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Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker

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Marketing Tips to Sell Your Home

04-03-08
Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker
Marketing Tips: How to Sell Your Home

If you want potential home buyers to fall in love with your house, they first have to know it's for sale.  This is where a strong marketing plan comes into play, which not only publicizes your property but gives people a preview of your home before they get there.  Get your marketing plan together before you list your house, and if you list with an agent, be sure to get a detailed marketing plan in advance, before you sign on the dotted line, so you will know exactly what to expect.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Regardless of whether your home is to be featured online, in a REALTOR'S® publication or paid advertisement, quality photos are a must.  You must capture your home's best qualities in each image.  Take a photo of the front and back of the home, along with interior photos of every room.  Try various angles and lighting situations, which gives you the opportunity to choose the best shots.  

When photographing any part of your home, make sure that it's spotless.  In addition, home buyers, especially those with children or pets, love to see photos of the yard.  If your house has a great yard, a lovely covered porch, or outdoor living area, be sure  to showcase it in photos.  If you live in a condominium or townhouse, emphasize nearby activities that offer family fun.  This may include a swimming pool, recreation center, tennis court, etc. Take photos of these amenities. 

If a buyer likes the photos, their next step will be to schedule a tour of the home.  Hence, the right photos are invaluable when selling real estate.  I use photos of my listings to create beautiful virtual tours that really capture the best of a home.  Ask your agent about creating a tour of your home.

Sign Here

This may seem like a given, but believe it or not, one of the best marketing strategies is absolutely free.  By placing a sign in your yard, you will let anyone driving by know that your home is for sale.  Even if you live in an area that does not get a lot of traffic, a passerby may notice the sign and tell someone they know who is in the market for a new home.  Your REALTOR® will likely provide you with a sign, which should be placed in a visible area of your lawn.  You can also place a sign in your window or on your front door.  Be sure to check with your local community association, if applicable, regarding placement and permission for this type of sign.  Be sure to attach a flyer box and keep it filled!
Paid Advertisements

Many REALTORS® advertise their listings in local real estate publications, online real estate sites, their business Web site and even the occasional ad in the newspaper.  Keep in mind, over 70% of buyers first find their home on the internet!

If you decide to advertise yourself, try some free online advertising, such as craigslist. And check with your local newspaper to find out about their online classifieds.  Two of my favorite sites are Realtor.com and Trulia.  Ask your agent about featuring your home on these top two sites.  Also, people looking to move into your area will likely be browse the newspaper for real estate ads.  Keep in mind that it's not just newcomers who may be looking to buy a new home. 

Hold an Open House

If you want potential buyers to fall in love with your home, invite them in to see what it has to offer.  An open house allows for anyone to simply drop in, with or without an appointment, to tour the home.  In some cases, a successful open house may result in an offer or possibly multiple offers that same day.  You can advertise an open house with signs in your yard, balloons and  directional signs at major intersections. You can even post a notice on local bulletin boards and by utilizing free or paid ads online and/or in your local newspaper.  Let your neighbors know you are scheduling an open house. They may have friends or family members looking to buy in your neighborhood.  And have your guests sign-in.  You will have a list of potential buyers to keep in touch with should you decide to reduce to price or add some type of incentive.    

In most cases, your REALTOR® will schedule the open house and will help answer questions from potential buyers.  If you are still living in the home, the date and time should be convenient for you, but also a day that would be convenient for others.  For most, the weekend is a good time, especially Sunday afternoons.

For the best approach at a successful marketing strategy, confer with your REALTOR®.  Successful agents know their markets and what will likely be the best approach to selling your home.  Don't be afraid, though, to offer your input and ask questions as you develop your marketing plan.  


I'm in Your Neighborhood

To sign up for my newsletter or keep up with what's selling in your neighborhood, visit my website at jolynnashome.com

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Top 3 Reasons to Leave Feedback

04-02-08
Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker
The Importance of Leaving Feedback

  1. It's just good manners. When we're showing property to buyers, it would do us all good to remember we are not merely showing property, we're showing someone's home. Chances are, the owners of tha thome spent a lot of time getting it ready and they've accommodated your schedule and welcomed you in. At the end of the day, they really want to know how it went. Did the buyers like the home? Did they have any comments that would help with future showings? These are questions that honestly deserve answers. If it was your home, wouldn't you want to know?
  1. It demonstrates professionalism. So many agents are diffcult to reach for feedback and don't return emails and voicemails. So if you are one that does, you will elevate yourself in the eyes of your peers and position yourself as a professional in your community.
  1. It Creates Good Will. We all know how it feels when we try and try and try to get feedback from showings on behalf of our sellers and how discouraging it is to have to go back to those sellers and admit we couldn't get the information. But on the other hand, we also know how nice it is to receive feedback from our showings in a timely manner. We remember those agents and we're appreciative of their efforts. And we want to do business with them. We all have to work together in this business, and it pays to remember that.

I'm in Your Neighborhood
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Understanding Listing Agreements

04-01-08
Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker
Choosing the Right Listing Agreement

When listing your home with a REALTOR®, you will be required to sign an agreement.  This document will outline all of the agreed upon terms, including the asking price of the property, the REALTOR'S® commission, length of the agreement, cancellation policy (if any) and other details that will govern how the listing is handled.  As a homeowner, it's important to choose the right listing agreement to fit your needs.

Evaluate Your Options

When you decide to sell your home, talk with several different REALTORS®.  Speak with them over the phone, meet with them in person, ask for references or do anything that you can to get a feel for how they do business.  In real estate, punctuality is a must.  The REALTOR® that you choose should return your calls, answer your questions and should provide a listing agreement that coincides with any verbal agreements that you may have had regarding the listing.  For instance, if you tell your REALTOR® that you only want to list your property for six months, make sure the listing agreement reflects six months and not one year or longer.  In addition, make sure that your asking price is the same in the agreement as you agreed upon in earlier discussions.

Exclusive Right-To-Sell Real Estate Agreement

This contract is the most common in the real estate industry.  With this agreement, the REALTOR® will earn a commission regardless of whether they sell the house or you sell the house yourself.  Always make sure you understand what you are signing.  

Open Real Estate Listing Agreement

This type of contract allows a homeowner to list with more than one REALTOR® in a non-exclusive manner.  The agent responsible for presenting a buyer who purchases the property will receive the commission, which means REALTORS® will compete to see who can sell the house first.  If the owner eventually sells the home without the help of a REALTOR®, they are not required to pay anyone a commission.  An Open Listing Agreement is not common with REALTORS®, but it is one option to consider.

Exclusive Real Estate Agency Listing

This type of agreement requires that the homeowner list their property with only one real estate agency.  Unlike an Open Listing Agreement, where the homeowner can list their property with multiple REALTORS®, an Exclusive Agency Listing entails only one agency being granted permission to list the home.

Read The Fine Print

Before signing any type of contract, homeowners must read over every detail to ensure that it represents the full agreement between themselves and their REALTOR®.  Some things to consider include the length of the contract.  Some REALTORS® prefer to have a minimum of one year to list a property, but the homeowner will have the option to negotiate.  Some owners prefer a shorter term, such as one to six months.

Every real estate contract should outline a cancellation policy, which will provide details surrounding a release and/or fees and penalties.  Some agents will offer a cancellation policy that allows the homeowner to cancel the contract by providing a 30-day written notice at any time.

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Pricing Your Home to Sell

04-01-08
Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker
Pricing Your Home to Sell

In addition to location and condition, the asking price of a home is at the top of the list of important considerations. When a potential buyer is looking for a property, they want to get the best possible value for their dollar. This doesn't mean that a home should be priced too low, but it does mean that knowing how to price your home is a must. There is a lot of inventory on the market right now, so this is key to selling your home in a timely manner for the best price possible.

Know the Value

Regardless of whether you are in a buyer's market or seller's market, it's important for every seller to know the actual value of their home. You might consider an appraisal. With this information, you will be able to choose a listing price that does not exceed the home's value. At the same time, you will know how to react to various offers that a potential buyer may make. If you can select a price that is affordable to a range of buyers, you may receive multiple offers thereby sparking a possible competition among the interested parties.

Do Your Homework

The asking price that you choose should not be based on an appraisal alone, but rather a combination of factors. One such factor is that of recent selling prices for comparable homes in the area known as “comps.” Important comparisons include construction year, square footage, views (if applicable), interior upgrades and additional features that make the home unique. While you're doing research, check out current listings and the asking price for each home available in your area.

Set a Realistic Timetable

In researching the sale price for other comparable homes in the area, you should also note the length of time a particular house has been on the market. Some homes practically sell overnight, while others may remain on the market for months without being sold. If you want to sell your home quickly, you should consider this when setting a price. A bargain will obviously move quicker, but it's important to make enough from the sale to feel good about your choice. If you aren't in a hurry to close, talk with your realtor about a fair starting price that's at or near the appraised value of your home.

Ask Your REALTOR® for Advice

While you hold the key, so to speak, to your house's actual asking price, most sellers will ask their REALTOR® for their opinion. After all, real estate is their business and they will be working with you through every step of the process. If you choose a REALTOR® that you trust, give great consideration to the advice they offer.

If you'd like to keep up with what homes are selling for in your neighborhood, visit my website at www.jolynnashomes.com and sign up for a free monthly email update of recent sales where you live.

Jolynna McCune
I'm in Your Neighborhood


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Flowers, Vegetables, Herbs and More!

03-31-08
Jolynna McCune, Affiliate Broker
Plant Sale!
Spring is in the Air!  Ready to do a little planting?  Now's your chance to get started and help a good cause in the process at the 16th annual Fayette Cares plant sale!  

April 19, 9 til noon at First Citizents bank (In front of Kroger in Oakland)

Proceeds go to benefit Fayette Cares emergency food pantry! Volunteers are needed as well and you can sign up at www.fayettecares.org.    

Jolynna McCune
I'm in Your Neighborhood

you may sign up for my newsletter please visit www.jolynnashomes.com or email me at jolynnamccune@yahoo.com

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