Ruthman Real Estate

You must have seen the television commercials out there: homebuyers are sitting on the fence waiting to buy a house, or kicking themselves in the butt because they missed an opportunity to purchase a home....but what is important to you.

What is important to you? What would get you to move in today's housing market? Take the survey .

It has been said a million times, print advertising does not sell homes.

Say it with me again, print advertising does not sell homes.

That's right! Print advertising does not sell homes.

Home Buyers Are Online. (Print advertising is usually marketed online, as well).

Big Real Estate Company versus Small Real Estate Company

Sellers will not necessarily net more in this market if Seller pays more, and Sellers do not necessarily need a bigger company to sell in this market.

Consumers should know the power of the Internet Data Exchange. IDX. The sharing of Multiple Listing Service that allows all brokers to share the same properties on their iindividual company websites.

Frustrated sellers have a need for marketing exposure, and at the same time feel that the real estate company they use is giving them maximum marketing, and value.

So consumers should know that it is not the size of a company that will sell your house. Every single real estate company(big and small), and every single agent of all those companies can sell your property to their customers .

When a seller signs a real estate listing contract, whether with a discount company, MLS Flat Fee company or Traditional higher priced commission company, the property is marketed not only on the MLS, it is autoplated to Realtor.com and on other high traffic real estate websites.

The top ten real estate websites are here:

http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/top-10-real-estate-websites-august-2008-5966/

If any MLS IDX participating real estate company "excludes" properties from appearing on their website, then that is in violation of the anti-trust act. (Not smart, not good).

In other words, a traditional real estate company can not exclude the listings of a discount broker.

Here is an example of a property for sale:

10 Brae Loch, Shelton, CT using smaller real estate company paying less commission, but getting the same internet exposure as the Known-name companies, and high traffic websites.


Here are examples of where you can find your home for sale on big company websites:

Raveis:

http://www.raveis.com/propdetail.asp?STATE=CT&PG=1&LASTPG=5&TOTAL=21&FROM=propfind&KEY=2625118&FSTKEY=2625118&LASTKEY=2625118&sortdir=ASC


Coldwell Banker:

http://coldwellbankerresidentialbrokerage.96001401.900602.idx.coldwellbanker.com/propertysearch/propertydetail.aspx?LID=10964642

Zip Realty:

http://www.ziprealty.com/buy_a_home/logged_in/search/home_detail.jsp?property_type=SFR&source=CTF_HF&cKey=6x2flwrq&page=1&listing_num=98404976&mls=mls_hartford

Remax:

http://cedarland.connecticut.remax.com/listings/listingdetail_r4.aspx?LID=65177972

Print ads are not the way. realestatebook.com web hits doesn't even compare to craigslist.org for hits. Marketing on craigslist is free.

Bottom line:

Seller's homes are marketed by all those "big companies" even if the Seller uses a discount broker, or a MLS Flat Fee Company.

Sellers should never count out the the smaller company for quality service and value. A boutique (small) company can "sell" your property just as efficiently and effectively because of Internet data exchange marketing.

Recently while looking for properties for a first time homebuyer,

I came across a photograph of a lovely older home. As I added the charming home to my list for showing, a certain thing caught my eye: "Plastic film on the windows".

Buyers have concerns about fuel costs, and homes being efficient. The plastic film may save (somewhat) on fuel costs, but detracts from its attractiveness for a better sale price for the seller.

To me, it states: need to replace windows.

What do you think???

Like many good Americans, I voted today.

I stood in line for only a few minutes, and was quite pleased when I was finally handed my red folder with a single piece of paper inside.

A gentleman pointed me in the direction of a free privacy cubicle. I walked over to it, and just as I was opening the red folder I was handed, a woman in the cubicle next to me, "pssst'ed me".

I was a little shocked. I felt like I wasn't supposed to be talking to anyone.

The woman, who was about my age, (ok...maybe a little younger), was staring at the interior of her cubicle. She said, "I don't know what to do".

For a split second, I thought she was trying to bait me into telling her who to vote for!

Not knowing all the rules of voting protocol, I was afraid someone might perceive this as "cheating", and then they would rip up my paper ballot and throw me out the door!

She continued, "how do you turn this computer on?"

Wondering what she meant, I glanced down at the empty privacy desk, "was I missing something??"

I looked over at her again, hoping I was not going to get kicked out, and admitted to her, "I am not quite sure what you mean".

I opened the folder, and without reading the black and white instructions, quickly comprehended that voters just filled in the ovals of the person they were voting for. So, nicely I said, "just fill in the ovals with the pen."

The lady still confused continued, "But how does this computer read my ballot? Do I have to place it face down after I fill it out?"

Again, a quick glance at my little privacy desk. (What the hell is she talking about??)

My eyes made a quick sweep of the room. I surveyed what the next step was. "You take it over to those machines (and I pointed across the room), and insert your ballot."

She looked across the gym floor at the fastfood garbage can-sized machine that voters were feeding.

She was absolutely delighted, and a little embarassed.

I am not sure if she thanked me, I was too busy trying to keep my head down just in case we got caught talking!

Click on the Logo for Connecticut's Best Real Estate Rebates

Check out this great hiking site Berkshire Hiking for more information on the area trails.

Berkshirehiking.com

The Redding area is so alive with colors that driving from property to property is a wonder to behold!

The blue of the water reflected brilliantly.

A crooked picture taken while driving on the crooked road that bends around the reservoir.