Need customers? Whether you’re trying to buy a home or sell your house, the answer is a resounding “yes”. If you don’t understand that, it could be the reason you’re not finding what you need.
Do buyers know your house is for sale? Is there a sign in the yard? With a phone number that someone answers and a web site that is monitored regularly? Is your property listed on the MLS, with fabulous photos and an outstanding description of the most desirable features? Is it in the newspaper in an ad that stands out from the others? Is it on all the free on-line listing sites (and there are a TON of them)? Have you put out flyers, talked to your neighbors and co-workers about it? Offered a finder’s gift if someone refers the person who buys your home? What have you done above and beyond the usual that makes your property get attention? Why would someone find you in the haystack of for sale homes?
Can’t find the home you’re looking for? Have you marketed for it? Do your friends, family and co-workers know you’re looking? Do they know what exactly it is that you want? Are you offering a finder’s gift if they bring you a lead on the property you finally purchase? Have you run an ad in the paper describing what you’re looking for? Are you in the free papers with an ad? Have you advertised on-line on the “looking for” sites? Even Craigslist lets you search for wanted items and has a “wanted” tab under their for-sale column where you can place your own ad. Rather than 2, 4 even 6 of you searching for that dream home, go online and let thousands help you find it. What are you doing beyond hoping that will make your wish come true?
Being pro-active is absolutely necessary to find what you want, buying or selling. Good news, it’s easier than ever today with all the available on-line help. We buy 2-3 houses a month and keep them all sold or leased because a HUGE part of what we do is marketing.
What ideas can you share? What has worked for you? This is the power of community!
How do you determine the maximum rent you can get for a house you are intending to keep as a rental property?
Thanks for providing so many good topics. Each time I go looking for a particular topic, I find an endless supply of helpful topics.
Dec 29th, 2009 / 8:19 am
Hi Ray:
To determine rents, you can use sites like Rental Comps and Rent-o-Meter. You can find links to both of those in the links tab on the right hand column of the blog.
Another thing we go by is cost to own. Since we do so many lease-to-own agreements where the resident is working toward owning, we make sure that what they pay each month is close to what they will pay when they own it. Their payment includes taxes and insurance. That way, when they convert to owning, we know they can afford the mortgage and will succeed as homeowners.
Thank you for your question!
Dec 29th, 2009 / 11:33 am
Hi again, Ray:
It is near the top of this page to the right. See the bird, Twitter? Below that: About, Contact, Links.
Or you can click this link:
http://www.karensperspective.com/links/
and scroll down to Rental Comps and Rent-O-Meter.
Dec 30th, 2009 / 12:54 pm