Real Estate Statistics Explained

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Basic Real Estate Statistics Explained

We are going to define some of the basic real estate statistics that get thrown around on a regular basis. To do that, we will use one real estate market, located in Hood County Texas. Even more granular, we will use the single family numbers for homes in Granbury Tx, a small town of approximately 8,000 residents which has seen substantial real estate growth in the past 12 months. It is important when reviewing real estate statistics to use a group of numbers large enough for consistency, but granular enough to tell your story.

The statistics that we will be referencing are true and accurate for the year discussed but are being used to define the real estate statistic itself.

We have chosen Granbury Tx as our example because the growth of the local real estate market there make the statics stand out.

Anytime you are evaluating statistics, especially in real estate, the source of the numbers are extremely important. In most instances, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) provides the most accurate numbers when referring to real estate. This is because they have all listings by all local real estate brokers in their database. For the sake of explanation of the data, we will be looking at the numbers for home sales in Granbury Tx, directly from the MLS. These numbers are meant to give an example of how to read the statistics themselves. Anytime you evaluate real estate numbers, its important to pay close attention to how the numbers are gathered. In this instance, we will be using ONLY single family properties in the city of Granbury.

Basic Real Estate Statistics

  • Number of Sales – This one is pretty self explanatory. It is simply the number of single family homes sold in a particular month. In January of 2015, they had 51 single family homes sold. One thing to pay attention to when looking at this statistic is are they using the Under Contract date or the day the property actually went to closing. These two dates are usually between 30 and 60 days apart, so its critical that you know which one is being referenced. In addition, many of the homes that get calculated, if you are using the „under contract“ number may not actually close! In our example, we are using the number of homes that actually closed. In January of 2016 they had an increase of over 49% which brought the total to 77 from 51. Growth of that level is very seldom ever seen.
  • Sales Volume – Sales Volume is simply the total amount of dollars spent on single family housing within that month. Once again, when reviewing this statistic, its important to keep the property types consistent. If you are comparing two areas to see which one has grown more and you include vacant land in the number for one area, you must include it in the other too. As previously mentioned, our examples only include single family properties. With Number of Sales looking at the units, you would expect the Sales Volume to go up appropriately, but in this instance, it went up even more than the units (by percentage). The total Sales Volume of single family homes in Granbury in January of 2016 was $15,191,500 as opposed to the January of 2015 number of $9,281,915. That is an increase of over 63%. Because the Sales Volume went up at a larger rate than the number of units, this reflects the average home sale being much larger in 2016 than 2015.
  • Months of Inventory – This is a commonly referred to statistic when examining a real estate market. This statistic refers to at the current rate of sales, how long will it take to sell through the existing level of inventory. This reflects the supply and demand for the market. In our example, in January of 2015 the level of inventory was 9 months and in January of 2016 it had dropped to 6 months. That is a 33% drop in available inventory! This means if you are looking to buy a home in Granbury Tx, it will be a little tougher in 2016 as there is less inventory available to buy.
  • Median Days To Sell – This stat simply refers to how long it takes for single family properties to be put under contract. Don’t let the „to sell“ confuse you. To accurately show the demand for active homes, you really want to track how long it takes to go „under contract“. The process of acquiring final lender approval, insurance and getting to a closing can vary on a variety of factors. In January of 2015, the Median Days to Sell was 88. That number dropped by over 30% to 61. Once again, this tells you if you are looking for homes in Granbury TX, you better get your offers in quickly as the most desirable homes are going fast!
  • Average Price – This statistic can be derived in a variety of ways. We are going to use it in its most raw form and simply be the Average Price of Homes Sold within that month. Be careful when looking at this statistic printed anywhere as how the user defines the date sold can vary. Needless to say, Average Price can be used for active homes for sale or for the homes that sold. The Average Price of ACTIVE homes for sale is generally a pretty useless number as you can list a home for any price, without any possibility of it ever selling. Many homes listed for sale are at unrealistic prices thus the Average Price of Active homes for sale can fluctuate dramatically and give little insight into the market. You will want to look at the Average Price of SOLD homes. In January of 2015, the Average Home Sale was $181,998 and it jumped to $199,888 in the same month in 2016. This is an increase of almost 10%. This is not a number that truly tells the increase in home values across the board, but simply of the homes sold in that month, what the average was.
  • Median Price – The Average Home Sales Price can be skewed by a variety of factors. All it takes is one 5 million dollar home sale to throw those numbers off. To get a better view of the overall increase in value, it can be better to look at the Median Sales Price. Median Sales Price takes the number that is perfectly in the middle. For instance, if you have 11 homes that you are using in your statistic, you would take the sales price of the 6th one. This leaves 5 homes sold higher and 5 homes sold lower. In this instance, they are pretty close as the Median Sales Price increase from January 2015 to 2016 was 9.69%. This shows that we didn’t have the Average Price skewed too much because of an extremely large or extremely small sale.

There are hundreds of ways to look at the same numbers, when referencing to real estate, so be very careful to read the fine print on exactly what numbers they are using. When making comparisons, you will want to make absolutely sure that both are referencing the same property types, dates etc. It like the old saying says… there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

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The Benefits to Buying a Condo

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One of the many benefits you will find when you choose condos for sale over other properties is that you don’t have to worry about any exterior maintenance. When buying family home, you need to keep a budget aside for those unexpected external emergencies, such as a damaged roof, a tree that falls down in your garden or even your exterior walls being damaged. When buying a condo, because it is a complex, the Homeowners Association will be responsible for handling all exterior work, so you can enjoy your home now and in the future with complete confidence.

Another major benefit to condos for sale is security. These days you want to keep your home and your family safe and secure. Having added security is a major benefit to provide you with complete peace of mind, which provides you with the convenience of a lock up and go property. You can lock your front door and head off for a week or two knowing that everything will remain safe indoors and you don’t have to worry that someone may try break in while you are away.

Of course condominiums come with the added benefit of a host of amenities and facilities. The majority of these complexes will offer you the convenience of a lock up and go property with a communal swimming pool and maybe even a fitness center, depending on the complex. Some will come with laundry. With these added amenities you can enjoy all the conveniences of a home while having your own space which is modern, luxurious and finished to the highest quality.

Condos for sale are in the affordable price range. They are more expensive than an apartment, but they are usually on a par with a single family home, depending on where you buy and the area. Of course location is essential and if you are looking for luxury and convenience in a prestigious area, then you will find that condos for sale work out cheaper than the homes in the surrounding area. This helps you get your foot onto the property ladder in an exclusive area, offering you a good return on your investment in the long run.

Outside spaces will be cleaned for you, the pool will be maintained and the equipment in the fitness center will be up and operational at all times. If the building has an elevator, that will be regularly serviced. These are all things you don’t need to worry about, you can furnish your condo, move in and start enjoying condo life without delay.

Of course when there are benefits, there are always a few disadvantages and the same applies to all condos for sale. This is why if you are looking for property to purchase and you are considering a condominium, you may want to weigh up the pros and cons of all the property options within your budget to identify if this is the right choice for you moving forward.

One of the disadvantages to buying a condo for sale is that you have strict rules to abide by. The Homeowners Association will put rules in place that all the units must follow. The reason for this is to make living in the complex more enjoyable for everyone.

The second disadvantage is that you will have to pay Homeowners Association fees, which are in place to pay for all the exterior and daily maintenance of the complex, so your condo is always somewhere enjoyable to live now and in the future.

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How to Use Instagram to Market a Real Estate Listing

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Instagram’s simple platform and focus on photos makes it the perfect app for real estate agents to share their listings. However, agents who aren’t familiar with the platform may not know what kinds of pictures to post. Simply posting a photo of your listing with the address and a description isn’t going to get much attention. You need to create a story around the listing and share multiple photos to tell that story.

The easiest way to start „Instagramming“ your listings is to use Instagram during an open house. Below are 7 different pictures you can take to create and share your open house story.

Start with a selfie

A „selfie“ is a photo that you take of yourself. Take a selfie in your car, in front of the sign or by the front door. Caption it with something like „Excited to host an open house at 12345 Main Street.“

Your favorite room

Take a photo of your favorite room in the house. In the caption, get your followers to imagine life in that room. For example, if your favorite room is the bathroom with the huge soaking tub, say something like „Can you imagine coming home from a hard day’s work and getting to soak in this tub? Glorious!“

Your favorite outdoor feature

Photograph your favorite outside space. Again, get your followers to imagine themselves living there. „Check out this built in BBQ. Would you love to host summer BBQs at this home?“

Give a shoutout to other agents

A shoutout is a social media referral. If a real estate agent you know comes by the house with clients, snap a picture with them and give them a shoutout in the caption (be sure to use their Instagram handle if they have one.) Your caption could read something like this „Look who stopped by my open house today! Thanks for bringing your buyers @realestateagent.“

Share your „to-do list.“

Write or type a list of things you need to do to prepare for the open house then post a picture. This gives people an idea of the services you provide when hosting an open house. You can also share the owners to do list to educate people on how they should prepare for an open house.

Tools of the Trade

Do you always bring a specific water bottle to open houses? Do you often bake cookies or bring a vase of flowers? Lay out your items and snap a photo. The caption can read something like „Here’s my open house survival kit!“

Get the owners in on the fun

If the homeowners are around, take a photo with them. Tag them and ask them to share the photo on their Instagram and to tag you!

Instagram is easy to use and the perfect platform for real estate agents who are unfamiliar with social media but want to use it to market their listings. With a few clicks of your smartphone camera and some witty captions, you’re next buyer could be one of your Instagram followers.

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The Different Houses For Sale

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When looking at the property market, there are many aspects of this that you need to know about, and thinking about it, I realise that there are many types of property available for you to choose from, and this can be down to the type of preference that you are going to have as an individual. This article would talk about the various areas of property that you might be interested in. Now, just note that these things are just a primary for the mind, if you need much more information on each section, you would need to go online and get more information from there.

One thing that you need to know is about the government properties, and they are the easiest forms of properties out there, and consequently the cheapest you would find. There are many subsidies and benefits for people who are going into the public property market, but of course, knowing this, these places are also the kinds of places that has the most restrictions, and this is because the government would want to actually corner this market for those who cannot afford to get private property as well. Now, when thinking about the public property, you need to understand all the rules and regulations that would be concerning them in the first place.

The next thing you need to look at are the landed properties, and of course, these are the self owned properties that might be the oldest but the most expensive. Landed properties are usually large properties that might come with lands of their own, and from there, you will be able to understand the large price tags on them in the first place. For one thing, landed properties are dealt normally off market, with owners preferring to sell one on one, and this is because of the large values of their property in the first place.

The last thing you need to know about are the property market is the private properties, and these might include things like condominiums and other forms of private apartments. For one thing, the price range for some of these things would be of course, the higher echelon. Now, if you are looking at this, for one thing, the market would be the most aggressively dealt with on the whole concept, and this is where you would need people like real estate agents to actually help you out with the whole selling and buying of the property in the first place. Now, these are some of the things that you need to know about when you are thinking about the different kinds of houses for sale. Now, while it might be a tad confusing when you are thinking about the whole concept of buying and selling at the property market, you can go online or call the property companies to get more advice. In the end of the day, no matter how complicated the whole thing is, you will be always be getting help somewhere.

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Should You Buy a Home Near an Airport?

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On occasion you may find yourself in a new home and become increasingly aware of the annoying buzz that occurs around the same times each day, growing louder and then softer. Unfortunately you may realize too late that you are on the flight path leading towards your local airport or, even worse, the nearest big airport that sees much air traffic in and out each day.

However, if you are in the process of looking for a home to buy you may be considering homes that are in neighborhoods close to an airport. This isn’t always a bad thing! There are pros and cons to houses near the airport which you should take into consideration if you are currently house hunting. If you are wondering if you should buy a home near an airport, here are a few things to consider.

The pros of living near an airport are that you are able to get easily to and fro from the airport without having to spend hours fighting traffic. Additionally you might find that the places you need the most are more conveniently located, like grocery stores and restaurants. You will probably have an easier time convincing a friend or family member to drive you to the airport when you need to take a flight, too! Neighborhoods located near airports are also great for picking up visiting friends and family without having to worry about long lines and fighting hours of traffic to get back home.

Neighborhoods near airports often have lower rents because of the airport noise and traffic. Depending on your location relative to the airport you may find that the noise of the airplanes and the traffic isn’t as much of an issue as you may have previously imagined. These neighborhoods also usually have increased options for public transportation which you can utilize for more than just getting to the airport.

On the downside, living near an airport can mean lots of traffic and noise from aircraft flying overhead. Your home can be harder to sell as well because it is in the vicinity of an airport, which is not always desirable among real estate investors. Not all homes have good soundproofing so the flight path of the airplanes could prove to be a deal breaker.

While some noise is easy to adjust to (think of the traffic on a busy street level of sound) if you are sensitive to noise and know that the house you are looking at doesn’t have good sound proofing, living near an airport probably isn’t for you.

Weigh the options and see a few potential properties before deciding if living near an airport is right for you or not. The location of your house near to the airport can be a major factor in the amount of noise you might have to deal with, as homes closer to the airport and not directly under a flight path report less noise pollution than other homes.

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Preparing for Foreclosure – Can Bankruptcy Protect You From Foreclosure?

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What does bankruptcy do to a foreclosure sale?

Let’s take a look at what happens when someone files a bankruptcy petition. Immediately at the time of the bankruptcy filing, an automatic stay goes into effect. The automatic stay is governed by federal law specifically 11 USC § 362. There are some exceptions to what the automatic stay can and will stop. Most notably if the debtor has a pending bankruptcy that has been dismissed within 1 year prior to the new filing, the automatic stay expires on the 30th day after the new filing. If the debtor has had 2 pending bankruptcies within the past year, there is no automatic stay and the debtor must request one from the bankruptcy court.

So, if the debtor has not had a pending bankruptcy case within the preceding year, the automatic stay kicks in immediately at the time of filing. This is a very helpful tool to the debtor in many regards. First, the sale of the debtor’s home through a foreclosure auction is halted. Second, the stay allows the debtor time to regroup and project a path forward through their reorganization plan without the threat of having to worry about losing their home.

How do the mortgage company attorneys know to stop the sale after bankruptcy

After filing bankruptcy, the debtors creditors, which include the mortgage company, receive notice of the new filing. This alerts all creditors that an automatic stay may be in place and they should cease collection/legal activities.

What can mortgage company do to get out of the bankruptcy

If the mortgage creditor believes they have cause, the mortgage company may file a motion with the bankruptcy court requesting relief from the automatic stay. Primary instances where their motion will be granted are when the debtor does not maintain mortgage payments after the filing, the debtor does not put forth a reasonable or viable reorganization plan, or the debtor chooses Chapter 7 protection which does not have a reorganization component as with a 13.

Timing of bankruptcy filing

The timing of the bankruptcy filing and the foreclosure sale date are two dates to consider carefully. If the foreclosure has been listed with the court clerk’s office, the hard deadline to file a bankruptcy would be the sale date. If the debtor has not received notice of a foreclosure sale, the debtor may have more leeway as to the timing of their bankruptcy filing. If the debtor files after the sale has gone through, the likelihood of saving the property is slim however, issues with the sale could be raised to overturn the sale.

Foreclosure sale occurred and debtor did not stop it

If there is a deficiency created from the foreclosure of the debtor’s home, the debtor may face collection attempts for the deficiency amount. In this case, a bankruptcy could help the debtor deal with that new debt.

In summary, should the debtor file bankruptcy to stop a foreclosure

This question is one that cannot be answered because each person’s situation is going to be different. A debtor considering this option should seek counsel from a local bankruptcy attorney, most of whom offer free consultations. The best advice is to not wait until the last minute to look at your options so that the debtor can make the best decision for them and their family.

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Belize Real Estate – The Investment Hot Spot

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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.

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Hemingway Woods Subdivision – A Great Neighborhood In A Great Location

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Filled with homes that are less than twenty years old and in good condition, the Hemingway Woods Subdivision located in Lake Orion, Michigan is a great place to live and raise a family.

The location of the Hemingway Woods Subdivision allows quick commute to many popular places inside and outside of Lake Orion. The subdivision is only ten minutes from The Palace of Auburn Hills, providing a short trip to Pistons games, concerts, and other activities. The Pine Knob Ski Resort is only fifteen minutes away from the subdivision, also providing an easy trip for some fun in the snow. Major roads such as West Clarkston Road, Joslyn Road, North and West Baldwin Roads, and South Lapper Road are just minutes from the Hemingway Woods Subdivision to provide quick access to many places.

Children living in the Hemingway Woods Subdivision can attend the neighborhood elementary school, Pine Tree elementary, or attend one of the three focus elementary schools: Carpenter Elementary, Stadium Elementary, or Orion Oaks Elementary. This gives the students and parents several options as to which school to attend. The neighborhood middle school for children in the Hemingway Woods Subdivision is Scripps Middle School, and for high school the children attend Lake Orion High School. All of these Lake Orion community schools have been praised for high achievement and fantastic opportunities.

The Hemingway Woods Subdivision is not only the location of some wonderful homes; it is also filled with wonderful people. The subdivision can be found on Facebook and on Twitter. Both of these resources make it easy for residents to keep in touch with the happenings of the subdivision.

So check out the Hemingway Woods Subdivision of Lake Orion, Michigan today to find nice homes, an overall great location, an honored school district, and wonderful people. It is a great place to live.

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How to Plan the Perfect Open House

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Have you ever spent time and energy planning an Open House, just to have less than five people attend? Have you ever had a ton of people show up at your Open House, and been unable to convert a single one of them into a sale or a future client? Are you unsure about why your Open House failed?

Open Houses are now more important to the real estate agent than ever. A report in 2015 by the National Association of Realtors Home Buyers and Sellers indicated that 48% of home buyers cited the Open House as an important source for most of their information. The reasons for this are obvious, for many it’s the first time that they’re getting to smell, see, and feel the home in person. It’s also a way to see what other people think of the house, which is a powerful push in a person’s perception of a particular home.

I’m Cindy Bishop of Cindy Bishop Worldwide. I pride myself not only on being a successful real estate agent with over 28 years of experience, but a knowledgeable and helpful trainer and coach. I’m committed to making everyone who comes into contact with me succeed, and have compiled the following open house tips for you, both from my own experience, as well as teaching and coaching friends of mine. Use them to succeed, and contact me if you have any questions at all!

Here are the best ways to make your Open House perfect:

1. Pick a unique property, that’s easy to find.

We often don’t have control over which property we’re showing, but when we are able to select a house at which to host an Open House event, we should look for properties with the following:

* A direct route to them with very few turns. Street names are easy, and street signs are visible.

* Properties that are well kept, and visually pleasing from both the inside and outside.

* A home with some kind of „conversation starter“. It has a unique feature, and is not just four walls. It might have an infinity pool, a walk-in closet, or a newly redesigned kitchen.

* Your signage should be larger than life. On the event day, you need something to make the signs stand out even more. Balloons are often used, or you could even try streamers, or pinwheels. Be creative, just try to find something professional, but that catches the light and people’s attention.

2. Have your Open House event at the right time.

* Don’t have your event after dark. Plan your event to end at sunset.

* Consider having a separate open house preview, for neighbors only. And then an open-to-the-public type of event later. Neighbors love this preview event concept, because it makes them feel special, and they love suggesting who should live in their neighborhood. It also allows them to start thinking of friends and family they want nearby, and they become part of your sales force for you, as well as your advertising force for the actual open house.

* If you do have an event only for neighbors, consider taking out a camera and interviewing and recording them talking about the neighborhood. This is something you can add to your website, or social media, or have on repeat loop during your Open House. For example, imagine how powerful it is to have a recorded testimonial from a mother in the area about the school district?

* Don’t pick a date and time where people are not available, for example, the majority of people work Monday through Fridays from 8am-5pm, and may not be free on a Wednesday at 3pm. Additionally, people are usually not free on holiday weekends.

3. Make your Open House event the right vibe, and the more exciting, the better!

* Entertaining music is a possibility, but be careful that it’s not distracting and that you avoid certain genres or language that may be offensive. Music may be seen as a way to cover up noises or mechanical failures in the house. Make sure that you’re sensitive to how the music is being perceived.

* Snacks are a must! Try wine and cheese, or beer and wings. The most important part about the food is that it needs to match what type of neighborhood you are in. Fried chicken and hamburgers probably aren’t appropriate at a million-dollar listing, but champagne and caviar probably aren’t appropriate in a first-time homebuyer situation, either. Just a word of caution; however, if you are serving alcohol, be very careful about who you serve. You may even want to get someone on your team to help you out with this. The last thing you need is for someone to drink at your open house as a minor, or someone to drive off over intoxicated and get into an accident. If in the right kind of setting, having comfort foods is especially welcoming and makes many visitors feel more at home. Careful to avoid foods with bad odors or smells, as you don’t want them attributed to the home.

* Consider leaving a hand-written sign to „Help Yourself“ along with a list of ingredients, so that visitors feel like they are able to eat the snacks provided without fear.

* Consider having a slideshow or interactive photo board featuring the home at various times of year. You may want to show the home off in summer months, for example, if it’s currently January and the garden and pool are frozen over.

* Consider making a table, desk, or station with local school information, neighborhood information, etc. The more resources you can provide, the better. You want the guest to stop at this station and pour over the resources, and ask as many questions as possible.

* Make sure to engage each and every visitor so they have are interested, and want to stay longer.

4. Don’t just advertise your Open House, create buzz around it.

* Create an event on social media, and share it with all of your friends and clients, as well as everyone on your e-mail lists. Facebook ads have become an amazing resource for reaching a ton of people in your area that wouldn’t have been in your networks otherwise. And it’s incredibly cost-effective, for what it does. You should filter the Facebook ad to include only people in targeted zip codes. You can also un-invite or exclude people who work for other realtors or competing brokerages.

* Flyer surrounding businesses and schools in the area of the listing. Knock on as many doors as possible.

* Visit neighbors‘ homes with nice newsletters or invitations. The nicer the invitation, the higher the chance that they will pop in to see what all of the fuss is about. Some agents even suggest using wedding style invitations.

* Don’t just advertise on one channel. You can try Facebook events, Twitter, your own website, your e-mail list, your newsletter, NextDoor.com, and even Craigslist. Just make sure you follow all of the appropriate advertising and marketing laws as designated by your brokerage and state laws.

5. Logistics, Logistics, Logistics

* Make sure everything is in order so that you look your best, and the house looks it’s best. it should be clean, light bulbs should be new, dust should be gone, air fresheners should be working, the climate should be controlled. I’ve even heard of certain agents baking cookies in advance of the big event so that the house feels and smells extra homey.

* Consider removing clutter, which makes navigating the home difficult. You can also remove or hide offensive art, or anything that might make someone feel uncomfortable. But be careful- make sure the homeowner doesn’t just throw the clutter into closets or cabinets! People care more and more about storage these days, and if it looks like the cabinets and closets are busting at the seams with junk, they’ll automatically assume that the amount of storage space in the house is not sufficient

* Use natural light to your advantage. Make sure all window treatments are open and all curtains are drawn. All light switches should be turned on, regardless of where they are. You don’t want someone afraid to go in the basement, or thinking they aren’t allowed to enter the garage.

* Make sure the home owner is not present. The last thing you need is them having an emotional breakdown because they are going down memory lane, or answering a question incorrectly. People also feel uncomfortable freeing roaming when the person who owns the property is looking over their shoulder.

* With that said, valuables, if left in the home, should be secured. At the very least, you should know what they are and where, and make an inventory of them. I strongly advise you insist that the home owner take them out of the property before the open house, so you’re not held liable for them in case of damage or theft.

* Use your team. If you are alone at an Open House, you may be spread too thin. If you leave for a minute to check that a sign on the corner hasn’t fallen down, you may miss someone who pops in to find no one there. Have one person for signage and the guest book, one person on food and drink detail, and that leaves you free to talk to and engage guests.

* Have a loan agent or lender on hand, in order to answer any potential questions the home buyer may have about the process.

* Make sure you have the necessary paperwork required. You can print out a copy of the MLS but it’s strongly suggested that you make a booklet, flyer, or something more personalized to the property, and to yourself.

* Make sure you know the neighborhood, and have done comparisons of values in the neighborhood. You may lose credibility if someone asks you a question and you’re unfamiliar with this territory, and I’m sure you’d rather look like a pro!

6. Use the Personal Touch

* It’s not enough to have each visitor sign in. You should take detailed notes on your conversation with each person. If you can’t remember this, a helpful suggestion is to hide a notebook or tablet inside a kitchen drawer, and make notes as the day goes by.

* You should remember one thing about each visitor and bring it up at some point during their tour of the home. „Jerry, wouldn’t this be an amazing place to store your golf clubs?“

* Don’t try to sell anyone. They will come to you, and request the information they need, when they need it. This is a time to establish relationships. Your only objective should be to make this home (and yourself) memorable.

7. Follow Up

* Add all visitors to your e-mail list, as well as your newsletter list. AM Open House is a great app and resource to make sure you’re keeping on task with this.

* For those visitors who were seriously interested in the home or in you, handwritten cards should be sent out thanking them for coming, and encouraging their business in the future. Take out that handy notebook you stashed, and make personal notes in each card. They’re more likely to keep it the more personal it is. Above all, make sure your contact information is on each card.

* Some agents even send videos. You could forward on a Facebook live video of the open house, or send a YouTube video of the listing. You could even send some kind of greeting card video for a special way to say „thanks for attending!“ BombBomb is a great resource for this type of video.

* Text message is a wonderful way to contact people, and has a 95% open rate. It’s less invasive than a phone call, which people may avoid answering if they don’t know a specific caller. Send a very specific text message with a thank you, the property address, and more information on the property, or a link for more information.

* Send a follow up to the follow up starting with the subject header „I forgot to tell you… “ – You can then point out a feature you neglected to tell them about on the current property, or even point out other properties that you may have listed, if this one fell short for them.

Of course, the best resource for an Open House is a coach, who can suggest strategies unique to your community and clientele. Not only is this more effective, but a coach should follow up with you to make sure that everything went smoothly, and question each step if it doesn’t.

Cindy Bishop is the Managing Director of Cindy Bishop Worldwide, a real estate education company specializing in Business Enhancement and Growth training for the Real Estate Community. Cindy is an active coach specializing in real estate agent business development.

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Listing Tips For Selling Jeans on eBay

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Get Started Making Cash Now on eBay

Clothing is a great item to sell on eBay. Every day, regular people make quick cash by sourcing and selling top clothing brands on eBay. Start with brands you are already familiar with. Let’s take American Eagle for our listing example. You have a pair of their Skinny jeans in great condition that you want to sell. First, begin with some quick research. Go to eBay.com and type American Eagle Skinny Jeans Size 6 into the search bar. Next, refine your search by selecting only Completed and Sold items. The items listed in green (for the price) are the sold items. Items listed in red did not sell. You want to ignore the Unsold Listings. Focus on the items that are most similar to yours and have sold recently. Check out the condition of those items. Is there visible wear? Any flaws? Worn cuffs? Also, write down relevant keywords the successful seller used in their title and description. If you are selling jeans, you need to know which style you’re selling. Are the jeans boot cut or skinny? Is the size Juniors or Women’s? Juniors sizes will be 00, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,11. Women’s sizes are listed in even numbers. A size 6 is a Women’s size.

Familiarize yourself with popular clothing keywords such as Rise and Inseam. You also need to be able to accurately describe the color of the wash of the jeans. Light or dark? Some brands have the wash color written on the care label. Other brands use codes with numbers and dates. Buyers will be on the lookout for particular washes. Expect to get questions from buyers asking you to describe and name the wash.

Buyers may be trying to find a discontinued favorite style. Help them out and provide as many Item Specifics as you can.

Get Accurate Measurements for Your Items

Rise is the measurement from the crotch seam (4 way seam at the seat) to the top of the waistband above the zipper. Front rise is a critical measurement. Most listings do not include a back rise measurement. The inseam is measured along the inside of the leg going from the 4-way center seam intersection to the bottom of the cuff. A regular inseam is 32 inches long. Be sure to list the size on the item’s tag as well as your measurements. Always include your own measurements because between brands and within brands, sizes vary. A 30 waist from one brand may be only 28 inches. Give your buyers enough information to help them make a good decision as to whether the jeans will fit properly. Better to include lots of measurements than to leave out important details. The buyer cannot try items on before purchasing.

Using Terapeak and Auctiva for eBay Sales

Terapeak is an online tool which shows you the best time to start your listing, which keywords to use, and how much completed listings sold for. Try a free trial of Terapeak to check it out risk-free. The cost is relatively low, about ten dollars per month, and you will definitely boost your item sales and profits by using the information provided. Terapeak is just one online resource for eBay sales.

Auctiva gives you professional-looking templates for your items. There are a wide variety of themes and backgrounds to choose from. Templates are listing in categories and you can save your favorite templates, change item description and information and quickly list hundreds of items for sale. Auctiva offers a scrolling gallery of your featured items to appear at the bottom of your listing. This allows you to sell more items through cross-promotion. It’s a great way to boost your eBay sales.

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