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More and more individuals especially those who are planning to find their homes are now starting to recognize the pleasing qualities of Long Beach both as a business and pleasure haven. This interesting city seems to be the perfect example of a place where bikinis and business suits combine harmoniously as elegant buildings where businesses and trade is a common scenario stands mightily next to the Pacific Ocean. This pleasing mystery is one of the driving factors that drive many home seekers to delve into Long Beach homes for sale and Long Beach real estate listings.

Indeed, investing in Long Beach houses for sale is a worthy undertaking – whether you plan to live in it for a long time or rent it out for holiday takers. There is a lot of things to like about owning homes in this pleasant community.

1. Convenient Transportation Means

5 ½ miles of mesmerizing coastline with an airport serving national flights easily accessed by a light rail system known as the Blue Line MetroRail taking commuters to Staples Center and downtown Los Angeles and from there be able to connect to Pasadena and Hollywood are just few out of the many reasons that attracts not only tourists but also aspiring residents to invest in Long Beach real estate.

There are also plenty of buses that can take individuals to any place downtown and nearby places like the Ocean Boulevard wherein neatly painted and prearranged residences and commercial establishments constructed many decades ago are located.

This means that even if you do not have your own car, you can easily report to your work and go back home without much difficulty since transportation methods are offered in variation.

2. Diverse and Pleasing Recreational Attractions

Just like the old adage goes, „All work and no play make Jack a dull boy“. Well, this would not happen if you are living here. It is definitely one of the most wonderful cities in the nation wherein there is more than just beach to enjoy. Going downtown you will gain pleasure from the plenty of trendy shops, dining places and other attractions that offer fun and entertainment for individuals of all ages.

Shoreline Village offers great shops and dining locations wherein you can see the splendid skyline. The 5th largest city of California is also home to many nice parks, and other recreational areas wherein golf, skateboarding and lawn bowling are just few out of the numerous sports activities that you can engage in during your free hours.

3. Charming Beaches

As you browse around Long Beach MLS for sure you would come across with descriptions that define the beaches in this part of California. The beautiful city offers some sandy beaches and equally charming coastline close to the downtown area. There are also choices of beaches near Naples and Long Beach Peninsula wherein you can just sit and frolic on the sand with your kids as a breather from a busy week at work. For those who love quiet times, you can just sit there with your loved one as you watch the skyline and the sun for a romantic but serene quality time.

4. But more than anything else, the booming and continually sprouting economy of the place is the top reason why many are rushing to invest in homes for sale in this part of California.

It is then pretty easy to understand why investing in Long Beach homes for sale can benefit you financially if you choose to rent it out. At the same time, it can also provide you much pleasure in terms of experience if you decide to exclusively use it with your family.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Location Matters

There is no question condos for sale downtown are in the prime location where everyone wants to be. Anyone involved with real estate will tell you location means everything. It can give the buyer the mindset of a prestigious condo. They are going to be proud to call this area home.

From a seller’s point of view, there is a perceived value that condos for sale downtown are going to bring in more money. They are confident they can get a buyer paying a very good price for it. You can’t blame them for trying to get the most money they can for the property they are going to sell.

Convenience

Being very close to parks, public transportation, places to eat, and fun activities offers condos for sale downtown a way to be very convenient. If you like to be able to access everything around you in very little time, this could work well for you. Think about how you will get to work, where you like to hang out, and other factors.

The ability to have so much right there for you in no time at all may be well worth the extra price to you. Of course, you have to think about the constant amount of people and the noise all around you. Are you willing to trade off some peace and quiet for that convenience?

Newer Condos

Being able to invest in one of the newer condos makes sense. It is wise to buy a place that hasn’t been lived in long by others. This often means it is in better condition, has newer technology, and it is less likely anything is going to need fixed or replaced soon. Some of the condos for sale downtown are recently built and some of them are sold before they are even finished.

You can actually buy one before they have gotten the materials on site to complete the construction. With such a purchase, you often get to select the colours for the interior and other design elements. It can be fun to live in a place no one else has before. It is also exciting to get to pick certain features you know you will love to have in it.

Perks and Space

There may be certain elements you want with your condo so make sure you use filters when you search. It doesn’t make sense to settle for less than you really want and then regret it daily when you see the place. Make sure you it has enough space too so you don’t feel cramped. Think about your needs now as well as what you may need for space a few years down the road.

Investment Return

There is no reason to think you can’t resell one of the condos for sale downtown either in the future. In fact, it is this forecast return on the investment than make prompt you to buy one right now. This area continues to be one where people are interested in living. There is no reason to think that is going to change in the future either.

Being able to enjoy the condo now is very important and so is being able to afford it. However, knowing when you are ready to move to a new place you won’t have trouble selling this one due to where it is at should be very encouraging.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

I’ve done it myself; taken what I thought were great listing pictures and used them for my online MLS listing. My clients thought they were fine and I thought they were just fine, until I started working as a buyer’s agent in Seattle a few years back.

I worked with over 40 different buyers a week and everyday I’d hear, „Did you see those listing pictures? There’s no way we want to see that house, it’s a dump! Does the listing agent know how bad they are?“ Obviously, the listing agent didn’t spend anything on real estate photography.

My buyers would also see some great listing photos and want to get in to see the home that afternoon. We’d step inside and they’d wonder if it was the same home they saw online. They felt cheated because the pictures were nothing like the real home. (but at least the listing agent got buyers walking through the house).

It all came down to the listing pictures they saw online. That’s essential marketing for listings! Give buyers a great picture and they’ll jump inside the house that day. Give them a „do-it-yourself“ picture and they’ll move onto the next home. The listing pictures make the difference, especially when you spend a few bucks on professional real estate photography!

Even when the listing pictures were better than the actual house, guess what? It still got the buyers inside! That’s your goal as a listing agent; get as many showings as possible. Professional real estate photography makes that happen.

With upwards of 80%+ of buyers looking online now, the listing photos are the first thing they’re looking at and basing their initial impressions on.

How much money in lost commissions do you think you’re missing because you won’t spend a couple hundred bucks for professional real estate photography?

If you did spend the well invested marketing dollars on some professional real estate photography…….

1. You could have more satisfied clients because the home sold faster.
2. You could have made more cash because you didn’t have to drop the sales price when the listing became stale on the market.
3. You could look like a top producer in the area because of the quicker sales, better looking listings and more satisfied clients. Your overall image is enhanced, big time!

Isn’t it funny how such a small aspect of your business can affect the whole thing? Anytime you realize how one issue affects your net profits, that’ll make you perk up, right?

Now don’t give me the excuse that it’s too expensive because it’s not. Look at it as a marketing and advertising expense because that’s exactly what it is. And real estate photography is one of the best things you can spend your marketing dollars on.

You have a couple options……..

You could grab a professional in real estate photography in your local area and offer them $50-$200 to come to your listing and take some fabulous photos. Make sure they’re top notch, have all the right equipment and understand the goal of these photos. You don’t want to pay for real estate photography that’s no better than your own.

Your other option is to go with a company like Vicaso.com who does real estate photography exclusively. Their business is listing photos for real estate agents!

You can schedule your photo shoot on their website, pay about $200 or so and get the most captivating listing photos you’ll ever see. Even if you have a crack house listed for sale, their real estate photography will make it look like a palace.

I’m telling you; don’t skimp on your real estate photography. Look at the cost as an investment. If you spent $200 on professional real estate photography and got back another $20,000 in commissions that year from faster sales, more clients, and higher listing prices, wouldn’t that be worth it? You betcha!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

As banks are foreclosing hundreds of thousands of properties across the country, the question keeps arising, „Can banks make profits on foreclosed properties?“ The simple answer is yes, but it does take some special circumstances for it to happen. If the homeowner is aware of how to protect his equity, he may get paid even if he loses his home to the bank.

If the lender talks the homeowner into giving up his property in exchange for a deed in lieu of foreclosure, the bank can make a profit on the sale and not have the added cost of the foreclosure. It is generally accepted in the banking industry that a foreclosure costs an average of over $40,000. These costs include loss of interest, loss of additional lending power, increased Federal Reserve requirements, costs of the sale, maintenance of the property and commissions to a selling agent.

The key to whether the bank can make money is dependent on the property having equity. Probably 20% to 35% of the time when a foreclosure takes place, there is equity in the property and there are no second or junior liens in place. Many homeowners simply walk away from their homes believing they don’t have equity or can’t sell their home while it is in foreclosure.

If the bank takes the property to the foreclosure auction and extinguishes junior liens, they will be creating equity in a matter of minutes. However, if the property has junior liens, the lender will not accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure because the junior liens will stay attached to the property. So be careful, if a bank offers a homeowner a deed in lieu of foreclosure, there may be equity in the property.

Once the property goes to auction and is purchased by the bank, the property’s deed transfers to the bank after a redemption period. At this time the bank can sell the property for whatever price they can get. If a profit exists, the bank is entitled to it.

In summary, once the bank foreclosures on a property it is entitled to make a profit. Prior to their ownership, they cannot sell the property, only the deed holder (homeowner) can sell it. This happens in short sales all the time as the bank has to agree to the sale price but the homeowner must sign the deed transfer. In these cases, the bank takes a substantial discount on their mortgage to get the property sold and off their books. If the bank is out bid at the auction, which is anything close to their final judgment amount, they get their money owed but lose out on any additional profit.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

How do you currently generate real estate leads? Do you farm neighborhoods, publish a newsletter, have a lead generating realtor web site? Well, no matter how you get them I’m willing to wager two things;

1. They’re not so easy to get, and

2. You can always use more

While you struggle with trying to fill your leads pipeline, you can probably think of at least one agent who makes prospecting for leads seem like child’s play. But what is it exactly that they do so efficiently that you are not?

Of course the answer depends on lots of things, but let’s draw some ideas from an agent I know who worked with a builder of kiddie condos who did quite well at it.

Let’s call her Evette, which is not her real name, but it allows me to personalize the story in a way that you’ll be able to relate to.

Evette was a spark plug dynamo; full of energy, self driven and highly successful at what she did. And what she did best was market and sell lots of student housing units- mostly condos from what I could tell.

Hers was a 5 step process

1. She’d find raw land for her builder developer to purchase and develop

2. Try to set up partnerships with the seller of the raw land and her developer to offset the developers out of pocket costs while gaining controlling interest of the land

3. Would then list for sale all of the units the developer built as a result of the partnership

4. Then be positioned to resell the units when the students gradutaed from college and moved out of the area and

5. In some instances would be positioned to also get referrals to out of town agents for the relocating students.

As you can see, Evette had it going on. So, when I say meeting and working with Evette was a career changing experience you’ll know what I mean.

My attitude was the first thing that changed. I got over being paralyzed with awe by doctors, lawyers, judges, dentists and other high income earning professionals.

Initially, I felt inadequate when it came to marketing real estate to them. I just didn’t think I knew enough about real estate in general to come off as a competent professional.

But you know what? It turned out I knew more than all of them, and more than I needed to know to help them with their real estate needs.

I went on to find doctors, dentists, college professors, judges, insurance agents and garden variety investors to work with and had some mutually beneficial relationships for many years.

So, what does this mean for you? Actually, there are several things to take from this article.

If you’re not marketing to people with money you should. Some agents self sabotage by not aggressively pursuing leads with the financial wherewithal to buy real estate.

Instead, they market to folk who can barely qualify for mortgage loans and/or who have related and other difficulties to overcome before they can qualify at all.

Don’t let that be you – anymore.

Another thing to learn from this article is that one lead can multiply into 3 to 4 different income generating opportunities.

So, no matter how insignificant a client might appear to be treat them all equally well.

You never know when they might refer a friend or acquaintance to you, or ask you to help them purchase some investment properties, or seek you out to help them sell the first property you sold to them and help them buy another one.

It’s a well worn cliche‘, but it’s true; there’s no shortage of real estate leads for agents. You just have to know how to spot them.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

The tourism industry in Belize is undergoing a huge metamorphosis. The boom is evident everywhere. So it is hardly surprising to find international property investors making a beeline to invest in Belize real estate.

From its pristine Caribbean shores to its lush jungle, Belize is abundant in amazing natural beauty. As the tourism industry in Belize is awakening to its potential, the property market is struggling to cope with the surge in demand for a piece of Belize real estate from foreign property investors. If recent statistics are any indicator, then Belize is well and on its way to becoming the next hot destination for international property investors.

One of the hottest expatriate destinations in Latin America, Belize offers real advantages, including a lower cost of living, a better quality of life, amazing real property opportunities, lower taxes and prolific business potential. Belize real estate listings are a great source of information for those looking to invest in property here. Prime residential properties, commercial land and business places like hotels and resorts are listed at these sites, so investors can have access to all the information that they need in one place.

Belize real estate offers excellent investment potential in the current market scenario because of several factors that are specific to this Central American country. It is a tax-shelter haven where investors do not have to pay any capital gains or inheritance tax. Property taxes are abysmally low at just one percent of the market value of the undeveloped land. Land titles can be easily transferred without going through complicated legal processes like other countries.

There are countless reasons why property investors are finding investing here as an attractive option. Foreign property investors can buy property without any prequalification or restrictions. Government rules are very flexible and do not act as a deterrent to investors. Belize, the only Central American country with English as its first language, has a stable government and a growing economy. The cost of living is inexpensive and there are retirement advantages. In fact, there is no place in Central America where property is available at such incredible rates.

The best of Belize real estate for sale can be sourced from the well-managed property portals. Property companies help investors go through the buying process with little to no hassle. They work closely with their client right from the point of initial contact until the time of title transfer. All listed Belize real estate properties are researched to ensure that the titles are clear.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

If you are looking to buy a holiday or second home or invest in Romania, Transylvania or at the Black Sea and you are a foreign citizen/investor, there are few aspects you should know about the procedure an the costs for the acquisition of Romanian land or Romanian houses.

After 2012, foreign citizens EU citizens (non-Romanian) may purchase a home or apartment in Romania may freely buy and sell any Romanian property, without restrictions. Along with the sell price for the property, buying real estate in Romania has other costs associated with it.

If you have chosen to collaborate with a Romanian real estate agent/ broker you can expect to have an additional commission of approximately 2-4% of the price of the property. The local tax will be 2-4% of the price of the property. The signing of a contract must be witnessed by a public notary who submits it for certification by the Land Registry in charge of real estate records. The fees for the Romanian public notary is about 0.5-1% of the purchase price. You will also have to pay fees to the Land Registry („Cartea Funciara“) to register the Transfer Deed. The Romanian Land Registry Fee for a purchase of a property will vary from 1-3% according to the length of time that the seller had owned the property and the property’s value.

The Romanian law on property states that Citizens of EU member states, legal persons incorporated in the EU member states and stateless people domiciled in an EU member state can purchase land in Romania only if the land is used for secondary residences or for secondary headquarters after a 5 (five) years term from the accession of Romania to the EU (starting with January 1st, 2012); only for the agricultural land and forest land 7 (seven) years term from the accession of Romania to the EU ( starting with January 1st, 2014).

But for the Citizens, legal persons and stateless people not from a EU member state, the Romanian legal system establishes that they can purchase land in Romania, under the conditions of international treaties between Romania and the states of origin on these persons, under a reciprocity basis.

In our point of view, a prudent investor will hire a Romanian lawyer/ a Romanian Law Office, who will liaise closely with the notary on the verification of the title, obtaining the Land Registry excerpt and the drafting of the agreement for the transfer of ownership of the real estate. This means that the Romanian lawyer will be solely acting for and is responsible to his or her client, whereas the notary will not have the same degree of responsibility to the purchaser.

Under Romanian law there are three basic rights to land and buildings such as right of ownership; usage rights as lease, usufruct, superficies; concession right. The principle of contractual liberty represents the key core of the property law in Romania.

Sometimes, an investor/purchaser can opt for closing a pre-sale agreement, by which the seller undertakes to transfer ownership to the buyer at a certain date in exchange for an agreed consideration. The content of the pre-sale contract will stipulate all commercial and legal conditions for the transfer of ownership, as conditions precedent to the final transfer of ownership. The closing of such pre-contract for purchase does not means the transfer over the property, but the stipulate binding obligations for the parties, in regard to, as example, damages or penalties set out in them, if the seller refuses to sign the final notarized deed of transfer at the agreed deadline.

The closing of the pre-sale agreement is to protect the investor/buyer from any possible purchase to other buyers and to matters regarding the fixed price and duration of a future purchase. In our point of view, it is a must that the pre-sale agreement to be concluded at a Public Notary and clearly stipulate the sale price and other clauses regarding duration of future purchase. In this case, it can be enforced in court on the buyer’s request as a deed to transfer ownership.

A sale agreement signed in Romania, according to the Romanian legislation will mandatory stipulate: obligations of the parties for the fulfillment of the sale contract, delivery and quality conditions of goods and/or services, terms, payment methods and payment guarantees, payment instruments and price insurance, contractual risk, as well as method of solving eventual litigations arising from the contract. Other required elements include the full name and identification details of the parties (for legal entities) and name of the person signing the contract (representing a legal entity).

Our team of romanian lawyers offer a wide variety of legal services in the real estate law http://www.lawyersinromania.com

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

I was hanging out with a few people at a wedding recently and the conversation turned to

today’s real estate market.

One of my friends, John, from a town near San Jose, CA told a fascinating, yet familiar,

story. I thought I would share it with all of you.

John and his wife, Liz, decided to sell their home. They bought the house in 2004, saw it

increase in value, and this summer decided to sell it. They interviewed four different

agents to sell their home and finally decided on the one who agreed to sell their home for

what they wanted to sell it for.

They believed the home was worth $625,000. The first three agents who came in to

interview for the listing told them the house would never sell at that price and that they

should consider listing it below $600,000. They all felt $589,000-$599,000 was the

„magic“ number.

John is a commercial real estate broker. He knew that his asking price was high but he

was in no hurry to sell. He also didn’t like the fact these three agents weren’t offering

any „solutions“ they were only discussing the „problems“ he would face at the higher

price.

These agents told John and Liz about the current market conditions for their area. If

their home sold, it would likely take up to 120 days. There was a 55% chance that the

home wouldn’t sell at all during these four months. Based on what they wanted for their

home, they needed to be prepared for this. The agents told them they needed to consider

lowering the price.

John and Liz talked very seriously about lowering their price. Then they met a fourth

agent named Lynette.

Lynette came in and presented her case. It really wasn’t much different than the rest.

She also told them about days on the market and the chances of selling their home. She

also suggested they may be priced a bit high but then she offered an option.

„Let’s stage your home using a professional home staging company,“ Lynette suggested.

„This is going to cost you about $4000. We will list the home at the $625,000 you want

but to offset some of this expense, when I sell your home, I will split this expense with

you.“

Whereas real estate professionals, like Lynette, are highly skilled in marketing, selling

and closing your home, home stagers are designers. They are artists who prepare your

home for resale.

Home stagers work with the „flow“ of your home. They will remove and re-arrange

furniture. They will eliminate clutter. They may even add pictures, bedspreads, paint,

art, rugs and other items to make it more appealing. They may even assist in enhancing

curb-appeal.

Their goal is to make an incredible first impression on potential homebuyers the moment

they pull in front of your home.

Lynette explained that although the décor of the house was very nice and contemporary,

the home was cluttered because of their three young boys and busy lifestyle. The home

didn’t feel as large as it was because it was packed with too many items to display it

properly. The home was „too personal,“ she told them. They had picture of the boys

all over the house from birth to last year’s soccer playoffs.

She told them that they needed to compete with new home builders who are offering

buyers the most incredible purchase incentives. She said that when you walk into the

model homes of the builder you are „blown away.“

„THAT is your competition,“ Lynette said. „You need to blow away the people who

walk into your home too.“ She also explained that the last few clients who hired her

home staging company sold their home in less than 60 days and didn’t discount their

asking price.

John and Liz were not crazy about spending $4000, and certainly not thrilled about taking

down pictures of their beloved family, but they were encouraged by Lynette’s creative

idea. At the end of the day, what they really cared about was selling this home, so they

did it.

John said the home staging company came in and made the house seem like a „hotel.“

„They took out way more things than they put in, but it did look better, like a nice bed

and breakfast hotel,“ he said. „It almost made me want to stay there,“ he joked.

It worked. Their house sold in three weeks….at the $625,000 list price. Lynette did an

amazing job from start to finish!!

Just this month, I sold my very own investment house that was staged in 11 days. There

were three like models listed in the subdivision at the same time. Mine was the highest

priced. My incredibly talented real estate agent did an amazing job too but I truly

believe staging was a real key as well. I did take a small loss on this home. However a

sale in 11 days is no small accomplishment in today’s market.

Experts say that if you are hiring a professional staging company, plan on spending

between $2000-$5000 based on the size and condition of the home. If you just want

consultation, plan on $100 or so per hour.

Experts, like StagedHomes.com, say that a staged home sells in half the time as a similar

home that is not staged and that a staged home sells for 7-10% higher.

Coldwell Banker tracked nearly 3,000 properties, ranging in price from $229,000 to $4.8

million, in eight major U.S. cities.

During this time, they determined the average home was on the market for nearly 31

days, the typical staged home sold in less than 14 days.

The average home sold for 1.6% over the seller’s asking price. The staged homes, in the

Coldwell Banker study, over the same time, went for a 6.3% more.

This means, if the average home price is $300,000, you can expect the average staged

home to sell for $318,000-$330,000. Obviously, this makes the $2000-$5000 investment

a no-brainer.

Inventory is at an all-time high in many areas. The National Association of Realtors

recently reported the biggest drop in home prices since the trade group began compiling

price data in 1968. Many experts are now saying housing prices will continue to decline

though 2007.

So do you take your home off the market until 2008, and hope it gets better, with the

possibility it gets even worse, or do you separate yourself from the competition and do

what it takes to give your home the very best chance it has to sell today?

We are in a slower real estate market, however the people who are most committed to selling their

home will likely still be successful. When you are selling real estate it’s no different

than selling any other product. You have to market to find a capable buyer and then you

have to impress him.

Your real estate professional will market the property to bring the buyers but the product

and how it’s displayed will determine if it sells and at what price. This is where the

professional home stager comes in.

OK, so you want to give Home Staging a try? Here’s how.

There are many websites out there. Just type „professional home staging“ into your

favorite search engine like Google, Yahoo!, or MSN and you can start looking for the one

that best fits you.

If you want to try doing it yourself, take these tips from professional home stagers like

StagedHomes.com and others:

HOW TO „STAGE“ YOUR HOME YOURSELF

MAKE AN AWESOME FIRST IMPRESSION

Look at your house like you will look at the homes you want to buy next.

Prospective buyers make up their minds about your house even before they get out

of the car.

This is your chance to WOW them. Clean up the yard; rake the leaves and sweep

driveways and porches.

Get out the rags and cleanser and spend 30 minutes scouring your front door,

porch, railings and steps.

Make sure all of all your trash cans, recycling cans, other bins, discarded wood

scraps, extra building materials, etc., are in the garage.

Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

Look at all plants. Prune your bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking

windows.

Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized.

Remove dead plants or shrubs.

Clear patios or decks of all small items such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal,

barbecues, and toys. Box them away and store them.

Check the paint condition of the house, especially the front door and trim.

UNCLUTTER YOUR HOUSE

Empty your closets to a minimum, clear out the cupboards, and get rid of the small

appliances. Take books off the shelves, get rid of all of the magazines, the CDs,

video games, and DVDs, and lose the kid’s toys. Minimize it all.

Rent a storage unit or box what you want to keep and toss the rest.

Now is the time to say goodbye to your house and your stuff and transition. Your

life may be a bit uncomfortable during this time but you are now in the business of

selling your home.

GET RID OF THAT FURNITURE

An easy way to „unclutter“ and create a much greater sense of space is to get rid of

some furniture.

Consider moving your sofa, extra chairs, and end tables into storage so you can

make the home feel like it is larger and has much more space.

If your furniture is old, you may want to pack it away and rent a few more

contemporary pieces.

The goal is to sell your home, not display your old furniture.

MAKE YOUR HOME „THEIR“ HOME

The goal here is to get the potential buyer to imagine that he is living in your house.

If he feels like an intruder during his tour, your chances of selling the house are less.

That means put away anything connected to your family or personal interests. Like

trophies, family vacation photos, and personal mementos. Box it all away!

Clear refrigerator fronts of all messages, magnets, pictures, reminders, etc.

Stagers say the bathroom is a crucial place to pay close attention too. Shampoo

bottles in the shower and toothbrushes near the sink make it very hard for the

buyer to picture himself there. Box it away during the day and bring it out at night

for your use.

Keep the towels to minimum as well. Think „neat hotel bathroom“ on the day you

checked in.

MAKE THAT HOUSE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE

If your house is clean, the buyer tends to believe everything else is great with the

house as well. This means clean everything! The mirrors, walls, floors, carpets,

drapes, bathrooms, kitchen, and even door handles, light fixtures and pantry

cupboards.

If you hate cleaning, bring in a professional maid service regularly while your home

is listed and get someone in to do the windows, driveway and walkways. Remember,

it costs money to make money.

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL HANDYMAN

As I mentioned, I recently sold an investment property of mine that was staged in 11

days. I staged it myself by following all of the items listed here.

The day before my agent officially placed my home in MLS and started contacting

all of his previous clients, I called a handyman to come out and fix a few things.

I had a missing face plate for a light switch. I had some mold around one of the

toilets. One of the sinks had a broken drain valve. The door leading out to the

garage was dinged up a bit and needed a coat of paint. This was less than $100

worth of work. Many sellers would simply have ignored these items, offered the

buyer a blanket repair credit, and said „get it fixed yourself when you move in.“

Because of my research on this topic, I knew better and made an appointment to get

the handyman out to fix it. He was busy so he committed to come in a week.

However, my home went on the market the next day.

Two days later, five days before the handyman came; the eventual buyer of my

home toured my house. He came back a week later, after the handyman had been

there, and bought it. When I finally met the buyer at the final walk-through, I

asked him whey he didn’t make the offer the first time through.

He told me the missing face plate on the light switch and the dinged up garage door

really bugged him. When he came back and it was fixed, he was impressed and

knew I cared about the home.

A $3 item from Home Depot and a simple coat of cheap grade white paint almost

cost me the sale of my home.

Don’t wait! Fix those minor problems today!

COLOR UP THAT HOUSE WITH PAINT AND CARE

A fresh coat of paint in key areas of your home really makes a big difference. If

your home feels „special“ like you care, that will translate to buyers. Experts say

flowers in the entry or near the front door make your home feel more special, warm

and inviting.

FACE IT, YOUR HOUSE STINKS…MAKE IT SMELL BETTER

Stagers say that people don’t realize it but many of their homes simply stink. They

stink from pets or just everyday family use. The easiest way to overcome this is to

keep your windows open for 10 minutes a day.

This strategy works better than deodorizers, says Barb Schwarz, president of

StagedHomes.com, since a lot of people have allergies to artificial room fresheners.

The oldest trick of all? Leave chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. The smell

helps buyers bond with your home.

MAKE YOUR HOME BRIGHTER AND MORE ALIVE

When things are lighter they feel more vibrant and alive. Dark is depressing. You

don’t want the buyer feeling depressed walking through your home.

Staging experts say clean windows let in as much as 30% more light than dirty ones.

Get them cleaned.

Clean the shades on your light fixtures and add floor lamps if an area seems dim.

Get rid of those energy-saving 60-watt bulbs and go with higher wattage lights for

maximum illumination.

When it comes time to show your home, make sure all the lights are on.

GET HOMEY AND CREATIVE

Flowers, plants, candles, expressive art are all items that are not overly personal

that give a good vibe to the buyer walking through your home. Show these off or go

buy some to add that touch.

You want your home to feel like a model home you see at a new house tract or,

better yet, a comfortable hotel lobby.

For real estate agents, in my opinion, this is a great tool to separate yourself from your

competition in trying to get a listing and sell the home. I think it’s a good idea to take a

few home staging classes or have a professional home stager as part of your team as an

option to present sellers.

StagedHomes.com offers two-day home staging workshops for real estate agents.

For homeowners with a lot of equity, I think hiring a professional stager is a tremendous

idea as well.

If you don’t have as much room financially and the costs of hiring a professional stager

seem preventative, you may want to try the „do-it-yourself“ ideas listed above first.

If those still don’t work, but you notice the feedback is more positive, you may want to

then consider hiring a home staging professional.

From all indications, and I can tell you first-hand, the price of staging your home is small

compared to the benefits you can realize.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

When you need to sell your house, things can get quite emotional.

On one hand, you want to get the best possible price and terms. On the other hand, you have a timeline that might keep you up at night wondering how you are going to pull it off.

In a perfect world, you would be able to call your friendly real estate agent… have them list it on the MLS… stage the property for showings… and wait for the best offer.

For most folks, though, it’s not so simple.

Maybe you don’t have the equity necessary to pay commissions and fees. And you certainly don’t have an extra $10,000 to $20,000 lying around to bring to the closing table… just to sell your home.

Or, you might not be able to sit around and wait 3 to 6 months of open houses and showings until the perfect buyer appears, with cash in hand, to pay you full retail for your house. It could be a job transfer, an illness, or any of life’s other unexpected surprises.

In these situations the best thing you can do is hope and pray, or, attack the problem a bit more creatively.

There is one option available that most people overlook when trying to sell their property. One that can help you sell the house fast, get full price, and provide you instant (or close to it) mortgage payment relief. And that solution is selling with a lease option.

A lease option (or rent to own) is when you sell your property to a qualified tenant/buyer using a lease with an option to buy. The lease sets up a predetermined term, which can be anywhere from 6 months to 10 years (depending on what price you need to get to pay off your current mortgage) and an option that sets the purchase price and closing terms.

When selling this way, you get full retail price for your property, which is perfect if you don’t have much equity or if your mortgage is higher than the current market price of the home, and you don’t have to pay any fees or commissions, since you are selling privately and not through an agent or broker.

Now, you might be thinking, but I don’t want to rent my house, I just want to sell it.

And that is a completely valid statement. This isn’t the best solution. Far from it. However, it can be the solution that gets your out from under your payments and lets you move quickly, while getting full price when the tenant/buyer cashes you out.

The tenant/buyer is a different type of buyer. Not just a serial renter, jumping from rental to rental, but a real buyer who actually wants to purchase your property, but needs more time to get their mortgage approved. Since the real estate crash, mortgage lending has gotten to be pain in the you-know-what. Hardworking families, with stable jobs and sufficient incomes, are having trouble getting through all the loops the lenders have created before they will cut a check… causing them to need more time to save up more down payment and fix any little glitches on their credit. They are working with mortgage brokers monthly to get their paperwork on board so that their loan closes.

And this market is huge. Not many people right now can by a house with cash, and those who can will rarely pay full retail price. After all, they have a big negotiating advantage. So they will wait and make multiple low ball offers until they can find a seller desperate enough to sell for pennies on the dollar. However, if you are open to selling creatively, then you have access this untapped market of actual buyers (not some hedge fund or other foreign investment trust looking to boost up their bottom line) that just want a beautiful home to live in with their families. And you can have a win-win situation in selling your house and helping these hardworking families at the same time.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Selling the house put people in a dilemma whether they should hire a real estate agent or not? Well, if you are capable of selling your house on your own then why hire a real estate agent with whom you have to share your profit.

Usually, property owners are expected to pay 5% to 7% of the sale price to an agent. However, if you choose to sell your property yourself then you will not only be able to save on the real estate agent fees but also will get the freedom to sell your property in your own ways.

Before you move further to sell your house yourself, do consider the following discussed factors that will make your selling easy:

The location of the property is believed to be one of the crucial factors. Since no one can change the location of your home to take it to the more desirable place, thus, the price you expect should be realistic. You will get nothing if you offer a much higher price in comparison to the other properties that are being sold in the same area. Therefore, it is recommended to do proper research to find out what neighborhood properties have been selling for.

What is the status of the housing market like at the moment? Find out the worth of the property a few years ago and now? Considering the history of the property prices, it is important that you price your property in line as per the current market conditions.

Check out the condition of your property at present. Before you advertise your property for selling, it is good to allow a property inspector to visit and value your home. On sell your house yourself; you may not be able to see the little defects and repairs that a professional can observe.

In many cases, the reason for selling your house influences the decision of the buyers. So, you should be clear about your words that describe the reason.

Next, you need to think like a potential buyer. You simply cannot show your emotions to get in a selling way. If any corner of your house needs repairs or changes, then you should get it repaired or changed immediately. Prior to starting the process of selling your house, think from a buyer’s point of view.

Sell your property yourself can save you from long meetings with agents and their representatives. By listing it on a reliable listing portal, you will be able to reach millions of potential buyers, investors, and renters. Such a quick reach is not possible with the traditional methods of selling homes that include putting advertisements on newspapers, television, and handing out flyers. These property listing portals will make you connect with more and more people by putting your minimal efforts. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of the internet cannot be overemphasized as it allows you to create the perfect online presence with an affordable advertising budget.

There are various portals online that allow you to advertise your property without charging any commission or hidden costs. Among such options, choosing the best one is vital to get the quickest outcome of your property.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg