Posts tagged: real estate

With the recent despair in the housing market, house values are dropping substantially throughout the US. Homeowners are researching ways to recoup some of their losses by selling their homes on their own.

Hiring a real estate agent to sell your home has always perplexed me. I have sold numerous homes over the years and the listing agent never actually sold my home. In one case I even sold my own home when someone knocked on my door after seeing my sign. I negotiated a price then and there and shook hands on it without the real estate agent. The sad part of the matter was that he made 6% on my home sale ($16,000) without doing anything. I remember asking him if he could give me a break in the commission price since I sold the home. In a rude manner he said that it was his sign in front of my house that sold the home, not me.

According to 2006 National Association of Realtor statistics, 13% of all homes were sold without a real estate agent. 90% of FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sellers end up going to realtors in the end. Be that as it may, I decided to check in to some of these websites and the options they offer.

I started my research by searching on Google. I found a list of National For Sale By Owner websites. Here is a quick overview of my search results.

1. HomesByOwner.com: You can list your home for free. You can upload 1 photo in the free section. If you would like to add more photos, it will cost you.

2. BuyOwner.com: They do not have a price listed on their website, they recommend that you call them. They offer great Virtual Tours. BuyOwner sends people out to your home to take these Virtual Images. I am not sure on the price, but I had a friend who used their service and spent $2,300. Contact BuyOwner.com for more details.

3. Owners.com: They provide a free listing service. They also offer a $377 MLS listing fee to add your property in to the Multiple Listing Service. If an agent shows up and sells your home, you would only pay the 3% to them as opposed to paying the full 6% if you hired a agent as I have in the past.

4. ForSaleOwnerHomes.com: They also offer a free listing service. These free websites like ForSaleOwnerhomes.com make their money through things like Google ads, that is why they can keep their listing services for free.

5. ForSaleByOwner.com: Fee for a listing is $89.95 a month or a flat fee of $199 to be listed until your property is sold.

There are more websites, but you get the general idea of what is out there. If you are planning on selling your home, I recommend you go through the same research I did and list on as many free websites as possible. If you hit it and sell your home, you will only have more money in your pocket in the end.

Social media has the potential to bring about dramatic improvements in your SEO efforts. However, it is important to understand how activities on social channels can have an impact on your ranking. Search engines use links shared on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. as ranking signal. One important thing to consider at this point is that social media is not a direct ranking factor.

Increasing number of people are carrying out more and more of their daily communication on the internet, particularly social media which is a great way of sharing and obtaining information. People love to consume interesting content on social media. If you create amazing content and share it on relevant social platforms, it is likely to get popular. As a result, your rankings will experience a boost. Following are 3 of the ways social media can help you with your SEO efforts:

1. Generate links

First of all, you must create and post shareable and engaging content on platforms relevant to your industry. The more share you generate on social media, the more likely that people will see your content and link to it. Few years ago, marketers took it as granted that Facebook shares were a great ranking signal and, therefore, they put considerable emphasis on generating more and more shares. It was not really the number of shares that search engines took as indirect ranking factor, but the links that Facebook shares can generate. Which means you need to focus on creating high-quality content and sharing it on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. to get links from other websites.

2. Build presence

In today’s competitive environment, it is crucial to not only produce great products but also market them in an effective manner. As a business manager, you must stay proactive and reach your audience wherever they are in the world. You can’t find a better place than Facebook where you can have the chance to connect with 2 billion active users. Build your audience through social media marketing and earn customers trust. Social media helps you promote your brand and get it in front of potential customers who wouldn’t have otherwise found you. Once you earn more share of clicks in Google from a rapidly growing audience, you will be ranked higher.

3. Make good use of YouTube

We know YouTube is the second most-searched search engine where people can find plenty of incredible content and solutions to their problems. If used properly, YouTube marketing can have a positive impact on your SEO performance. If you create enticing content to promote your brand, it can leads to more links, just like Facebook. Videos can rank organically in search. The best technique is to create how-to videos that can help your audience solve problems.

Google+ is also a very useful platform where posts are ranked almost instantly. People who are logged in to Google+ receive personalized Google results.

To make a real difference to your existing ranking in SERPs, you have to create a sound social media marketing strategy while focus on creating great content.

Investing in real estate is a very lucrative business. Analyzing the property market where you are going to invest your money is very important. Despite what many people believe, becoming a real estate investor can help you earn huge profits. As long as you go about the business the right way, you can reap huge rewards and achieve the goals that you have set for yourself.

However, as with every great business opportunities, there are some difficulties to overcome in order to be a successful investor.

Research is the most important thing when it comes to investing in real estate. Good research always plays a vital role in property investment. With the advent of technology today, it is not as time-consuming as it used to be. There are several websites available on the internet that helps a great deal in finding a suitable property, location as well as reasons to invest in it. Take your time to conduct the research and search for the best location. Check for the specifics of the region you are considering to invest in. Analyze the buyers, sellers, rental, and investor in the area. If need be, contact the property agents of that particular location through any means possible and send them quires to find out any question you have about buying, selling and renting of any property in that area. These things may give you enough knowledge about investing in real estate in that particular area. Ultimately, you will be able to get a full picture property business in that region.

Below are things you need to know about an area before considering investing in property in that region.
• Population,
• Tax and ownership law,
• Buyer and Sellers of that particular region,
• Temperature and Environment,
• Future projects and Developments,
• Rents of property,
• Management cost,
• Insurance policy,and
• Tourism Industry.

These are some basic things that must be considered before buying property in any region. These things may help to reduce your risk and give you handsome return on your investment. Aside from all of these, you may need to enlist the service of a professional property agent that has the full knowledge of that particular area. This might be necessary because when you are going to buy any property, there are some legal agreements and contracts that you may need to sign. To avoid running into crisis in the process, a professional help is a good option for you. In addition to helping you find a very profitable property, the professional real estate agent will also guide you in making the best choices that will be favorable for you. Also, whenever you want to sell or rent out your property, the help of a professional will ensure that you get a great return on your investment.

All in all, when you educate yourself about the latest market trends and learn various hints and tips on being a real estate investor, you are on your way to success. This will help you break through all the hurdles and ensure your survival in the competitive but lucrative real estate.

I was having lunch with a realtor friend of mine recently and I asked her how her business was going. We live in South Florida where everyone seems to have their real estate license and the real estate market has been in the tank for it seems forever. Plus, I knew that she worked for a small real estate firm. Her reply to me was “The internet is a great equalizer”. She told me that she is leveraging social media to connect with customers through a personal blog, Facebook and Twitter.

What was interesting to me is that she knows that the little agent on the corner is just as capable of selling your house as the large brokerage firm with the big name. She decided to create her own website where she would brand herself as a successful realtor in her niche market, which is waterfront property.

I could see she is completely correct on this approach. The future belongs to the little agent because in a bad economy they are particularly hungry to make commissions and will be more creative and innovative in order to survive. Certainly the large brokers can outspend them, but social media is free advertising especially once their website is created. Large brokers are like most large corporations – it takes a committee to decide anything and forever for an approval to launch a marketing campaign. In the meantime, these smaller real estate agents are finding ways to connect to their prospects and brand themselves as the expert for selling homes.

I read an NAR report that said 76% of people who decide to sell their home with the assistance of a real estate agent will interview only one agent for the job. So, how can you be the one agent that everyone is looking for? If you have succeeded at positioning yourself as the realtor of choice, you will be the person that they think of to call. By branding yourself correctly, you can create that perception that you are their only option – the only agent – that will sell their home.

What Consumers Want from a Real Estate Agent

Home buying decisions are no different than the sales process for other services that we buy from a professional. By that, I mean we want to work with someone that is trustworthy, honest, has a good reputation and that can deliver the sale. Buyers will also listen to recommendations from others on their experience with that person or company.

Today’s shoppers are much savvier due to the internet and they demand to work with someone at the top of their game. They do not really care about the name of the brokerage because they want a person to work with that will be enthusiastic, provide great service and be a resources for them, on top of finding them a home or selling one. People do not do business with a brand name, they do business with people.

As much as 80% of homebuyers use the internet to find both agents and homes. How are they going to find you if your only presence is on your brokerage site? The smart real estate agents have quickly figured out that if they brand their name and their expertise, this will help them be the realtor of choice and generate leads.

Steps to Create Your Brand as a Real Estate Agent

Step 1: Determine where your primary focus is i.e. retiree home sales, waterfront, commercial property, families and create your brand around that. As with any top salesperson, target marketing leads to greater results because you get quickly noted as the expert in that particular area.

Step 2: Create a slogan to go along with it that can be used on a website or promotional materials.

Step 3: Put into action a marketing plan to build this credibility that you are the best, regardless of market conditions.

Step 4: Branding is everything you stand for, meaning your promise to your customers.

Step 5: Match your image to your brand. If you are in the luxury market, then you must mirror that community.

Taking Your Brand Online

My friend had told me that the single most important thing that she had done was to get a website where she could write articles and provide information for her prospects and send to her mailing list. She wanted to be forefront in their minds that she is an expert and would be someone that they can highly recommend. By having a website it gave her friends a place to send any referral where she could be “checked out” before contacting her.

Her blog contains many resources other than the MLS property search for a visitor to her site. She has a mortgage calculator, home value estimator, school searcher and other tools all in one place. Additionally, she provides community information, success stories and generates a real connection with her brand. People can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter or provide their email address for her white paper on a latest home buying topic.

She has also added her personal website to her brokerage business card and added it to her email signature. My next article will discuss building your realtor blog in more depth by providing some creative ideas to drive people to your site. Facebook and Twitter are also important tools to be used, but her website is her home base where she wants to drive her customers to so that they can see that she is at the top of her game.

A perfect solution for you to begin this process is with a product called My Branding System. This is an easy step by step system that helps you build an attractive site to personally brand you. It comes with enhanced features for realtors, but also incorporates many features that other systems may not have.

Please contact me for further information on how we can create your brand as the best real estate agent in your area. Now that social media has become mainstream, it is very important for real estate agents to learn how to market themselves online, in addition to offline. Otherwise, their competition will take that position as the expert in their marketplace.

Since, for most of us, the value of our house, is our single – biggest, financial asset, wouldn’t it make sense, for potential home buyers, to enter – into this process, in a more – prepared, knowledgable manner, rather than resorting to permitting their emotions, to take – over, most of their process/ path – forward? After, over 15 years, as a Real Estate Licensed Salesperson, in the State of New York, I have come to, strongly, believe, there are, at least, 6 considerations, which must be, fully – examined, and considered, before moving forward. With, that in mind, this article will attempt to, briefly, consider, examine, review, and discuss, these, and why, they are important, and, truly, matter.

1. Price Range/ Affordability/ Credit: Before, starting this process, and, even, looking at/ viewing, even, one house, it is important, to objectively, and introspectively, perform a personal, check – up, from the neck – up, and determine, what price range, you can afford, and, whether, you have the credit, needed, to qualify, for appropriate, financing/ mortgage, paying the monthly installments, and feel comfortable, with that responsibility, on a regular basis. Remember, this is, in addition to, the down – payment, closing costs, etc, needed, up – front!

2. Personal/ family needs; present priorities and perceptions: What are your current, personal, and family needs, and why? What are your options, and which, is best for you, personally? What do you need, and, are you, ready, willing, and able to differentiate, between, your needs, and wish – list, etc?

3. Future situations, and circumstances: Are you looking, to buy, a home, for a long – period, or, merely, a shorter – term, so – called, starter – home? What do you, anticipate, your future needs, and circumstances, might be, and, will you, be prepared, accordingly?

4. Specific area: What attracts you, to a specific area, and why? How does it serve your interests, and benefit you, personally, both, in the immediate, as well as longer – run? Is it, the convenience, safety, schools, neighborhood, beauty of area, or, what? How much are these, worth, to you?

5. Schools/ education: In general, quality school systems, appeal, to prospective buyers, and, thus, keeps prices – up, and stronger, because, it adds, significantly, to the appeal, of the specific region, etc! However, with that, usually, comes higher taxes (because of school taxes, etc), so, how might you balance this, to your best interests?

6. Safety/ crime: There is little doubt, the perceived safety, of an area, is a significant factor, in terms of home values/ pricing! When, both, perceptions, and reality, show, lower – than – average, amounts of crime, the prices of houses, usually, benefit, and are higher – than – other areas!

Be as smart, a home buyer, as possible, and move forward, asking, all the questions, which matter, most, to you, before making any purchase decisions! Will you help yourself, when it comes to this?

“Buying a new home, especially if it’s your first home, is not an easy thing to do. There’s new terminology to learn, an entire process to follow and a large number of decisions to make. That’s why almost everyone who buys a home works with professionals in the field to make sure that they get a good deal on a good home without too much of a headache. The most important person in the team of professionals that you’ll want as a home buyer is your realtor. But how do you go about finding a good realtor?

Here are some of the top ways that successful home buyers find good realtors:

1) Word-of-mouth. Often, the best way to get a good realtor is to start asking everyone you know if they know of a good realtor. You’ve probably gotten other professional help this way (everyone’s always asking if you know of a good dentist, right?) Of course, you shouldn’t just jump into bed with the first realtor who gets referred to you – your Aunt Sally’s blind elderly neighbor that talks to his cat might come with her referral but he might not be able to meet your home buying needs. But good word-of-mouth referrals are a great starting point for finding a good realtor.

2) Look at the ads in real estate magazines. A picture is worth a thousand words right? If someone is invested enough to get a good professional picture and take the time to advertise in key locations, he probably cares a lot about his real estate business. And that means he’s got a good chance of being a dedicated realtor. It doesn’t hurt to search the ads to see who is out there and to make an appointment to meet with some people.

3) Make use of your search engine. You can do a whole lot of research into local realtors by typing your information request into your search engine. Review some realtor websites and look for positive reviews of realtors in your area to help you find a good realtor.

4) Put together a list of interview questions and don’t be afraid to interview a number of different realtors until you find the one that you want to work with. Yes, you might be seen as a pesky client but if a realtor wants your business, she’s going to work hard to get it which means she’ll fully answer the questions that you have. Things you’ll want to know include the length of time she’s been in business, how well she knows the area that you’re interested in buying a home in and what she’s going to do to help you understand the home buying process.

If you find a good realtor, the rest of the home buying process should go relatively smoothly. Yes, you’ll still have decisions to make but you’ll have a professional real estate agent there to help you with those decisions. And you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that the hard part is over. Well, at least until it’s time to start moving in!”

People rely more and more on the internet for shopping. It’s a fact that the percentage of people who have bought something on the internet is growing. Even those wary of the internet are beginning to test the waters.

But what is really amazing is that the internet is being used more and more for large and expensive items. Automobiles, large appliances and even airplanes are for sale in cyberspace.

So does it make sense that realtors can use the internet for their business? Of course it makes sense! It not only makes sense, it gives realtors a leading edge on the market.

Where My Thoughts Linger

People are using the internet to list their houses for sale. They are not professional realtors and don’t know how to maximize their selling price. And yet online real estate sales are successful. If in doubt, you can visit any online auction site and find thousands of listings by owner.

So if a private individual can successfully use the internet to sell a house, imagine the possibilities for selling real estate if you are a professional with an understanding of the market.

– Get potential leads on people planning to move to the area – those who thoughts are already on their new home

– Make your commercial listings known to potential investors around the world

– Create a unique real estate identity that people can trust

– Search engine optimize your website so you come out ahead of the pack on the browsers

– Take advantage of online marketing opportunities to get your listings noticed

– Become known as the local professional who has all the necessary information about the area

– Include stories and references that potential leads can use to verify honesty and integrity

When people are moving to a realtors area from a distance place, one of their major concerns is finding a real estate agent who is

1) knowledgeable,

2) interested in their goals and

3) will work to find the right properties.

Many wait until they actually move to even begin looking, renting in the meantime. If they could get the information they need before moving, a realtor could potentially ease their fears and show them housing long before the actual move.

This benefits the realtor and the buyers. Renting while looking for a house is disruptive to a family because it means moving twice. A realtor can carve out a niche in the online real estate market that will increase leads and sales.

Follow The Leader

The tools available for building a website expand all the time. A Realtor can use these tools to develop a website that enhances the professional reputation while building leads.

– Auto-responders make sure you don’t miss a potential customer by logging visits to the realtor’s website and responding to inquiries immediately

– Audio on the website can add a personal touch so that the customer feels as if they meet the realtor which raises trust level

– Online newsletters can advertise successful sales and offer useful information to potential buyers

– Pictures can present the properties in any detail desired – room by room if the realtor chooses

– Streaming video can offer tours of the homes and the surrounding area

– Online forms collect important information about the buyer and their housing requirements

A well-designed realtor website will generate targeted traffic. If you are not qualified to create the website you need, there are webmasters who can help you design a site that will build business.

Done correctly, the website will pre-sell many of the properties before you even talk to the potential buyers. Be a leader in the real estate cyber world and you will have plenty of followers called leads.

Catchy taglines are everywhere in advertising. Whether they rhyme, or they inspire, or they create a memorable image, taglines are something every advertising agency works hard to craft. How many of us know, “Like a good neighbor” or “Just do it”? While you might not create a slogan as memorable as those, you should be able to come up with something that your local clients will always think of. Need a little inspiration to get started? Here are some suggestions for slogans and ways to get the creativity rolling.

When you do come up with a slogan, you need to use it throughout your advertising and on your website. That way, people will be faced with the association frequently and they will be better able to keep your name and the slogan together.

Your slogan should be short and sweet. Try your best to keep it under eight words. Anything longer will just deter people instead of drawing them in. It should also make sense for the brand you are creating.

One thing you can do is come up with a rhyming slogan. Case in point – a Realtor named Scott Geller tagged “The Home Seller” after his name and because it rolls off the tongue so smoothly, it has become all one phrase. And, that makes it easy to advertise. His word of mouth campaign keeps his advertising costs low.

Your slogan should make a tug on the heartstrings, too. You are taking part in one of the most important events in a person’s life. By letting your customers know what you can do in terms of customer service, your slogan will help quickly convey what you can do. Consider something like, “Jane Smith – Helping Your Family Make the Right Move”.

Avoid any slogans that are bland or generic. They won’t work to set you apart from your competition, and they might even work against you. If your slogan is generic, your potential clients might think you are, too, and that you won’t be the best agent they can find. Think about something like, “I’ll take the stress out of your home buying experience”, or “Call the Carson City condo specialist”.

You can also consider your location for your slogan. When you add in your place, it not only helps make you the personal expert for someone, you also boost your search engine ranking.

Creating an image in your potential client’s mind is an effective slogan, too. Assuring your client you can solve the mystery of home buying or be their personal navigator makes that slogan unique and memorable at the same time.

If creativity is still escaping you, you can contract this process out and hire a professional. Some will even blend the slogan into your total advertising plan, and not charge you too much for it.

Now, if you come up with a slogan and you test it on your friends and family but you receive a negative reaction, be ready to set that slogan aside and pick something else. You should also not take it personally. Try out another one and keep going until you do find one that is well received.

Online and automated real estate lead generation services are provided by companies that do the bulk of your lead generation work for you. In return for payment, they provide you with targeted leads of prospective clients who are investigating the sale of their home, thinking about buying a home or actively searching for a real estate agent.

But who are these companies, how do they work, what information can you expect to derive from their services, and what do they charge? For a breakdown of some of the industry’s most popular real estate lead generation companies, keep reading.

Realty Generator

Realty Generator syncs your local MLS listings with your website, manages search engine advertising spending, offers cell phone alerts, and includes CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software.

House Values

House Values is a website that lets homeowners type in their zip code and real estate property info in exchange for a home evaluation, provided by you. In turn, they collect the visitor’s contact info and pass it on to you for a nominal fee.

House By Mouse

Through a variety of websites and MLS listings, House by Mouse collects visitor information and passes it on to you. You get email updates, including those local prospects’ contact info and, in turn, pay per lead generated. They charge about $12.95 per lead.

Realtor Exposure

Realtor Exposure works by providing you with a personal website that is designed to capture leads from buyers and sellers who are searching for home information in your area. Those leads are delivered to your cell phone or email. They also guarantee that your site will appear on the first page of search engine results, but this isn’t confirmed.

1to1Red

1to1Red allows you to set your monthly budget and then creates a personalized lead generation program based on that budget. They can manage advertising, online campaigns and pass on potential leads right to your inbox. Their focus is on quality leads and providing you with all the tracking information you need to stay on top of your marketing.

For an average of 5-15 quality leads per month with 1to1Red.com, you can expect to pay approximately $500.

HomeGain

HomeGain’s biggest selling feature is that you only pay a referral fee if you close a deal. They offer customized coverage areas for a low monthly subscription rate and, in turn, provide you with the contact information of web searchers looking for a home evaluation or realtor.

To take a business on top, it is important to have a clean and professional website. To succeed on an online platform, every company should have a website. People have become active on the internet and spend most of their time on computers and mobile. With an effective website development, it becomes easy to catch the potential customer and drive a heavy traffic to the website. A website shows the nature of your business along with the services offered by any company. With the help of a site, it becomes easy for the customers to understand a business. For a fruitful online presence and website design, a business can get the services of website development companies to create a professional and attractive site.

What types of services are offered for a web design?

• Latest customized website designs are offered

Many companies offer the latest site designs to boost a business. Stunning website designs have been created for the clients to make it more attractive. Design, content, images and graphics, everything is a job for web developers. Customized designs have been created with additional features according to the needs of the clients.

• SEO friendly websites

For the purpose of internet marketing, it has become a trend to develop SEO friendly designs. The designs have been created with added features of SEO and compatible with other browsers.

• Can create a new design for your old website

If you want something new for your site, it is the perfect time to change the old design and try new and customised designs for your site. The services have been offered according to the recent technology standards.

• Websites for different businesses

They are designed according to the nature of the business. Mobile friendly websites have been created for E-commerce businesses. Website development companies offer reliable and solutions for the different demands of the customers.

• Hosting services for a website

Many companies provide hosting services to manage the website on a single server by the third party. These services are provided to keep the website updated and visible for the customers. Appropriate plans have been offered for website hosting services.

• Website maintenance services

Apart from the website creation, maintenance services are provided on the website. The web design companies keep updating new features on the website to make it visible. Support and guidance have been provided to manage the website by the business owners. All the website related issues are handled by the professionals.

There are a lot of services offered by a web designing company. To get the first class services for website, you can contact popular web designing companies and hire them for updating or creating a new website with fresh content and graphics. A website gives strength to business and a chance to connect with the customers through an online platform. These companies provide services at very affordable prices. The website’s designs are created by the professionals having creative ideas and technical skills in developing a user-friendly website. Hire a professional company today for website development.