How to Sell Your Real Estate Note

Author: Richard A. Lorenc
Source: articleage.com

Using the Internet as a tool for finding real estate for sale
and/or a real estate agent can be a rewarding technique or a
frustrating experience. There are hundreds of thousands of real
estate agents and brokers who have websites and often thousands
in the larger metro areas and many hundreds in the smaller
markets. The number of real estate related websites have grown
considerably over the past several years with the high volume of
real estate sales and new agents entering the business.

Agent Websites – Many real estate agents have their own
websites and their usefulness varies with the success and
experience of the agents and their webmasters. Most will display
the listings from the particular agent (if any) and sometimes
will also display other listings that may or may not be listings
of the agent. If no listings are displayed, the agent may be a
buyer’s agent or has no current listing active. The website may
also have a feature to search for active MLS (Multiple Listing
Service) listings. The search features can vary widely depending
on the website provider/builder. Some websites restrict use to
individuals who have registered with the agent and others permit
unlimited use without registration. Those agents requiring
registration typically use the information provided for
follow-up contact either via telephone, mail or email. Other
agent websites provide contact forms, chat lines and other means
for follow-up communications. The timeliness and quality of
responses can vary widely. The attrition rate for agents is
high, often over 80% during their first year so many websites
may be active but have been abandoned by their owners. Other
active agents are remiss in checking for messages and requests
go unanswered for days or weeks.

Broker Websites – Most real estate brokers
(international, national, regional and local) maintain websites.
They normally have property search features by area and often
will have individual real estate agent access information. Some
may limit the MLS information provided to the listings of the
given real estate broker, others will display any active MLS
listing within the given area, county, state or country.

Builder/Developer Websites – Most residential real estate
builders and developers maintain websites. These websites may be
specific to a sub-division being built or generic for the
regional and nationwide builders with access to specific
cities/states and the sub-divisions being developed. Usefulness
varies considerably with many providing detailed information on
house designs, available inventory, contact information and site
sales office hours.

Real Estate Related Referral Websites – There has been a
proliferation of real estate referral websites offering
individuals with agent referrals for a given area once they have
been provided details of your contact information, whether
interested in buying or selling and the specifics on the area
and home. Referral real estate websites typically have real
estate agents subscribers who pay fees for referrals. These fees
may be based on a per lead cost to the agent, a monthly fee to
the agent for a specific number of leads or a percentage of the
real estate commission paid if the lead culminates in a sale.
Typically the only criteria for an agent to utilize these
referral services is that the agent is legally licensed to do
business in their state.

Real Estate Listing Websites – There are a number of
national real estate websites providing limited listing
information and varying degrees of specificity in search
criteria. Some are more user friendly then others. Some have
real estate agent/broker fee paid subscription services to
highlight listings and or selected agents/brokers.

http://www.realtor.com – http://www.living.net -
http://realestate.yahoo.com

Search Engines – SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an
obsession for most webmasters and real estate agents. Simply
stated, real estate agents, brokers, builders and referral
companies want to be in the first page or two of search results
so that the individual web surfer will be directed to their
website. These individuals and firms may be paying significant
fees to firms offering first or second page placement on a given
search engine. The major search engines such as Google, Yahoo,
MSN and hundreds of others use different algorithms to determine
how websites get ranked and their order of placement on the
results pages. To make it even more interesting/confusing, the
big search engines also offer websites owners various
sponsorship page positioning on a fee basis albeit they identify
the sites as such.

http://www.google.com – http://www.yahoo.com -
http://www.msn.com

Tips to Make Your Real Estate Search a Rewarding One!

1. Most major search engines have basic and advanced search
options and provide information and directions for using them.
Take five extra minutes and learn how to use the advanced
functions and you’ll be happy you did!

2. Learn as much as possible about the region, state, city and
neighborhood you are interested in to maximize your search
results.

3. Be specific in your search criteria. The more general and
generic the search, the less pertinent the results will be.

4. All search engines are not alike! Use more than one when
conducting a search, as the results will vary greatly.

Once you are seriously considering buying or selling residential
real estate direct your search to finding an experienced agent
that is responsive and has your best interests in mind. Then
have your real estate agent do the digging into the market to
present the listings and homes you will be most interested in.

Author: Jim Hart
Source: articleage.com

Are you thinking about selling your home this spring? If you are it may pay dividends to stop and think about some of the issues confronting you as a home seller. Do you plan to sell for sale by owner or list your home with a real estate company? Did you know you could do both at the same time? Not many people know that?
If you are planning on retaining the services of a real estate agent then caution is the key word. Keep in mind that selling your home is a BIG business deal and you want the best real estate agent you can find representing your project. Finding a professional real estate agent can be a difficult task if you don’t know the basics questions to ask. Many agents are part-timers with one toe in the tub and they just can’t represent a homeowner as well as a full-time agent. Beyond this, you have to ask yourself (and the agent) how much business experience do they have? Do they have a business degree? What is their background in marketing and sales? Are they full time or part time? How many homes have they personally sold? When you retain the services of a real estate agent to sell your home you are the employer and you have the right to ask these types of question. You will be paying a real estate agent a HEFTY commission for selling your home IF it sells. Your job is to ask the right questions to select an agent that will get the job done in a professional manner.
One of the main things you want to avoid as a home seller is entering into long-term listing contracts with any real estate agent or company. Keep the listing contracts limited to 90 days at a time so that you can review the performance of the agent and their company. Among the things you want to negotiate when you are listing your home and have it show on the listing contract as a legal (addendum or attachment) is an itemized marketing plan indicating the exact marketing activities that will be used to sell your home. You want to see a marketing plan that itemizes where and when your home will be advertised, how many open houses will occur, when those open houses will take place and how they will be conducted. You want specifics about the advertising campaign around the selling of your home. Many agents will list a home and basically home a new agent spins their wheels to sell for them. The old saying among real estate agents is “if you don’t list, you don’t last”. What this means basically is an agent will do and say almost anything to get a listing agreement from a seller. Then, they throw the house into the MLS (multiple listing service), cross their fingers and hope another agent finds a buyer for your property. Most sellers don’t know the listing agent and their company will get the bulk of the commission whether they actually sell the home or not. Seasoned agents often list and let the new agents drive the tires off their car showing property-the key to success for real estate agents really lies in getting listing contracts, not necessarily selling those listing. Want some advice? Stay tuned to these articles because there is more to come and get your copy of the report offered below before you run off and sign that legally binding listing contract–it will help you cover your basic legal and financial interests.
Our E-Report: 101 Tips For Homebuyers, Sellers And Money Borrowers will help you with more information regarding this article-Just click the link below and request your copy and we’ll send it to your email address within 24 hours-absolutely free. Another Ezine Articles Exclusive! Until next time…
Copyright ? 2006

James W. Hart, IV

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Author: Tom Levine
Source: articleage.com

Real Estate Agents play an essential, critical role in the process of buying and selling a home. You just simply cannot afford to work with an agent that does not exhibit top-scale professional values. We’re talking about your primary investment, and the happiness of you and your loved ones.
Here are the 3, most important things that I’ve encountered, that I believe contribute towards excellence in the profession of Real Estate agents.
1. To Serve
2. To Know
3. To Listen
1. To Serve:
Real Estate is a service business, and homeowners and buyers must be treated with the respect that they deserve. A Real Estate Agent must demonstrate that they care about you, and that their primary concern is to serve your needs, and not their own.
a) Look for agents that carry cell phones everywhere they go, and that have no problem taking late night calls, or being interrupted during a Saturday morning snooze. This isn’t a rib of steak you’re buying (or selling). It is more important than everything and anything, and it can be a stressful, anxious process to go through. Customers deserve a confidant, and to be treated with the utmost of care.
b) Avoid agents that think they know everything. Seek out agents yearning to find out about you, and your likes, dislikes, and opinions. Avoid agents hail-bent on trying to prove what an encyclopedia of wisdom and advice they are. You’re thoughts matter too!
c) Your time is important. If you want to see 20 properties or more, don’t let anyone stop you. A Real Estate agent that encourages you to look, and explore, is more worthy of your time, than an agent that tries to fit you into their busy schedule. This is your buying experience, not theirs.
2. To Know:
I believe that knowledge is gained through familiarity. So, having a real estate agent that is familiar with the landscape of the land is of critical importance.
a) I like agents that have lived in the area for a while, that know all the names of the streets, and that know the high schools, the local grocery stores, and the local parks.
b) I enjoy listening to an agent’s own personal experiences, as we drive through neighborhoods, or review demographics. It’s not as important to me that they’re old, or young, or rich, or hungry, or just like me, or nothing like me, or whatever. As long as the stories are real, and are related, that’s all that matters.
c) I think an agent needs to be always on. Do they have access to all the information at all times? Do they constantly look for new properties, or new values, and do they have networked connections locally to appraisers, and loan officers, and title companies? Are they always thinking about my circumstance, and trying to connect the dots in my interest? I don’t want to be sold on decisions that earn commissions. I want to be guided to properties and professionals that best meet my needs.
3. To Listen:
There is no greater communication skill, then the ability to listen. Most of us find it next to impossible, to be silent, and take it all in. We all strive to be the center of attention, the story of the day, and the opinion worth listening to.
a) Real Estate agents that master the art of listening can truly hone in on your needs. These are the agents worth keeping in your rolodex, because they can tune in to your desires, your personality, your financial profile, and all critical elements of the deal, without your even being aware of it.
b) This is not so easy to spot, because often times, the ability to listen is overlooked. A good listener, after all, probably isn’t speaking as much. But consider this: Is the conversation mostly about you? Does the agent ask a lot of questions relating to your personal tastes, experiences, and ideas? Do you find yourself walking away, feeling a satisfaction about the dialog? These are all signs that you’ve just come into contact with a master listener.
c) And the real testament to an agent that listens, is when they finally do speak. Usually, when they do say something, it’s really, really important, and right on target, and completely unforgettable. Why? Because, they’ve spent most of their time absorbing you and your situation, and then they nail you with the bomb?Their recommendations that truly will change your life forever. I swear to you, it’s golden. You’ll get a much better property bought or sold, if you can find a real estate agent that knows how to listen.
We’ve enjoyed providing this information to you, and we wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Remember to always seek out good advice from those you trust, and never turn your back on your own common sense.
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Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in the articles, reviews and other materials herein are those of the authors. While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that inaccuracies will not occur. The author will not be held responsible for any claim, loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any information within these pages or any information accessed through this site.
Copyright 2005, by http://www.Loans-Resource.Com, This article is available in full format at: Real Estate Agent, Tom Levine provides a solid, common sense approach to solving problems and answering questions relating to consumer loan products. His website seeks to provide free online resources for the consumer, including rate-watch, tips and articles, financial communication, news, and links to products and services.

Author: Steven Gillman
Source: articleage.com

It’s easy to find a real estate agent. Just put a for sale sign in the yard and wait for the phone to ring. The question is, how do you find a GOOD real estate agent? You can start with the newspaper.
Pick up the Saturday or Sunday paper – whichever day they have all the homes for sale in your area. You can also collect a few real estate guides to look through. Browse the listings to find properties similar to yours. If you are selling a cabin, you want to look for cabins for sale. If you are selling a lakefront mansion, look for those.
When you find similar properties, note the names and numbers of the agents that are selling them. The idea here is to find a real estate agent that has experience with your type of property. An agent that has all the million dollar homes may not be the best to sell your mobile home, for example. You want agents that have sold or are selling several properties like yours.
What To Ask A Real Estate Agent
1. When you call the agents – and it’s best to call several – you want to verify that they do have experience selling properties like yours. Ask for examples.
2. Ask what they do to market a property. Any agent can place an ad and put your home in the multiple listings. Do they have existing leads – people looking for properties like yours? Do they let other agents know about your property?
3. Do they show their listings very often? Many agents just list real estate for sale and let others sell it for them. It’s more profitable for them, but not for you. If they are a good salesperson, you want them to be going through the house with potential buyers.
4. Do they do their own closings? Again, it may be better for them to delegate this part of the process, but it isn’t better for you. You want the same person to be there through the whole process. You want one person to call. Things go wrong all the time in real estate, so don’t complicate it further by having more people involved.
Most real estate agents will probably argue these points. That’s okay, but be aware that there are other things they won’t tell you too. For example, did you know that open houses are primarily a prospecting tool for real estate agents? In fact, new agents (not the listing agent) are often given the job of hosting your open house, so they can find buyers to work with. It isn’t expected that they will sell your house in the process.
Also understand that when you see ads for homes for sale, and they don’t have prices, it is a prospecting technique. When that buyer looking for a $100,000 home calls on your $300,000 home, the agent isn’t going to make him able to afford your home. The whole point was to get him to call so he could sell him ANY home. Meanwhile, other potential buyers for your home skipped over the ad – there are enough homes WITH prices to look at (insist that ads for your property have the price listed).
Trust your intuition when choosing an agent. If you don’t feel comfortable with an agent, it’s possible potential buyers won’t either. And ask the right questions. You don’t just want to find a real estate agent you like. You want to find the right agent for your property.
Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. See a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500 on his home page, or go straight to the section on Investing In Real Estate: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Author: Raynor James
Source: articleage.com

If you are selling your home without a real estate agent, you need to realize the agents in your area are not your enemy. In fact, they may prove very useful in moving your property.
FSBO Sellers – The Real Estate Agent Is Not Your Enemy
A common mistake made when people decide to list their home for sale by owner is to assume real estate agents are to be avoided. This is a mistake for a number of reasons and can significantly hinder your efforts to sell the property. Consider the following.
A majority of buyers will use a real estate agent to locate and make offers on real estate. I am sure this is hardly a shocking revelation to you. Given this fact, many FSBO sellers make the mistake of treating real estate agents rudely. If you receive a call from an agent, you need to realize the person offering their services may be the same person that calls a week later with an interested buyer. If you burn bridges by being rude or hanging up on real estate agents, you run the risk of missing out on potential buyers.
Even if a real estate agent does not bring a buyer, they can still be of assistance to a FSBO seller. Put bluntly, the real estate agents contacting you expect you to eventually give up trying to sell your property on your own. Although incorrect, this assumption leads them to view you as a potential client down the road. The negative aspect of this is they will continually contact you. Ah, but there is a positive aspect as well.
A real estate agent that sniffs a potential client can be very helpful. To generate credibility with you, they will give you an astounding amount of help for free. Many realtors, for instance, will provide you with all the contract documentation you need for the sale and purchase transaction for the property including a purchase agreement, escrow instructions, deeds, disclosures and a list of documents you will need. Some will even go so far as to provide you with free brochures for your home. Now, does that sound like an enemy?
Make no mistake, a real estate agent will help you because they believe you will eventually become a client. You probably will not, but there is little reason to view them as an enemy in your efforts.
Raynor James is with the FSBO site – FSBOAmerica.org – homes for sale by owner.
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