-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 9 | Rating: (51)  (?) 
Although winter is notoriously sluggish in terms of real estate shopping, the downtime provides a golden opportunity for homeowners to enhance their property’s marketability. Here are five simple ways to pump-up your listing, even during the winter lull:
• Calculate your estimated heating costs going forward for the rest of the winter.
Heat rises, and so does the cost to keep a house warm while energy prices escalate. So you may want to offer a discount to your potential buyers in exchange for a prompt sale. For example, one owner of a large antique house faced combined utility bills of $900 a month for the upcoming four months, for a total of $3,600. He advertised that he would contribute $2,000 in closing costs to a buyer, and one jumped at the chance. He closed within 30 days, saving himself more than $2,500.
• Provide a Home Warranty
Especially if you are selling an older home, consider buying home warranty insurance and giving it to your buyer. A home warranty policy offers coverage for repair or replacement of items such as appliances, heating and air conditioning units, electrical systems, and clogged plumbing.
The cost of the policies varies, but most average between $250-$500. But the reassurance they provide to a homebuyer usually far outweighs the expense of paying for the policy, so a home warranty can sometimes give you a competitive edge as a seller.
• Host a Broker’s Open House
While public open houses are common – and we see lots of balloons tied to listing signs during spring and summer months – the broker’s open house is a more specific marketing tool. And Realtors generally agree that a broker’s open house is much more effective in terms of generating a sale.
Rather than invite buyers, you invite only Realtors, so for every person who attends you generate many potential contacts with qualified buyers who are looking for a home. Realtors visit your home, tour it, pick up information sheets on the property, and keep it in mind for possible showings to their own clients.
To host a broker’s open house, contact local real estate brokers and invite them to attend. Schedule the event for a weekday, because weekends are busy for Realtors and they will have more time to attend during normal working hours. A good idea for a broker’s open house is to host it on a Monday or Tuesday from 12 to 2 p.m., and offer a simple lunch of deli sandwiches, coffee, and soda. Because winter months are slower for Realtors – and because the entire event is hosted indoors – winter is a great time for a broker’s open house.
• Enlist the Expertise of a Reputable Mortgage Lender
One of the biggest obstacles to a successful sale is financing, and this has never been truer than it is now, during the subprime mortgage mess. To help potential buyers who visit your home come up with a mortgage, enlist the help of a local lender. Many mortgage loan officers will appreciate the opportunity to work with your potential buyers, because it gives them a chance to generate fresh leads for possible loans.
Visit your lenders, talk to them about ways they might be able to provide mortgage information to your buyers, and then provide their contact info to buyers. If you hold an open house event, have the mortgage professional set up a table in your living room and advise visitors regarding various types of mortgages and current interest rates.
• Clean out the Clutter and Make Minor Repairs
Concentrate on clearing out closets, the garage, and the attic. Remove any unnecessary personal belonging and furniture. Emptying closets and rooms makes them look bigger, and buyers will feel like they are getting more space for their money.
There is no need to go into debt over minor repairs, but a strategic approach to fixing up your house can pay for itself in a faster sale at a better price. For example, if your doorbell does not work and there are cracks in your windowpanes or rips in your screens, buyers will notice and deduct points. Maybe the bathroom needs a coat of cosmetic paint, the kitchen faucet leaks, or the gutters need to be cleaned. You may be accustomed to these minor inconveniences, because as we live in a home we adapt to its quirks. But to a skeptical buyer they stand out as evidence that the rest of the property is not well maintained and may have major hidden problems.
Use the winter months to spruce-up your home and enjoy the pride of having a home that shows well and looks its best. Buyers and Realtors will notice and appreciate the effort, and attention to small details is often the difference between a languishing listing and a closed transaction.
To find mortgage and real estate professionals committed to exceptional service to the GLBT community, check out www.GayRealEstate.com and www.GayMortgageLoans.com. Or call their toll Free phone number 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/real-estate-sales-tips-for-winter-2008-295213.html
 About the Author:Commitment, passion and dedication to changing what you perceive as a social injustice and prejudice was the drive that encouraged Jeff Hammerberg to create a monumental service to the American LGBT community, one that he had envisaged for a quarter of a century. 2004 was a significant year in realizing his dream, as Jeff Hammerberg, founder of the largest LGBT real estate marketplace in the world, reaped the rewards of his vision that had been nurtured for 25 years.
During the 1990s, Jeff Hammerberg worked in residential real estate, and observed first hand the "quiet homophobia" that pervaded the industry and silently but effectively hampered the lives of LGBT consumers nationwide by placing barriers between them and home ownership. By 1997, with little more than foresight, a strategy, and zealous fortitude, Hammerberg broke away from the traditional real estate community to create the first virtual real estate marketplace for LGBT clients.
Beginning with homelounge.com, an Internet company dedicated to assisting home buyers and sellers in the USA, Hammerberg gradually added services and sites, while adhering to a strict personal commitment to donate proceeds from his businesses directly into the LGBT community.
By 2004, he had created www.lesbianhomes.com, www.gayrealestateplanet.com, and www.gaymortgageloans.com, which are all ground-breaking companies in terms of concept and adherence.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Clairemont, San Diego, Real Estate Market Trends, Single-family Homes, Mid Year Analysis, 2006
By: Real Estate Advisor | 23/08/2006 | Real Estate
Is That Home Overpriced? Don't Pass it by
By: Matt Barker | 30/09/2008 | Real Estate
College Grove, San Diego, Real Estate Market Trends, Single-family Homes, Mid Year Analysis, 2006
By: Real Estate Advisor | 23/08/2006 | Real Estate
Alpine, San Diego, Real Estate Market Trends and Community Information, August 2006
By: Real Estate Advisor | 23/08/2006 | Real Estate
Bonita, San Diego, Real Estate Market Trends and Community Information, August 2006
By: Real Estate Advisor | 23/08/2006 | Real Estate
Tips for Buyers: How to Tour a Home Like a Professional
By: Jeff Hammerberg | 31/10/2007 | Real Estate
Carlsbad, San Diego, Real Estate Market Trends and Community Information, August 2006
By: Real Estate Advisor | 24/08/2006 | Real Estate
Plain Talk About Fancy Mortgages: Stick With the Old-fashioned 30-year Fixed
By: Jeff Hammerberg | 01/02/2008 | Real Estate
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What bldg is this?
By: Veena Agrawal | 22-09-2008
205 East 40th street
Is trachealth real or a fake?I ordered stuff from ...
By: tata | 22-09-2008
is trachealth real or a fake?I ordered stuff from them online over a week ago i got emails confirming this,but nothing about the expected date of delivering the products.My sevral emails to them enquiring about this have yielded no resuls,and theyv since debited my account I dont know what to do pls does any1 know if this trachealth is real and the products i ordered through them known as embrace?Thank You.
Who is the mangement company for 150-74th street ...
By: taz831 | 21-09-2008
who is the mangement company for 150-74th street brooklyn, ny 11209
Where will I get complete list of Real Estate ...
By: nelson | 18-09-2008
Where will I get complete list of Real Estate companies list?
Are there any time constraints that a builder is ...
By: Lisa | 17-09-2008
Are there any time constraints that a builder is subjected to when building a condo in Texas? If a builder takes over 4 years to complete a condo, can the potential buyer withdraw from the contract?
How to sell a $225,000 home in Florida in this market
By: Ron | 17-09-2008
I have a $225,000 home in Kissimmee Florida that I want to sell. The renters will be out in a month.
What is the best way to sell it in this market?
Ron
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Real Estate Articles
A Checklist For Acquiring A Waterfront Property
By: Martin Webbster | 15/10/2008
The real estate industry has been a profitable industry and much so these days. The market is experiencing a boom today and many investors have therefore been on the search for a lucrative sector of the industry to invest in. Many homeowners especially the smart ones are now diversifying their...
Important Things You Should Know Before Buying Rural Real Estate
By: Martin Webbster | 15/10/2008
Rural real estate holds a lot of attractions for the investor. Interest in this type of property has risen of late and many buyers have now become eager to get apiece of once disregarded area.
This surge in interest has introduced a lot of dynamics into the countryside property market. Many...
Why is Cyprus Such a Great Investment Opportunity?
By: Hannah Walker | 15/10/2008
The wheels of reconciliation have been set in motion as determined peace talks begun at the beginning of September '08 to once more attempt a reunification between the north and south of Cyprus. Since the Turkish invasion in 1974, Cyprus has remained divided and dominated by hostility. Now, despite the...
Cyprus: A Backdrop to Your Investment
By: Hannah Walker | 15/10/2008
With the recent peace talks underway and reunification on the horizon, even more people will be encouraged to invest in Cyprus, the largest island in the Mediterranean, situated south of Turkey and East of Greece. The Cyprian economy is set to soar after peace is made between the northern Turkish...
Lease Commercial Property London
By: Matt Grimes | 15/10/2008
Leasing commercial property in London is a whole different ball game from leasing commercial property in other areas of the United Kingdom.
Why Buying Smaller is Better
By: Keith Cook | 15/10/2008
However, the fact remains that many of these foreclosures come from people taking out huge adjustable mortgages on huge homes with an inadequate income to deal with the interest. Once the interest rates changed, those people could not hope to afford the payments. It could all have been avoided with the purchase of a more modest home and a fixed-rate mortgage.
A New Home Gives Space to Blending Families
By: Keith Cook | 15/10/2008
For children, home is a symbol for survival and nurturing. Their roots are there, their friends are there, and their favorite play spots are there. Moving can be a very emotional experience for children as they must say goodbye to the base that they've had all their life.
Omaha, Nebraska Flat Fee MLS
By: Donald Plunkett | 15/10/2008
You have a million different choices when it comes to listing your home in Omaha. There are big name and boutique brokerages of all shapes and sizes: CBSHOME Real Estate, NP Dodge, Coldwell Banker, Remax, Prudential, Deeb Realty, Century 21, and many others. Some have just a few...
|
|
Finance 
