LIMITED LISTING SERVICE - IS IT FOR YOU?

 At Select Real Estate, we want to be the kind of brokerage that responds to the needs and desires of sellers and buyers so we are constantly evaluating trends, marketing, local and national real estate issues.

One trend that caught our attention was limited listing services but further research showed many of these companies while charging a nominal fee were greatly lacking in what they were providing. Also, it turns out most of the companies are NOT local so they have no understanding of our local markets.

We wanted to provide a service to the "for sale by owner" group but we also wanted to being our unique Select Difference to the process. We are proud to announce the launch of our Ala Carte Real Estate Service.

Select Real Estate is offering a comprehensive Limited Listing Service package to those sellers who are willing and able to handle most aspects of the sale themselves. This means taking calls, showing the property and negotiating their own terms for contract.

So then what is in the Ala Carte Service? We will enter your listing in to the MLS, giving you a much greater buyer base by allowing selling agents to show the property. This means offering a commission to the buyer's agent but still much cheaper than a full service agreement. We allow seller to provide up to 15 photos and we also list your property on our website as well as getting it out to external websites like Trulia and Realtor.com. We can provide a sign and lockbox, disclosure documents and a one hour consultation.

We also have an ala carte menu for additional services should you need them such as we take the photos, list your property with a showing service and we can provide color brochures.

All details and pricing can be found on our website, www.ncselectrealestate.com

We are here to serve you! And at Select Real Estate, Words Count But Deeds Count More!

TIPS TO SELL YOUR HOUSE FAST!

Barbara Corcoran, real estate guru frequently seen on the Today Show shares some “secrets” for selling your home at Oprah.com. Ms Corcoran took $1,000 and formed The Corcoran Group which she parlayed into a 5 billion dollar real estate business.

So, when Barbara talks real estate, anyone interested in the market should listen. Her best advice? PRICE IT RIGHT.
One of the biggest problems in the real estate market is unrealistic expectations of not only what a property is worth but also what the market will bear.

You can do some research yourself such as attend open houses of similar homes to get an idea of values and you can ask several real estate agents in your area to perform a comparative market analysis.
BEWARE any agent whose price opinion is largely higher or lower than the others.
What Barbara says is to ask for an opinion based on a 30 day sell time.

“Even the best brokers feel pressured to flatter the seller when asked to price a home, but the truth is the broker who gives the lowest price is always right.”

“Price your home 10 to 15 percent lower than the number you get. I know, I know, you think I'm crazy. I'm not. Don't ever be afraid of underpricing your home, because market forces always correct an underpriced property. It's called a bidding war, and you'll be smiling when it starts.”

The old adage, “you can always drop the price but you can’t go up” is first, untrue and second irrelevant in today’s market. The fact is the longer your property languishes on the market, the less you’ll be able to get for it as it will become a stigmatized and stale listing.

Some other tips to set your house above the rest:

CLEAN
This may seem like a no-brainer but scrub the house clean and get rid of all odors! That means keeping that litter box clean and NO SMOKING in the house. You will eliminate roughly half your potential buyers with smoke residue. Smokers don’t notice the odor but non-smokers are totally put off. If someone has been smoking in the house, you will need to clean all surfaces and wait until you see the brown nicotine residue clinging to every surface, yuk!

Wash all curtains, window treatments and bedding and you will need to repaint all walls and ceilings. PLEASE, PLEASE forget about your “style” and paint in light, neutral colors! Once the house is clean, keep a container of upholstery deodorizer and an odor eliminating air spray to freshen the house before a showing, but use sparingly.

PACK

You love your collection of teapots and the stuffed deer heads in the den are a testament to the outdoorsy prowess of your family but if you want to sell your house all that stuff you have accumulated over the years could be a deal breaker. Why? Because these things personalize it as “your space” and most buyers can’t see beyond that to imagine it being their space.

Also, your cherished collections (CLUTTER) can make rooms seem smaller and generally distract the buyers from looking at the property to critiquing your decorating choices.

Time to think about YOUR home as THE HOUSE and start de-personalizing the space by packing everything but essentials. Leave enough furniture to be functional and a little wall art but everything else must go. Renting a storage unit for a few months will be a worthwhile investment.

LET THE LIGHT SHINE

Nothing says dungeon like dark rooms with bad lighting and heavy window treatments. Most buyers love light and your house shows better so check all lamps and fixtures and replace burnt out bulbs. If safe for the fixture, go up in wattage to help brighten the space, or add a couple of lamps – those floor lamps that direct light up are an inexpensive solution to brightening a room.

Remove heavy window coverings and replace them with sheer curtains or none at all on windows you can leave exposed. And, above all, clean all windows inside and out!

CURB APPEAL

Even if the snow is piled four feet high, there are still things you can do to increase the curb appeal of your home. The most important thing is that your house looks cared for and well maintained. If safe, clean out the gutters of all those leaves that fell last autumn or hire a pro to do it. If you have a porch, clean all things off of it you aren’t using and put these in storage. Hang a festive wreath on the front door. Again, make sure out door lights are in working order.

Once Spring arrives, trim the bushes, mulch around trees and plants and get some flowers in as soon as possible. You can get a jump start by using planters that can be sheltered at night and put out during the day.

NOW, STEP BACK

Walk down the street and approach your house, looking at it as a potential buyer. Try to remove yourself from the equation and look with a critical eye – what attracts you, what stands out, both in a positive and a negative way. Enter your house through the front door (if it is difficult to open or the hinges creak, get it fixed!) and just imagine yourself shopping for a new home. Again look for what attracts you and what doesn’t.

HIRE A REALTOR

So many times I hear people complaining about what real estate agents earn in commissions. A common complaint, “What do they do for that money? I can put a sign in my yard and talk to people!”
My first reaction is that these people have had a bad experience with a less than stellar agent. Like any industry, there are those who are good at it and those who are terrible. So how do you decide which is which? Talk to friends and family that have recently sold a home or made a purchase. They are usually the best source for recommendations. Invite at least three agents to view your home, give you a price opinion and present their ideas for marketing. Pay attention to whether they are providing you with details and seem to have a clear plan formulated. A red flag should be anyone who is vague with details and seems unsure of their pricing. Make sure they have data to back up their claims.

Some of things real estate companies and their agents should be doing for you is providing a market analysis of your property and their marketing plan for your property. Look for a company that at least advertises in the local real estate guide and maintains a website. Having a REALTOR that belongs to the local MLS (multiple listing service) gets your property more exposure as most groups have cooperative agreements allowing other agents from other brokerages to show and sell your property.

The amount of exposure for your home and the marketing techniques employed by an experienced, competent real estate agent will more than make up for that commission you are paying in optimizing both your selling price and length of marketing time.

Bottom line: You CAN sell you house even in this sluggish market if you make
smart decisions and a good real estate agent can help you do that.

A WORD TO THE WISE

I recently received an email from a “Robert James” who is offering a rent to own
deal on select homes IF you click on the links to a “free” credit report and then give them a credit card number so that you can receive an “exclusive” list of homes that I get for free from a government website.

Needless to say, skeptic that I am, I did a little more research and found THIS article about similar scams that is a MUST READ for anyone who is considering answering this type of email.

“The latest scam to hit craigslist and inboxes across America could cost you your identity. The scammer operates under the name Kyle Waitley and he promises you a list of very cheap foreclosed homes for a mere $2 and a credit check.”

There are no shortcuts to repairing your credit and getting control over your budget. There is no magic formula that can be tapped into over the internet; only deceit and financial loss.

So, if you are serious about getting back on track, there are usually one or more nonprofit government sponsored agencies in each state ready to help you reclaim your life. HERE is an example of one such agency in my state of North Carolina. (The link to this organization is for an example only and should not be constued as an endorsement for this or any other similar company. As always, let the buyer beware, so do your homework and contact your state's BBB for more information on any company beofre doing business with them!)

If you are struggling to hold on to your home, don’t wait for the eviction notices; call a reputable REALTOR in your area who is willing to help you either by way of a short sale or by helping you contact the appropriate department at your lender’s establishment.

If you have questions, you can email me using the contact link on the side bar and I’ll be happy to help you in any way I can.

These are scary, uncertain times, but we can get through them helping each other.

BILLY BOB’S

If you find your travels bring you to Winston Salem, you should make a point of stopping in at Billy Bob’s Silver Diner for a meal.

The diner is decorated in period style, meant to take you back to those swinging 50s and 60s. With lots of chrome and neon lighting this place is a bright spot even on the grayest of days.

And the menu is a pleasant surprise; this is NOT your typical greasy spoon. With things like Asian Orange Chicken on the specials board and steak on the main menu, everyone can find something that is to their taste.

Tucked away at the end of Hanes Mall Blvd (just past the Target shopping center) Billy Bob’s is worth the extra minute or two to get there.

OUTDOOR DRAMA!

I’m sure there are many young people today that have no idea what a drive in theater is. The idea of sitting in a car with a speaker hooked to the window and kids in their pajamas watching a movie through the windshield probably sounds funny to them in their high tech world.

But if you’re in Mount Airy this summer, you can experience the drive in theater for the first time or all over again at the Bright Leaf Drive In on Rt 52 (Andy Griffith Highway).

This drive in has been in operation since 1955 and the current owners are brimming with enthusiasm as they continue to make improvements. The drive in may be dead in other parts of the country, but here in Mayberry, there’s a double feature every night!

We hope you get a chance to enjoy this icon of American Cinema soon and don’t forget to visit the snack bar!

THE ARTS IN SURRY COUNTY

While Surry County may be a rural area with a low population density, there is no shortage of talent around here and no shortage of venues in which to enjoy it.

The Surry Arts Council does a great job of bringing a variety of entertainment to citizens and visitors alike. And once you visit their website HERE, you’ll be amazed to learn that this is a largely volunteer group.

The showcase of the Arts Council is the Andy Griffith Playhouse but there is also the Downtown Cinema and the Blackmon Amphitheater. Plays, bands and special guests provide a diverse menu of arts for every taste.

During the summer, the hills are alive with the sound of music and the Blackmon Amphitheater is the perfect venue to showcase musical groups all summer long.
Summer is here so, come celebrate the season with us!

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR HOME BUYERS!

From an article in REALTOR magazine titled: Tax Credit Can Be Used for Down Payment

“Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on Tuesday said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment. “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment,” Donovan says.

Previously, most buyers wouldn't receive the funds until after they filed their tax return, and that deterred some people from using the credit. FHA’s approved lenders will be permitted to “monetize” the tax credit through short-term bridge loans. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table.”

This move will make it an even better time to buy a home and help further stimulate the housing market. To find out if you can take advantage of this program, contact a reputable lender or a local REALTOR.