Archive for the ‘Tips & Hints’ Category

How to score an offer

Friday, November 20th, 2009

You know the house — the nice brick one you drive past every day. The Smith family lives there, and it’s been on the market for months without a buyer.

Yet, there’s the Jones’ house, same model, just around the corner. That yard sign hasn’t been up for more than a few weeks and it already says “under contract.” What do they know that the Smiths don’t?

Real estate is never an exact science, especially in today’s market. But the reality is that sellers who are prepared and ready to sell their home are more likely to accomplish their goals than sellers who don’t make the same commitment to the process.

Here are a few “secrets” that I like to share with my sellers. Whether you’re thinking of selling or buying, I think you’ll agree that these tips can make a big difference.

Professional Staging. Good staging suggests how buyers can make the most out of the home’s area and spaces, and allows them to envision how they can live a clutter-free, ultra-chic lifestyle — even with a family of small children.

Well-maintained landscaping and outdoor living spaces. Everyone wants to view their home as a relaxing retreat. Indulge their fantasy with a lush lawn.

Everything neat as a pin. Minor flaws draw attention away from the finer features of a nice home. Patch, paint, tighten and repair everything before listing your home for sale.

Low price compared to others. If your home is priced lower than others of similar size and quality, you automatically become the buyer’s choice.

Accessible for showing. The more difficult for an agent to show your home, the fewer buyers they will bring. Make your home available on short notice to attract maximum attention.

Great photos on the Web. When your home is entered into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), it is immediately exposed to thousands of agents and their clients. First impressions make a huge difference! Make sure your home is the “shiny red apple” with professional photos, in “show ready” condition from Day One.

Article Courtsey Of: Allen Tate Realtors

Choosing an Agent

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

How to Select the Best Real Estate Agent for YOU.

Once you have decided to list or buy a home, the next step is to find a real estate agent. The process of choosing a real estate agent can be overwhelming and confusing, but read over the following tips and you’ll be ahead of the game!!

Have Choices – Word of mouth and personal references can be an easy and efficient way in finding out who is a good agent in the area, but this may not always be the best way to choose an agent. Just because your neighbor’s house sold in 1 day, doesn’t necessarily mean that agent is right for you. Meeting different agents and conducting interviews is a great way to decide which agent would best suit your needs!

Interviewing Agents –  When making an investment as important as a home purchase, you should get more than one opinion. Interviewing potential agents can be a great way for you to figure out who would work best with you in buying or selling a home. Agents should want the chance to show you how they would work for you and what they would do to buy or sell a home. Don’t be afraid to ask agents how well they know the area and the markets of that area. An agent who is more knowledgeable on the area will be able to market your home better to prospective buyers.

Choosing an Agent – After interviewing several agents, it is time to make a decision on which agent you would like to list or help you purchase a home. Choose an agent that you feel comfortable with, you need to be able to communicate with them exactly what you want and need. This doesn’t necessarily mean your agent has to be your best friend, just someone that you respect and can speak with easily. Also, choose an agent who you feel will give you the upmost attention and works with your schedule, being able to reach an agent is very important when trying to sell or purchase a home.

 At Ruhl&Ruhl we have 10 offices and over 250 agents available to make purchasing or selling a home as easy as possible. Please feel free to browse each offices’ agent roster to help select an agent. If you would like one on one help in choosing the agent that is right for you, please contact Customer Service at 888.441.1776.

 

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TOP TEN REASONS TO BUY A NEW HOME NOW!

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

 

10. Amenities
Gourmet kitchen, mini-spa bathroom, home theatre. You want it you got it! It’s all about you!

9. Energy and Resource Efficiency
Today’s new homes are increasingly energy-efficient. You’ll be amazed at how low your utility bills can be!

8. Low Maintenance Cost
You’ll have more time and money to do things you really want to do!

7. Build Wealth
Today’s flexible financing options allow for minimum down payments, while you build maximum returns on the total value of the home. Plus you get to live there!

6. Financial Security
College expenses, retirement, emergencies. Your 401K should be so useful.

5. Interest Rates
Currently near historic lows.

4. Great Selection
More choices in every price range.

3. Tax Benefits
Enjoy huge deductions on mortgage interest as well as state and local property taxes.

2. Safety
The condition of our housing market is incredibly stable. Housing values continue to increase over time!

1. The Opportunity is Now
You will never build a home tomorrow for less than what you can build it for today.

Finding or Selling Your Home while using Social Media

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

More and more people are taking their home search out of the car and onto the computer. With our great new site, ruhlhomes.com, it’s easy to search for a home from the comfort of your living room. Online websites have taken a lot of the leg work out of finding the perfect home. But many people aren’t utilizing social media, like Facebook, that they use on a daily basis to help them find a new home. How can social media help you find the perfect home?

Social media has provided us with an abundance of information that wasn’t necessarily available to us before! From a buyer and seller’s point of view, Facebook can aid you in choosing a real estate agent since it does provide a more up close and personal feel without being actually up close and personal. Real estate agents are turning towards social media, specifically Facebook, to help expand their client base. Ryan Vandaele, a Ruhl&Ruhl agent who uses Facebook as a business tool, says “There are sooo many people on Facebook in the Quad Cities that it seems that it is just as addicting as having your morning cup of coffee….Once you start getting more and more people responding to your posts or emailing you back, that is the time to promote yourself and your business!  People will read what you have to say!” As a buyer or seller, agents want you to read their page and check them out, use this to your advantage! You could find that a real estate agent has similar intrests, like is an avid cycler just like you, and you’d love to work with them because they know all the bike paths in the area.

For seller’s, Facebook is also a great way to get your home out there; not only will you have the exposure that a real estate agent is providing, but you can let everyone know that your house is up for sale! Maybe you have an acquaintance, which is also a friend on Facebook, who was looking to purchase a home in your neighborhood. 

For buyer’s, Facebook provides groups that can give you more information about the community. This is a great way to see if a community meshes with your lifestyle and is somewhere you would like to make your home. Also, buyer’s can scope out local groups they would like to participate in or join.

Facebook is not going to be your primary tool in selling or buying a home, but it does help provide information that isn’t traditionally found on an agent’s page or real estate website. Facebook can be used to aid in your home search or selling your home and make it an easier experience for all!

Plan your own Open House Tour!

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Want to do your own Open House Tour? Ruhl&Ruhl has provided a page dedicated to our agent’s Open Houses, each week, Thursday-Sunday.  With Ruhl&Ruhl’s Open House webpage, making your own Open House Tour is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Access the Open House Page and search for type of home, bedrooms, price, and even in multiple cities! This search provides you with homes that only meet YOUR criteria!

2. Take a Guided Virtual Tour of the homes on your list! Guided Virtual Tours allows you to take a tour of the home without stepping a foot out the door!

3. Now that you’ve narrowed your search down to all the homes you’d like to see, print flyers with all the homes’ information to take with you as a guide! These flyers provide all the necessary information to make your home search easy and effective!

And don’t worry, if you see a home while you are out on your Home Tour, just use MobileRuhl to get information, see pictures, and even schedule an appointment to see the home!

 

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Copyright © 2010 Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: All content on this blog is my own opinion and should not be treated as fact or relied upon when purchasing or selling real estate.