I don't blame Tele-Marketers, only their bosses.

I received a call today. The caller ID showed a Dallas number so I picked it up. There was a fraction of a pause, then a recorded message said: 'Congratulations! You have won a 3-day 2-night package...', at which point I disconnected.

Really??? You want to grab my attention with a recorded message? If I had continued listening, the message would have asked me to call a toll-free number immediately to get the prize. Or a human being would have come on to get more details from me.

Of the similar calls that I get from hotels, cruises, security systems and insurance companies, the prize goes to credit card companies!

Guys! THIS DOES NOT WORK! Why do you still continue to train your tele-marketers thusly?

Sometimes... if I am in a good mood and a human being is actually at the other end of the line, I may politely decline their offer. I feel sorry for them for their training is so horribly wrong.

In real estate training too, some methods that we are taught are so strange.

You are asked to prepare a pre-listing package. A folder that you would overnight to your sellers after you have scheduled an appointment but before you meet them. And what would this folder contain? A brag sheet about... drum roll... yourself! Your qualifications, your certifications and designations, your company, the homes that you have sold, and also to make it a little personal, something about yourself... for example:
- I have 4 grandchildren: Tommy, Susie, Bella and Jordyn. I love baking cookies for them.
- I love reading and gardening.
- I love travel.

???

There are trainers galore who will positively vouch for this as a means of impressing your potential clients.

Simply put, if I am the seller, I want to know how you would #marketmyhouse, not this rubbish about your grandchildren and reading habits.

Get real!

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net

For... all Real Estate matters! 

Undecided about selling your home now? You should read this.

There are conflicting reports in the news media about real estate that can make your head swim.

One report says that the real estate market is booming and that home prices have shot up. The next day, there are reports that new construction is at an all-time low and that is an indicator of flailing markets. One says that rising interest rates are hurting the real estate rebound, while another says that mortgage lenders are making more loans!

Here is the view from the field:

A lot of homes have been sitting unsold for months. Real estate signs have faded, info boxes hang forlorn. Summer has turned to winter, but these homes are still waiting to be sold.

Main reason? They are over-priced. It's not what sellers want to hear, but if a home has had a lot of showings, but no offers, then it is the price.

But... that is not what this post is about.

There are a lot of buyers out there. And they are sick of having the same homes come up on their searches. They have seen every home in their price range. They have seen every home with features that they want. None of these excites them.

So what do these buyers want?

They are looking for fresh homes on the market! They are ready and willing to buy, and worried that interest rates are inching up.

Could yours be one of the fresh homes at a competitive price to grab their attention?

For a free market analysis, email me at vsashikant@gmail.com. The analysis is FREE and there's no obligation.

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net

 

For... all Real Estate matters!

For Sale by Owner – Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home by Yourself.

Selling your home by yourself or going the FSBO way is certainly an option today as there are fewer homes on the market.

Here are some pros and cons:

Reasons to sell by yourself:

1.      You can set an attractive price since you will save half the commission that you would typically pay your Realtor. Substantial savings.

2.      You can choose how to promote your home – there are plenty of websites that you can access for free.

3.      You can easily prepare a flyer with beautiful photographs.

4.      You can schedule buyer showings at your convenience.

5.      You can have first-hand negotiations with buyers and their offers.  

Reasons to use a Realtor:

1.      Pricing: With an arsenal of tools, a Realtor will provide a market analysis for you to set a competitive price, and an estimate of your net proceeds.

2.      Prep Work: A Realtor will also advise you on what repairs are necessary and how you could stage your home to bring out its best features.

3.      Safety!
- A Realtor will, very likely, know the buyer. You don’t want to let unknown callers into your home.

-         By asking you and your family to leave the house during showings, the Realtor protects you from unnecessary interaction with potential buyers, and gives them a chance to explore without embarrassment.

-         The electronic lockbox installed by the Realtor sends an immediate email to the Realtor as to who has opened the lockbox and when. Only registered users can open the lockbox.

4.      Promotional materials: As a professional, the Realtor will prepare distinctive flyers, virtual tours and QR codes for today’s tech-savvy buyer.

5.      Maximum Exposure:
- Your home is listed in the Multiple Listing Service with access to every real estate agent in the area.

-         It is listed in Realtor.com, the largest real estate site.

-         It is also listed in company websites and other co-operating websites for a wide audience.

-         Postcards, flyers and eCards are sent to target audiences and a large database.

6.      Investment: From the moment it is listed, the Realtor will invest time and money on selling the home, with monetary compensation only when the home is sold!

As a Realtor, I respect the choice a #ForSalebyOwner has made. I have brought buyers to these homes and helped my buyers buy these homes.

For a FREE no-obligation market analysis of your home, call me at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com.

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net.

For... all Real Estate matters!

January was COLD and I’m dreading the January heating bill!

January has been one of the coldest in many years. Are you dreading your January heating bill? I know that I am.

The HVAC system, for heating and cooling, accounts for 30% of your home’s energy bill.

I thought that we had maintained our own home pretty well – here are some of the things that we got done to keep those energy bills low:

1.     Entire ductwork was redone.

2.     All windows were replaced with double-pane low-E glass windows.

3.     Outer doors were weather-stripped and routinely checked.

4.     HVAC system is 2 years old.

5.     Decent insulation under our floor boards but attic could use some more since insulation shrinks with age.

6.      An annual contract with a reputable heating and air company to check the system twice a year.

In spite of all this, last week, when the young man from the heat and air company came to check on the system, my husband and he found, literally, a large hole from which heat was escaping. The attic fan!

We love the attic fan. In spring and fall, we open windows and turn on the attic fan. All the stale air inside the home is sucked into the attic and cool air is drawn in through the windows.

But… in all these years, we didn’t realize that the louvers of the attic fan don’t close perfectly. We have, in fact, been losing heat and air through these vents! What a waste!

So… if you have an attic fan in your home, do check out attic fan covers. Several brands are available online and in stores.

That’s my task for this week – to get an attic fan cover and install it.

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net

 

For... all Real Estate matters!

Do you have the Home that Buyers want?

Knowing what appeals to today’s homebuyers can pay off when you sell your home.

Consider these trends if you are planning on upgrading your home to sell quickly:

1.      Privacy from neighbors remains at the top of the most-wanted list (important to 86% of buyers), according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® “2013 Community Preference Survey.” Mid-century ranches get a big thumb’s up on this with larger yards and more space between houses.

However, if your lot is smaller, adding a privacy fence will add value not just for privacy but also to keep pets and small children safe. Planting a living privacy screen of trees and shrubs is a great idea as trees also contribute to property value, energy savings and more.

2.      Homebuyers love energy efficiency. 85% of home buyers considered heating and cooling costs as important. If your home needs an energy-efficiency upgrade, go with projects that have a solid return on investment, like upgrading your HVAC system or adding a tank-less water heater. Sealing air leaks, adding attic insulation, installing energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient lighting are all important. Also, tuck away manuals and energy-efficiency information when you buy new appliances and lighting for your buyers.

3.      More and more generations are living together. Another NAR survey, the “2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers,” found 14% of buyers purchased a home suited to a multigenerational household due to children over the age of 18 moving back into the house, cost savings, and the health and caretaking of aging parents. Adding a bath will always add value to the home. Add a full bath to the 1^st floor or basement to create an in-law apartment or teen suite to make it more appealing to a multigenerational family.

If you would like first-hand advice on how to sell your home quickly for top dollar, do give me a call at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com for a weekly newsletter.

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net

Courtesy: HomeLogic

For… All Real Estate Matters!

10 Invitations you did not know you were sending to Burglars!

You come home to an open front door, a ransacked house and missing valuables. How did a burglar know you’d be gone? How did they get in? 

Courtesy HouseLogic and the National Association of Realtors, here are 10 tips to prevent break-ins:

1. Ladder in the backyard: A burglar can lean it against your home and easily reach a second-story window to enter, especially when upper story openings aren’t wired to a home security system!
               Do keep ladders inside – in the garage or utility room.
2. Empty boxes on the curb: Was that for a new flat-screen TV or a laptop? Left on the curb on garbage day, empty boxes reveal what wonderful new toys you have.
               Do break down the boxes and conceal them in the recycling or trash bins. 
3. Untrimmed trees and shrubs: Perfect for a burglar to hide while breaking in.
              Do trim bushes and trees near windows and doors. Make sure entry points to your home     are easily visible from the street —install motion-sensor lighting.

4. Plain wood-paneled exterior doors: Easy to kick in.
            Do install steel-wrapped exterior doors with deadbolts on all your entries. And be sure your windows are locked when you’re away.

5. Decorating ideas that are not good: A mirror in the entry hall may reflect the alarm system and show whether it is armed or not.
          Do place that antique mirror so that your alarm system is not visible if someone were to peer through a door or window.

6. Uncut lawn and piled up newspapers: Sure indicators that homeowners are away.
          Do hire someone to mow the grass regularly. Get a friendly neighbor or friend to pick up your newspapers (you can always put a vacation stop) and put lamps on timers. Make sure any car in the driveway is locked and remote garage door openers are removed.
7. Easy-to-carry safes: A desktop or floor safe with all your valuables in it just makes it easy for a burglar to cart it all away.
         Do put jewelry, cash and valuables in the bank lockbox or in a wall safe.  
8. Social Networks: Posting pictures of you at the airport and hourly updates on your travels are big no-nos. Your friends and acquaintances may repost those pictures or their comments may be seen by undesirable elements.
         Do post those pictures but after you return. 
9. Geo-tracking apps: When you use popular geo-tracking apps, such as FourSquare and Glympse, your location may be seen and noted.
         Do be careful about geo-tagging. 
10. For Sale by Owner: Sure you want to sell your electronics, games, furniture and maybe even your home by yourself. And you’ve advertised in Craigslist and other public websites. You’ve just made yourself a target for anyone to call and make an appointment.
         If you want to sell high-ticket items to strangers, do meet them at a public place, maybe even the parking lot of your local police station! 
For safely selling your home, contact a Realtor. Call me at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com.

For... All Real Estate Matters!

 

New Homes Get Costlier to Build – Is this good news for sellers?

According to a new report by the National Association of Home Builders, construction costs for single family homes are at the highest levels since 1998. Lumber prices jumped 40 percent between April 2011 and April 2013.

What does that mean for you, the seller?

That’s actually good news. Typically, resale home prices trail new construction prices. So if new homes cost more, your home price will also go up.

Is this a good time to sell your home? Here are some facts:

1.      Interest rates are rising – today’s rate is 4.375% (from Wells Fargo) as opposed to 3.77% in January 2013. Which means that for a given monthly mortgage payment, buyers will have to settle for slightly smaller homes or with less features.

2.      There are fewer homes on the market as compared to previous years.

3.      We are seeing more and more boomerang buyers. These are people who went into foreclosures or bankruptcy 3 – 5 years ago and are back in the market to buy homes.

In the last 3 years, homeowners have tried to sell their homes but could not get the price they wanted. This spring may get you a better price.

Do you need a new market analysis? Call me at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com for a FREE market analysis.

 

For... All Real Estate Matters!

 

 

Happy New Year!

We are now officially in 2014! Last year whizzed by just like years before that. What does 2014 hold for the real estate market?

1. Mortgage interest rates are edging higher, but 4-5% is still a far cry from 8%.

2. Home prices are also edging up, but not very much in Columbia.

3. Fewer homes for sale making it a sellers' market.

4. Not as many investors as home prices go up.

5. Plenty of boomerang buyers looking for homes.

So... if you are planning on selling your home, now's the time! Call now for a free evaluation of your home.

 

Call me on 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com.

 

For... All Real Estate Matters!