Living in The East Valley » Selling a Home

Using QR Codes for Real Estate Marketing

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 22:20:06 +0000

We recently learned about a new technology to use for real estate marketing and we are giving it a try. Lots of people have access to the internet on their phones now. However, accessing internet information from the phone can be difficult unless the website is formatted for mobile phone display. Using this new technology, it is easy to display property information on a cell phone.

We create a mobile phone formatted website for each property. We also create a QR code for each property. A QR code looks like a bar code except it is square instead of rectangular. It also has a smaller square in each of three corners.

To access property information, a mobile phone user first needs to download a free QR Reader from their app store. Then follow the softwares directions to scan the code (take a picture of it). Be careful when taking the picture to get a clear picture and try to have the QR code take up as much of the photo as possible. Then, it should be as simple as clicking on the button to access the property information. Property information and photos are available on our listings. The service we are using also provides a map of the property’s location and some local information.

Do you want to try it? You can use either of the QR codes below.

If you would like to see what the property information looks like on your mobile device without scanning the QR code, simply visit the following website on your phone.

http://vyoo.it/7ksj8

Phoenix Area Home Prices Starting to Increase

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:57:11 +0000

I just read an article from the Phoenix Business Journal regarding homes prices. Everyone is always wondering when the real estate prices will have hit bottom. That is something we can’t tell until prices have started to increase and we are past the bottom. We have seen greater competition by buyers in the market place and reduced inventories compared to the recent past years.

This is a great time to buy a home. Prices are still low but looking to slowly increase going forward. Additionally, interest rates are at historically low levels.

Selling Your Home – Make it Look Great to Help it Sell Quickly

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:02:48 +0000

7 Tips for Staging Your Home

Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process. Read

5 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Working to get your home ship-shape for showings will increase its value and shorten your sales time. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Listing Book for Home Owners and Home Sellers

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:10:36 +0000

We have a new service we are offering to home owners and home sellers.

Find out what homes similar to yours are selling for in your neighborhood
Get notifications of price changes and new listings in your neighborhood

If you list with us you can:

We will provide you with a Competitive Market Analysis so we can work with you to set the right price for your home to get it sold quickly
Get reports of how many buyers have viewed your home via Listingbook and how many people have marked it as a favorite
Have your property featured on www.EastValleyHomesForSale.net, www.RealtySecrets.net and www.townHOMESonly.com

New Tax Credit for Current Home Owners Buying a New Home

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:50:56 +0000

The President signed the legislation to expand the first time home buyer tax credit to include current home owners on Friday 11/6. Here is some basic information about the credit.

What is a tax credit?
A tax credit differs from a tax deduction in that the amount of the credit is deducted from the amount of tax you owe. A deduction reduces that amount of income which is subject to tax. In the case of this first time home buyer tax credit, if the amount of the credit is greater than the amount you owe, then you will be sent a refund check for the remaining amount of the credit.

Who is eligible?
Someone who has used the home being sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years. The home being purchased must cost $800,000 or less. You must close on your home purchase between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, or have a binding written contract by April 30, 2010 and close by July 1, 2010.

What type of home can I buy?
Single family homes, town homes, and condominiums all qualify.

What is the amount of the credit?
The credit amount is 10% of the cost of the home up to a maximum of $6,500. Income limits do apply. The credit phases out for individuals with an adjusted gross income over $125,000 or a couple with an adjusted gross income over $225,000.

When do I get the money?
This is a tax credit. You will not get the money when you buy the house. Instead the credit will be applied to the taxes you owe for 2009 or 2010 depending upon when you purchase and how you file.

More Information

There some additional rules that apply. If you would like more information, please send an email requesting the information to Pat@RealtySecrets.net.

Consult an Accountant
Tax laws are complicated and each year there are new changes; therefore, we always recommend that you consult your accountant or the IRS regarding any tax questions that you might have including whether or not you qualify for this tax credit.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®.

Google Adds Real Estate Data to Maps

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:27:32 +0000

Google has added real estate data as an optional display for its maps. Just go to Google Maps and enter an address. Once you have brought up the address with the surrounding neighborhood, click on the “More” tab in the upper right corner of the map. A drop down menu will appear. Click on “Real Estate” and information will be added to the map regarding homes that are for sale in that neighborhood. When checking for one of our listings, I found that the information was up to date for our listing. However, the other properties shown as available for sale had already sold a number of months ago. So use this information with caution. Remember the best source for up to date real estate information is your local REALTOR.

New MLS Rule Regarding Photos

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:04:55 +0000

We attended a class on the new Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) rules that will be in effect beginning May 1. Many of you will be glad to hear that one of the new requirements is that at least one exterior photo of the property must be included with each MLS listing. Agents have four days after posting a listing to attach the photograph. It may take a few weeks of transition before all the properties are in compliance.

If you want to do your own search of properties from ARMLS, just click on House Search or Townhome & Condo Search in the upper left corner.

Certified Negotiation Expert

admin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:05:00 +0000

It’s a funny story. REALTORs need to get 24 hours of continuing education every two years. I need some hours before May. I saw this class that would get me over the minimum and it was near my home. I signed up, expecting nothing more than getting my hours and maybe learning one or two useful things.

George Will said, “The future has a way of arriving unannounced.”

I walked into Tom Hayman’s class on becoming a better negotiator. By taking this two day course I can become a ‘Certified Negotiation Expert’ and I can only say ‘Wow!’

I’ve come away with over a dozen ways to help my clients make more money when they sell their homes, save more money when the buy a home and make the whole process less dramatic for buyers, sellers and REALTORs too.

As I go through my notes and all the additional charts and graphs I have been given I will blog about it and let you know how our real estate operation will change.

This new knowledge, on top of my existing knowledge of negotiating will benefit my clients immensely.

Features Buyers Want

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:30:00 +0000

Here are the five kitchen and bath features buyers want the most:
36% want a separate shower enclosure in the master bath
31% want an eat-in kitchen
24% want high-end appliances
23% want granite counter tops
21% want a kitchen island

Source February 2009 issue of REALTOR® Magazine - Source: NAR 2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences

Improve Your Odds of Getting Your Home Sold

admin — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:18:00 +0000

When you are selling your home what it looks like on the inside matters. Buyers will look at photos of the inside of your home on the Internet and will decide based upon these photos whether or not they want to see your home. Don’t think that if the inside of your home is a mess that you can still get buyers by not having interior photos of your home posted on the MLS. Many buyers browse only those homes that have multiple photos.

Once you get them interested enough to come view your home, it is important that the home look clean and clutter free when they arrive to view it. Potential buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home. This means that you need to pack up or give away items that are cluttering up your home. To get an idea of what this means, look at a few model homes in new built subdivisions and see how they are decorated. Look in some home decorating magazines and count how many personal items are displayed. Limit yourself to a similar number. Homes with clean and spacious (uncluttered) interiors tend to sell faster.

For more information – Realty Times article – Clutter Free Helps Sell Homes