Whenever life gets tough and throws you a curve, runs you over, or (in my case) gives you a baby-the tough gotta keep blogging.  I look at my poor activerain blog and it's been several weeks (oh, the humanity) since I have posted.  I know all of you out there have run into similar situations where blogging is not at the forefront of your to-do list.  But let's think about it for a minute.

Blogging (when done correctly) is very good for business.  Or, at least, it is for mine.  I hope it is for yours as well.

Blogging intelligently organizes your thoughts and emotions into something more constructive.  You may get listings, referrals, friendships, information, etc. from that act of blogging.  Don't take it lightly (I am talking to myself as well here).

So, the moral of this short story (it is now so short because my son is waking up and needs changing) is blog regularly, blog smartly.  In my opinion, it will help you in your daily lives and help your real estate business. 

Maybe he'll sleep longer next time.  Until then.

What really makes a property stand out from the crowd in today's market?  Is it price, location, or something else?  I have seen numerous listings locally and nationally that are priced great, have a good location, but are just not getting the showings that will allow for an eventual sale.  What's the fix for these types of properties?  In my humble opinion, it's EXPOSURE.

To differentiate your listing from others in the market you must get it out there for people to see.  After all, isn't that what real estate agents are supposed to do?  The days of dropping a listing into the MLS and waiting for it to show are gone.  Now is the time to get proactive about showing your home(s).

1.    Blog about it. - If you aren't blogging about your listing(s) you are missing out on a key source of internet exposure.

2.    Superexposure - Okay, so that may not be a real word but what I mean is that you have to blanket the internet with your listing.  Put it on every home listing website, every blog, every video and virtual tour website you can manage.  You should also have a competitive website that is updated often.  You will see results immediately.

3.    Virtual Tours - So VT's are getting to be old news.  That doesn't mean they aren't a great resource.  Just make sure not to half-way it.  Make a real VT that showcases all the amenities and highlights of your property and then get it out there to see.  Make CD's out of your tours and hand them out, do something different.

4.    Video Tours - Video is going to be 2008 and 2009's Virtual Tour.  There are all kinds of new websites out there dedicated to getting your home's video major exposure.

5.    Cohesive Exposure Plan - It's time for real estate agents to practice what we preach and get serious about marketing our properties.  If you or your agent is not using most (if not all) of the following sites and resources to market your property, you need to reevaluate.

 Realtor.com showcased listings, vflyer.com, tubemogul.com, point2nls.com, postlets.com, wellcomemat.com, trulia.com, zillow.com, hotpads.com, craigslist.com, google.com, yahoo.com, msn.com, youtube.com, crackle.com, activerain.com, zolve.com, talk.realtor.com, linkedin.com, collectivex.com, facebook.com, naymz.com, trufina.com, blueroof.com, pingomatic.com, homes.com, technorati.com, villagemaker.com, livedeal.com, cimls.com, backpage.com, homescape.com, citycribs.com, cityfeet.com, loopnet.com, xceligent.com, oodle.com, videohomes.com.  These along with a custom home address domain should get you started on the road to great listing exposure.

If anyone has any additional ideas or sites that should be on this list please let me know.  Until next time.

I've been attending a lot of webinars, conference calls, and discussions of late that focus on internet technology and trends.  From Social Networking, to company intranet, blogging, and user generated web video, there are a lot of new ways to promote yourself, your colleges and your clients.  Why do I call this blog post 'bleeding edge?"  Because most of us out there are not taking advantage of the amazing opportunities these new ideas and technologies present.

Social and Professional Networking are finally becoming mainstream forms of self and client promotion.  Sites like activerain.com, linkedin, and facebook keep professionals from all fields in touch with each other as well as their clients.  CollectiveX Groupsites is also a great, cheap way to create a client or company intranet where people can go to do/find business or just keep in touch.  Want to let clients know you're trustworthy and build a reputation database?  Join up at Naymz.com where you can build a network of people you have worked with, get and give references, and create an online 'reputation' presence.

Viral Marketing is also on the rise.  Many of you may have first heard the term when the movie "Cloverfield" came out but viral marketing has been around for quite a while.  Blogging and Forum posts can certainly make up part of a viral marketing campaign.  New to the scene is Web Video and user generated content.  While lots of teens have used web video for years, professionals are just now seeing the benefit for self and client promotion.  Check out websites like wellcomemat and VFlyer.  Don't forget to post your webvideo with sites like TubeMogul so all your time and effort will be seen.

Other professions aside for a moment, this is a brave new world for real estate advertising.  Why pay $400 for a local magazine ad that few people even look at when you can post your listing on your blog then create a neighborhood and property video and spread it all over the internet in hours.  I'm not saying that paper ads are dead, but they've got one toe in the grave.

Whether for real estate or some other field, what Viral Marketing and Networking techniques do you use to promote yourself and your business? 

1.    Real Estate Transactions are complicated.

        Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated (RESPA) settlement statements. A professional guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or expensive mistakes.

2.    Real Estate agents are experts in their field.

        A good professional has spent alot of money and effort marketing their client's home for sale.  Why not capitalize on all of their hard work?  They stay objective in an emotional process, keeping all parties on task.

3.    It will take much longer for a seller to sell their own home (if it sells at all) than to list with a Realtor.

        There are lots of reasons for this but the main one is exposure.   A real estate agent and the company they work under spends countless hours marketing and promoting their company, themselves, and their listings both locally and around the world.  Most, if not all, home owners do not have the resources to match this 'total marketplace exposure' that a good Realtor provides.

4.    Privacy and Safety.

        When you place a 'For Sale by Owner' sign in your yard it gives anyone in the free world the immediate right to call you or just stop by and take a look at your house.  Real Estate Agents have processes for weeding out window shoppers and focusing on serious buyers.

5.    Real Estate has it's own language.

        Now most people know what CMA's are these days but the deeper you get into a residential or commercial real estate transaction the more terms you will have thrown at you.  HUD, PUD, MI, LTV, PITI, FHA, VA, FNMA, the list goes on.  Experienced Realtors know this language and navigate it on a daily basis.

6.    Realtors are member of the National Association of Realtors.

        NAR is a trade organization of over 1,000,000 members nationwide that adhere to a strict code of ethics in everything that they do that guarantees the highest level of service and integrity.

If you or someone you know is unsure of or just wants more information about any of the statements above, please comment or contact me.  Until next time.

Fayetteville Arkansas (along with greater Northwest Arkansas) has been placed on the list of "Top 10 Recession Proof Cities."  Factors such as large "recession resistant" corporations like Wal-Mart, Tyson, and JB Hunt as well as the local mix of arts, education, and industry combine to help keep Northwest Arkansas prospering while the rest of the country suffers. 

Check out the story by clicking on the link below.

http://nwahomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=19557

Think about what this means for our local housing market.  More jobs, people moving to the area, lower unemployment, more homes purchased -- stable home prices.  Hopefully this will take some of the worry out of your home buying and selling decisions in the near term.  

Nationally, if you are considering moving or want to know about other areas, check out Forbes list of America's Recession Proof Cities below.

http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2008/04/29/cities-recession-places-forbeslife-cx_jz_0429realestate.html?boxes=relstories

Until next time.

You know that old adage that goes, "Buy when everyone else is selling, and Sell when everyone else is buying?"  Okay, it doesn't go quite like that, but the point is now is a great time to get a deal on some real estate, new, old, residential, commercial, you name it.

1.  Buy a Foreclosed property.

    Sound scary?  As long as you do a little homework it can be a breeze.  Using an agent that deals in foreclosed or real estate owned properties is probably a good idea as well.  I have recently see properties that were purchased last year for $127,000, $549,000, and $235,000 go for $65,000, $449,000, and $145,000 respectively.  You do the math.  Those are some deals.  Keep a look out for new posts about dealing with REO/Foreclosures and the details involved.

2.  Buy from a distressed Builder.

    We all hate that people are in trouble financially over the slump in home sales. Over the last few quarters some builders have been falling behind on their construction loans as their current inventory sits on the market.  Help them out!  Buying up the current inventory of new homes helps everyone.  It helps the builders stay afloat in difficult times and it gets you a fine home at a resonable price.

3.  Buy Short Sales

    An entire industry has popped up around short sale properties.  You definitely need to do your homework here.  Get in touch with a 'Short Sale Saavy' Realtor or Banker and hit the ground running.  There is some leg work involved in finding these gems but they can be well worth it.  Again, you are helping the current owner by keeping them from foreclosure, you're helping the bank by taking a bad mortgage off the books, and you're helping your self get a property at something (hopefully) well under market value.

Remember that these options are not for everyone.   Keep on the lookout for rumors of financial distress to capitalize on these opportunities because they won't last forever.  Also, if you are unsure about any of the steps to take, get in touch with a professional.  Until next time.

Okay, so we know we're in a buyer's market.  Sellers know it, agents know it, and buyers certainly know it.  When we factor in things like foreclosures and troubled or distressed builders who are forced to sell their product to keep from going under, it compounds the situation for the normal seller (and their agent).

This means that you must do some things to stand out in this crowd of homes:

•1.      Immaculate showings - if you are trying to sell a less than new home make sure it stands out from the rest by showing well.  Make sure everything is clean, tidy, painted, mopped, trimmed, picked up, and otherwise looking the best it can.

•2.      Staging - This can be another great tool to make buyers feel at home in a strange house.  If your property is vacant there are always area staging companies that will gladly furnish the home, for a fee.  But hey, if it helps sell your home, it may be worth the trouble.

•3.      Pricing - To sum it up in one word, Critical.  Overpricing your home will cause it to sit on the market for an extended period of time.  Eventually, your listing becomes stale garnering no showings, no activity, no sales.  Don't chase the market.  If you aggressively price your home from the start, you'll generate more attention and improve your chances of getting a qualified offer on the table.

•4.      Use An Agent - A professional, experienced agent will provide the advice, knowledge, and strength (emotionally) that sellers need to get a home sold.  Find an Agent that will market your home aggressively so that it stands out from the crowd and gets the most exposure possible.

There are always other little things you can do to help your home sell in this challenging market but they should all shout from the rooftops that "This home is the best value on the market."  If you can do that, you'll get that house sold in no time flat.  Notice that I called it a ‘challenging' market and not ‘bad'.  2007 was still the 4^th best year for real estate EVER.  Keep things in perspective while you go through the home selling or home buying process and everything will work out fine.  Until next time.

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.  There is a big difference between a home that is clean while being lived in, and a home that is ready to show.  Homes that are spotless inside and out consistently show more and get better offers than home that are not.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior as well as making the rest of the home feel cleaner.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.  I just had a client that rented a buffer and cleaned every floor and solid surface in the house.  It looks great in there! 

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.  Some people like to bake cookies or light a fragrant candle when they know their house is being show.  The key is not to over do it and offend the noses of your prospective buyers.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replacing any burnt out bulbs is a must. 

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, cracks or holes in the wall, or a dripping faucet may seem small, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained.

7. Tidy up your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.  This immediately gives your home more curb appeal.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.  Make sure your driveway, decks, and patios are free of debris.

9. Clean out your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers and make sure your mailbox is clean.

I hope this helps you sell your client's homes more quickly, with less hassle, and at a higher price.  Until next time.

While the home you choose is definitely an integral part of the home buying process, the neighborhood you choose can has the greatest impact on you and your family's lifestyle-friends, safety, amenities, and convenience all play their part.

1. Make a list of the activities-movies, health club, church-you engage in regularly and stores you like to visit. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood to take part in your most common activities.

2. Two words -- School District. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have 1 or more school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you're considering. One thing to think about, even if you don't have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.

3. Look into neighborhood safety. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics of find them online. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type-burglaries, armed robberies-and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime.

4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don't necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months or years?  This may be a good indication of the economic livelyhood of the neighborhood.

5.  See if you'll make more money.  Ask a local real esate professional how prices are trending in the neighborhoods you are considering.  While past results can not be guaranteed in the future, they may be a good indication of where the neighborhood is heading.

6.  See for yourself.  Walk around the neighborhood on a sunny day.  Are there people out and about?  Is the playground busy?  Is there much traffic or do kids play in the streets all weekend?  This will really give you a feel for whether this neighborhood is a good fit for your family.

Remember to get out and enjoy the spring weather!