Brande Bradford...South Metro Atlanta Seller's Advocate

Doing A Budget To Buy A Home Is Important

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:12:23 -0500

Doing A Budget To Buy A Home Is Important

Anyone looking to buy a home no matter where you live, it is extremely imperative to make a budget. You are probably wondering why making a budget is a must. It is simple. A budget will assist you, giving you a financial layout so you know just how much you can afford to spend on a new home and how much of a monthly payment you can afford.

However, before you spend the time to do a budget, even though a budget doesn't take that long, you need to make sure it's a place your going to stay at for at least 2 or 3 years. If you can't see yourself staying put at least that long, then you need to stop looking to buy. It would not be worth your time buying a home that you have no interest in keeping or staying in for at least that long.

Your budget plays a very important role when it comes to buying a home and how your going to move on. There are two parts to your budget, your monthly income and your monthly expenses. Figuring your monthly income is easy if you get a paycheck on a steady basis, however if you are self employed it can be more difficult to figure and take more time to figure out.

Always write down all your information as you go, you don't want to mess up on figuring it out because you could end up putting yourself in a really bad position, that will be hard to recover from. Once you know your monthly income, you can now move on to your expenses. Your expenses must include everything from rental payment, utilities all the to groceries and money for fun activities. Once that is completed, you can decrease from your monthly budget and see what you have left.

By looking at your budget you can determine how much of a house payment you can afford. Just make you take what your paying for rent and include that in the amount you have left from your budget, this will give you the amount you can afford for a house payment. If your buying a house you won't have a rent payment there for that amount is not going to be in your monthly expenses, so it is important to include that in your end amount.

As you can see having a budget to buy a new home is important. Of course you can probably get away without doing one but it is a risk. This will be a huge investment, a long term one at that, so this shouldn't be a risk your willing to take. It doesn't take long to figure out a budget, sit down and take the time to do one and proceed from there.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

Charming Ranch Home In Forest Park Georgia

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:02:53 -0500

Brande Bradford | Bradford Realty Group | 404-993-5753

4257 Boling Drive, Forest Park, GA

Charming Ranch Home In Forest Park Georgia

3BR/1BA Single Family House

offered at $67,900

Year Built	1959
Sq Footage	912
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This is a four-sided brick home with a very nice fenced in backyard. It has three bedrooms and one bath. This home is move in ready and located within minutes of the interstate. Seller would be interested in possibly rending this home.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Hardwood floor
- Living room	- Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Fenced Yard

- Garden Area

- Out Building

- Screen Porch

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front

Contact info:

Brande Bradford

Bradford Realty Group

404-993-5753

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 21, 2009, 10:48am PDT

Magnificent Traditional Style Home In Stockbridge

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:58:11 -0500

Brande Bradford | Bradford Realty Group | 404-993-5753

160 Jasper Drive, Stockbridge, GA

Magnificent Traditional Style Home In Stockbridge

4BR/4BA Single Family House

offered at $299,900

Year Built	1984
Sq Footage	2,620
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	2.3 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This 5 bedroom / 4 bath home sits on approximately 2.3 acres. It is located near Lake Spivey, in the Manderley Subdivision. This home as access to Lake Manderley and neighborhood pool, tennis courts and clubhouse. This home has
hardwood floors throughout the main level. The space within this home is unbelievable. It has a fully finished terrace level. Sellers are relocating.
Please call agent for all options!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Bonus/Rec room	- Dining room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Attic
- Basement	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking	- Clubhouse	- Swimming pool(s)
- Tennis court(s)	- Lake	- Playground

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front

Contact info:

Brande Bradford

Bradford Realty Group

404-993-5753

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 21, 2009, 9:03am PDT

Should You Take Every Listing?

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:29:49 -0500

It is our job to help the seller to sell their home and inform them of what we know, what we have researched about the area, and their home. Everything needs to be addressed at the listing presentation from the price, market conditions, the appearance, what advantages their home has, and all the terms. If we take a listing solely based on what the sellers wants to do and saying yes to everything the seller says, then we are not doing our seller or ourselves any good, because we are not doing our job properly.

With that being said, we also have to keep in mind that it can be very costly for any agent to list every single listing that comes our way. Commission is the only thing we earn, so it is important to make sure the listing can be sold and will sell successfully. If we don't, we can end up spending alot of money and time marketing listings that are possibly overpriced, outdated, or just plain messy.

When your going to take a listing, ask yourself a few questions to be sure it is one that you want to present.

1. Would you buy the home yourself if you were a buyer?

2. Are the sellers terms and the time frames reasonable?

3. What are the positives and negatives of the home? Do the positives out number the negatives?

4. Are the sellers motivated?

5. Can the home be shown well? (If not, what can be done to improve it and will the sellers agree to it?

6. Will the sellers list with you on your terms?

If you can answer "No" to any of the questions above, I would think twice before listing the property.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

Off The Market! The Gorgeous Home You Have Been Looking For!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:49:48 -0500

Brande Bradford | Bradford Realty Group | 404-993-5753

6510 Pleasant Valley Drive, Morrow, GA

The Gorgeous Home You Have Been Looking For!

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $149,900

Year Built	1960
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	2 Covered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Fantastic home located on larger corner lot with fenced in backyard. This home offers 4 bedrooms / 2 baths, including a possible in law suite in the finished partial basement. This home has hardwood floors, carpet and has been recently renovated. The country kitchen overlooks the breakfast area. All appliances do come with this home, including the washer and dryer. The screened in sunroom offers a relaxing getaway when needed. This home is located in an area of Morrow that is in high demand. It will not last long. Book your showing today!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Hardwood floor	- Family room	- Living room
- Bonus/Rec room	- Dining room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Basement	- Washer	- Dryer
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Covered parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

- Fenced Yard

- Screened Porch

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Exterior Front	Exterior Back
Dining Room	Inside Screened Porch
Kitchen	Master Bedroom

Contact info:

Brande Bradford

Bradford Realty Group

404-993-5753

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 19, 2009, 7:34pm PDT

Marketing Isn't Important To Grow Your Business!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:24:13 -0500

Marketing Isn't Important To Grow Your Business!

Right, how else are we suppose to build a successful business, besides doing some kind of marketing. I have never known any real estate business or any other business for that matter to not use some kind of marketing. Marketing can change a business single handedly, from going under to making it so busy, your are completely swamped! If your business is failing, it is more likely the way your marketing your business and your service. Sit back and think about the way your marketing and do some changes, then see what happens.

The Real Estate industry is always changing and having the internet has dramatically changed the buyer's abilities to find the home they are looking for. This is why real estate agents and sellers alike, need to be very creative when it comes to marketing their listings or homes. This doesn't mean going out and spending tons of dollars on different places to advertise, there are plenty of free and very reasonable places to market online and offline for that matter. Be creative with your strategies, not just titles and ad descriptions.

There are alot of great places to list your properties online from Zillow.com, point2agent, realtor.com, myrealty.com, flipit.com, and plenty more. There are also places to place ads or flyers for your homes, craigslist.com, backpage.com and plenty more. My Virtual Assistant, Marey Hoeppner, places my listings on several places and watches to see which ones are being seen and then sticks to those ones, but she is always looking for new places and testing them out. She doesn't just place one ad and then alright no hits, then not use that place anymore. She changes up the titles, the descriptions to see if that helps, of course if it doesn't then she doesn't waste her time with it any longer.

We are in the real estate market and we all need to stay aggressive and play it smart, this will keep us all going while the economy takes it's course. Those of us that keep moving forward, no matter how the economy is, will come out on top in the long run. Just remember to keep changing your marketing strategies until you find one that works. Then stick to it, keep pushing forward with it and you will be successful. Good luck marketing!

Brande Bradford - Contact Me Today To Learn About My Coaching Specials!
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

Renting Or Buying.. What Should You Do?

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:31:09 -0500

Renting or Buying, What Would You Do?

Are you someone that would rather rent than buy? Honestly, I don't see how anyone would want to rent if your able to buy. I know I wouldn't rent! However, if your not sure if your going to be or want to be in the area your in for a long period of time (I say at least 3 years), if your budget isn't good enough to take on that type of investment, or have credit issues, then renting is really the only logical thing to do. But you need to work on all of those things, to make it possible for you to buy.

Think about this, your renting someone else's home, paying them a monthly payment to stay there and I am sure the payment is higher than their loan payment is, to make a bit of a profit. Who wouldn't want to make a profit on a rental property? Except for you, it's just tossing money out the window. You are going to have to eventually move from that place and you won't have anything to show for it except all the money you just tossed away. Depending how long you stay there or rent from someone, it can be very costly over the years, especially with rental prices rising each year. Your rent is $850, that is $10,200 for just a year, and of course that doesn't include your security deposit and cleaning fees when you first move in. As you can see renting can get very costly for you, especially if you have a landlord who doesn't fix anything and its all up to you.

Even though buying a home can be a steep investment upfront, with the loan amount, points, down payment, appraisal and application fees if there are any, these fees are usually recovered after the first 3 years, that is why i said at least 3 years up above. With that being said, each year your home should go up in value, usually about 3 percent on the average, but depends on the area you live in and also depends on the economy right now. Some areas are starting to move forward and go up in value, some are remaining neutral, and alot are below value owning more on their homes than they are worth, due to the foreclosure crisis.

This is another good reason to buy, housing prices are very low right now and you can get a good home in a good area for alot less than you could 2 years ago. When housing prices start moving up again, the values will rise back up and you could end up with alot of equity in your home, which makes for a great investment! Just make sure you research the area your interested in. Call a local realtor in the area that has some good feedback (testamonials), this will tell you just how good they are with their clients. Ask the realtor their opinion of the area, the schools, the values and prices of the homes. Way all your options and take it from there.

Happy House Hunting!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

New Builder Homes Don't Need Inspections!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:27:34 -0500

That is what alot of people seem to think anyway, when they are looking at builder homes! But it's not always true.

Your looking at a brand new home, just built, your first thought is "I don't need a home inspection done, it's brand new!" If it's new it must be in a good condition with no problems right? This is not true. Just because the home is brand new does not mean there isn't anything wrong with it. A new home can be just as much of a problem as an older home can be. Just because it hasnt been tested, lived in, or have years of wear and tear, it can still be filled with problems.

There are builders out there who do poor quality work and some that try to cut corners to give themselves a break. Having a house inspector come out to evaluate the home and letting the builder know you are having one come out, will let them know that if there are any problems that they are hoping aren't noticed will be by the inspector, maybe they will take care of it and not cut so many corners. I have seen this done first hand. I have walked through brand new homes, saw corners being cut just to get the house done because it was in the process of being sold.

Hiring an inspector to come out, before you buy could be a great help to prevent a loss on the investment at hand. YoHowever, a house inspector can be quite expensive depending on the time involved. They can cost a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars sometimes more! If you end up buying the house, it would be worth it in the long run, then again if your not quite sure or really cannot afford to hire an inspector, there are some things you can look for to see check the overall quality. This way you can find out if hiring an inspector is going to be worth it.

Hopefully the list below will help you to determine if hiring an inspector is worth it!

1. Check the structure, make sure no walls are bowing out, or not square in the corners. Watch the floor for flexible areas, make sure it is solid. Try slightly jumping see if you feel softness on the floor.

2. Make sure there is no water damage. Look at the gutters and drains, do they empty away from the house or straight to the ground? Does the ground slope away from the house?

3. Make sure the roof is propertly done, the shingles are done correctly.

4. Check the house for quality work in the tile, the paint, hardwood floors, the moldings, things of that nature.

5. Check fixtures, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. Make sure the sinks, toilets and tubs are secure and work properly and that the water pressure is good. A good way to check it is turn on the faucets let them run a second then flush the toilet at the sametime. Then watch the pressure in the faucets.

6. Make sure the electric is good, that all the numbers and locations of receptacles are sufficient enough for the needs of the house.

7. Check the plumbing and water heater. Make sure the pipes are copper. Is water heater gas or electric (gas is more efficient than electric for the water heater).

8. Check the heating and air conditioning. Are there any rooms without registers, how many registers are there? Where is heater located and what type is it? Is there central air?

9. Check the insulation as well. Usually can check it good through the attic, check to make sure it is proper type for the area you live in, meaning the climate you live in, colder climates require thicker insulation.

10. Does the home have any fireplaces? Are there screens or doors if so? Is there a combustion vent, dampers, log lighters?

If these things seem to be good and pass your inspection and you really like the home, then it's time to get that inspector out and really go through the house with a fine tooth comb! Remember this is a big investment for you, so you want to make sure your getting your money's worth! Of course if you have any issues with any of the things to look for, depending if it's alot or a little, might want to keep looking. These are just some ideas of what to watch and look for when buying a home. Doesn't mean you will find anything wrong, but you can never be to careful when it comes to your investments. Happy House Hunting!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

Buffing Up Your House To Sell It

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:55:56 -0500

Buffing Up Your House To Sell It

Sellers are always asking, what can I do to help make my home sell faster. What can be done around the home to make it look more appealing to those potential buyers. The answer is a simple one, but you will need to be in the mood to do the work. You don't need to make "HUGE" changes, no knocking down walls or renovating any rooms, just some a bit of hard work and an eye for detail. There are three things you can do, don't have any clutters anywhere, clean and repair things and the colors in the home if you have some wacky bright or dark colors, change them to a more neutral one.

De-cluttering is one of the best things you can do. You want to create a home that has a lot of extra space and organized. This means removing of piles in the closet, all the sentimental things that are stacked up all over the place. Potential buyers do not care about your sentimental things, they are looking for that extra space and a home that is nicely laid out, that gives them the ability to imagine themselves living there.

Cleaning is a must after decluttering. Also seeing what needs repaired and painted will be easier now that there is no clutter. Cleaning means, emptying and wiping out all drawers, cupboards, the kitchen and the bathroom. I know this all takes time and you may end up looking like this lady, but it will be well worth to you in the long run.

As for the painting, if you have dark rooms or bright rooms, sometimes that is a turn off for potential buyers so you want to try to do some neutral colors, beiges, whites, soft greens. You are trying to make your home look move-in ready and be as appealing as it possibly can. You want your home to shine and give it as much newness as you possibly can. You want the buyer to feel they are buying a very nice home that looks as if it was brand new.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

Targeting Messages And Your Audience - Part 3 Realizing Your Positions

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:49:11 -0500

Targeting Messages For Your Audience-Part 3

Realizing Your Position

If you missed the first two parts, follow both links.

Targeting Messages And Your Audience-Part 1
Targeting Messages And Your Audience - Part 2

Today, people are able to tune out messages, advertisements of all sorts, that don't address their personal needs or unfulfilled desires and wants. If your ad doesn't have a clear vision that can show any solution to what your target audience is looking for, then all that hard work, all that effort you put into it, the time and money, was useless. You could have tossed it out the window of a skyscraper and got the same results and saved you a lot more time. This is why you need to make sure you position what your selling and what your message will be.

Positioning is the marketing art of knowing what space your product fills in the market. Then you can get the message out to exact audience that you know will have a want or a interest in what your selling. This will make it easier to figure out what to say, to whom you want to say it too, and what marketing tools you want to use.

For example, if you had a lower priced home for sale in a area that mostly attracts those on a low income budget, your position would be lower end. So you would want to make sure you use a means of marketing that will reach those in that market. Usually lower income areas, don't have alot of internet access, or even cable television, so to use any means of advertising that way would be pointless and a waste of money. You would be better off using flyers in the area or a ad in the local newspaper. Realize the position your product is in and understand the position can make a change in your selling success.

Pricing the real estate is the major key to any positioning. 75% of the marketing strategy I use is set during mytime with the clients when I am doing the listing presentation with them and going over what price the home should be set at and why. When you and the seller agree on the listing price the rest of your marketing plan can take place. Once you have the listing agreement all done, your next position or step should be comparing the home with others in the same area, asking these questions.

What does this home have that the others don't?

What features and benefits does this house have compared to others?

Creating the listing and description, listing all the benefits of the home and reasons why no one should let this slip through their fingers, and then you can select the propert media tools to use to market to your potential buyers. You can also offer information on other houses in the area, this will help give you a great advantage when potential buyers talk to you about your house.

Brande Bradford
Home Grown Marketing, Inc.

Learning To Communicate is Powerful!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:00:56 -0500

When someone talks to us or when we talk to them, we need to make sure our communication is proficient. Especially being in sales, if we are not paying close attention to the conversation on both ends, we can be misleading or we can mislead. No matter what industry, group, public speaking events, talk shows, clubs or whatever speaking even you may have, there are certain principles that always apply. The best place to start learning how to be more proficient with your communication is yourself! Below are some tips to help you be more efficient and proficient in your speaking whether your communicating with someone personal or a business discussion.

Learn-
Learning to be effective in your speaking is essential. You need to constantly practice what you have learned and what you know. Speaking involves thinking, knowledge and skill, practicing this will help you to have effective communication.We also need to learn to listen to ourselves and others, which brings me to the next point.

Just Listen-
Listening to the sound of our own voice when we are speaking can help us be more confident. Nearly every aspect of our lives could improve if we were all better listeners. Most times we only listen to what we want to hear or don't let ourselves or others finish their speaking before we interrupt.

Eye Contact-
Keeping eye contact is very important when talking to others. It is the cheapest, most effective way to connect to others, whether it is a friend, family member, business person or a audience your speaking too. It is very important to show your focused by keeping that eye contact. I do know for some it is hard to keep looking around at a crowd and some do get stage fright. You can look around the room at your audience while speaking, once in awhile and then concentrate on looking at some people you know and pretend your talking to them, that will help as well.

Joking-
Sometimes a bit of humor can be good for everyone, you and the audience. It helps to release tension, nervousness and or any boredom some might have. It will break the ice, make people smile and they will know that you are down to earth as well not just all business. A joke here and there will wake the room up, and remember laughter is good for the heart.

Mingle-
Mingling is a good thing to do as well. That is what interaction with other people is all about. Just by walking around and talking with others, you will get a feel for who they are, what they are looking for, and not to mention, some great ideas for other things to talk about or do. Of course this is based on whatever it is your there for in the first place, business, pleasure, family, etc. Just remember to be happy and smile as well. Let them see your excited to be there to speak to them and to hear their input as well. Just like this little guy I have here, just happy and ready to go!

Last is Preparation -
You need to make sure you make the best out of your preparation. Don't use scribbled down notes scattered all over, this will make you more nervous to find your place and make you look unorganized. Writing down a list on a sheet of paper or even on index cards and numbering them will help you keep your place. They don't have to be paragraphs, just short one sentence notes to give you the main point of that part of the speech. When speaking, be comfortable and relaxed, your talking about things you know and you enjoy doing it.

This finishes the points on having effective communication. These are just suggestions that have always helped me when it comes to speaking, whether its public or private. One last thing always listen to how others communicate, this will make the meetings and speaking more enjoyable and fun as well, while being educational.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

Can't Get Results From Not Taking Any Action!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:43:12 -0500

Can't Get Results From Not Taking Any Action

Everyone wants to be a success in whatever they do, but not everyone will be a success. Those who fail to reach their success are the ones that don't take any action. Taking action is what seperates the successful ones from the dreamers. I say dreamers because that is exactly what they are doing just dreaming. Sitting up on the fence refusing to jump off into the action to reach their success. No action, no success. It's just that simple.

One thing that will help to take action is setting goals. We all have goals we want to reach and that we work toward, but we need to remember not every step we take to reach our goals is going to be the correct ones. To obtain our successful steps we must go through the trials and errors of the wrong steps. You learn more from your mistakes than you do your success.

Taking action means being consistent, it is a key factor in becoming successful and is more important doing something until its perfect. Waiting to do something until it is perfected will not get you very far, however, daily consistency will reap more rewards toward your success. Constantly doing things to reach your goals is more effective than halting on one thing and trying to get it down just right.

Another thing is making decisions. Whatever decisions we have to make, most think they either have this choice or the other choice to decide on, so they will sit for days or weeks even contemplating on which one to choose. What they don't realize is they are already making a decision, they are deciding to not make another decision. Your not going to know how it turns out unless you decide on one of the choices. If it ends up being the wrong one, then you know next time not to choose that choice. Althought, at least we made a decision, just another step toward our goal, even if it wasn't the correct one. Which takes us back to learning more from our mistakes.

Think about this, we all know the economy has and is changing, which makes our marketing areas change. In order to If we don't embrace the changes and learn from the changes, we are making the decision to not be successful. We cannot do our jobs properly has agents without preparing and learning from the changes.

So set goals, be consistent, make decisions and see how much more successful you will become!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

How To Find A Good Agent...

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:53:02 -0500

How To Find A Good Agent

How do you find a good agent and what makes them a good agent?

Everyday it seems as though home prices are continuously dropping a little bit making more of a buyer's market. Alot of areas are starting to see sales growths due to this. You need to have a realtor who knows the area and is experienced with the homes in the area of the marketplace. A agent knows how to find the best home that will best fit your needs and wants in a home.

Always check on the agent your talking too. Find out how satisfied others have been. Ask for a list of clients who were satisfied with their services. See if anything was missed, not addressed or misreprsented in anyway. Doing this will help you to know if the agent your talking too really cared about their clients or cared more about just making another sale. It is good if you find a agent who is connected to other agents in the area. This will give you an advantage as well. Will they go the extra mile to help you prepare your home to be sold? Below is the list of ways that can help you to find a good agent.

1. Always meet the agent why they are out and about showing houses, doing open houses. A good agent doesn't spend much time at their desk, they are always out and about.

2. Ask your friends and relatives what agent they used. If their agent had good results for them, it is safe to say, they will have the same results for you.

3. Make sure the agent is knowledgeable about the local area your looking in. Ask questions about the area, if you know more than they do about the area, move on to another agent. Someone that doesn't know more than you isn't going to be of much help.

4. Another good way to find a good agent is by looking online through Google for a listing of homes for sale in the area your looking. Of course this is more than likely to pull up sellers agents instead of buyers agents but usually they can refer you to a good buyers agent.

5. A good agent will be able to help guide you through all the stacks of paperwork you might have to do and help you go through all lenders to pick the best one that will fit you.

6. Will the agent send you listings that fit your specifications by e-mail and how often?

7. Will they take you to tour homes or send you on your own?

These tips should help you to begin your search for a good agent. Good luck!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

Consumers -What You Need To Know About Contingencies

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:22:01 -0500

What You Need To Know About Contengencies

Let me start by telling you what a contingency is. It is a formal clause in a real estate contract, that specifies particular conditions that must be met by either the seller or the buyer in order to proceed to the next step in the contract. Contingencie are found in every contract to protect the interests of both sellers and buyers. If either side fails to meet any of the requirements, it can result in breach of contract.

There are three different categories that make up a contingency. Protection for the buyer, protection for the seller and reciprocal protection of both parties. Most contracts normally contain two contingencies, the mortgage contingency and home inspection contingency.

A mortgage contingency stipulates that the buyers will make every effort to obtain a mortgage for the particular amount the seller is asking for. If the buyer obtains a mortgage then the contingency is removed. However, if the buyer cannot obtain a mortgage for whatever reason, then the buyer may withdraw from the contract without penalties. So the mortgage contingency protects the buyers interest if financing is not available they are not held to the contract they had signed.

A home inspection contingency also protects the buyers. If the house is found unsuitable due to issues such as, significant termite damage, unsafe electric wiring, or material defects, it allows the buyer to be able to withdraw from the contract without penalty and the return of all deposits. If issues that are found are found fixable, it gives the buyer the ability and right to negotiate repairs with the seller.However if the seller refuses to repair any of the repairs for the buyer, the contract becomes invalid, stopping the seller from forcing the contract on the buyer.

Contingencies can vary depending on the circumstances and what they require. Buyers can include anything from asking a seller to remove something to asking for a new water heater to be installed. On the other hand, sellers can have their own requests as well to the buyer, like asking for a certain amount of time to remove things from the home or property or giving them enough time to vacate the premises.

There are two important things to keep in mind when contingencies are involved....

One, having several contingencies from either side by the buyer or the seller, can weaken the contract and make it even more complicated than it has to be. To many from the seller can push the buyer away from the deal and to many from the buyer can push the seller from accepting the deal. Second, always work with an experienced agent to make sure that all your interests are taken care of , so you know that all your rights are protected, regardless if your the seller or the buyer.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group
Click Here For Real Estate Marketing Solutions

What To Look For In Neighborhoods

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:49:34 -0500

What To Look For In Neighborhoods

Have you known anyone or even yourself that bought a house in a neighborhood that looked great and soon found out that it was a disaster?

I knew a family who found a gorgeous house in an area that they fell in love with, of course, the neighborhood was quiet during the day every time they went over there, didn't seem to be alot of people hanging around, so they assumed the neighborhood was wonderful. Only to find that night they were moving in, to find people out being loud and partying in the streets and drive ways. They could hear car alarms going off and everything. Now they were stuck in a purchase contract in a horrible neighborhood.

Whether you are going to buy or rent in any area you need to make sure the neighborhood is exactly what you expect it to be. There are quite a few things you can do to check into the neighborhood your considering to live in. Below is a list of things that will help you to determine if your potential neighborhood is right for you.

You can contact your local police department ask them how safe the area is.
Check the schools in the area, see how they rate and what their statistics are.
Have your reatlor run some comps to see the selling history in the area.
Are there any new businesses coming into the area? Usually, this is a sign of a vital neighborhood.
How are the yards in the area kept and is there any home improvements being made? This will show that people in the neighborhood care about their property.
Are places like grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks nearby?
Drive through the neighborhood at all different times of the day on different days to get a better feel of how things are at all times.

Anything else you can think of to check your potential neighborhood, you should do it. Do your homework, before committing to anything, save yourself from getting any headaches.

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

Targeting Messages And Your Audience - Part 2

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:24:24 -0500

Targeting Messages For Your Audience-Part 2

If you missed the first part, follow the link below.

Targeting Messages And Your Audience-Part 1

The next thing you need to do before you go any further is figure out just who it is your trying to reach. One of the biggest mistakes anyone who is advertising does, is market their business without knowing who it is they should be trying to reach and influence. As a result, they spend alot of time, alot of money, blasting messages to the wrong media, doing all the wrong things, and end up being unsuccessful in their outcome. Before you start taking the same steps, ask yourself these questions, before you continue.

What age group or groups would be your target audience?

What income level are you aiming for?

Is any of your target audience people you know? (If so, your message to them should be more personal because those you know are more apt to do business with you and your marketing strategy is not going to be the same.)

Are you more geared toward a specific buying group? (Such as; first time home buyers, second home purchasers, investors, or empty nesters? If so, you need to make sure your message meets the needs, interests and/or motivations of that particular group.) Last but not least, of course!

What geographical area are you more interested inn?

Once you are able to answer all these questions for yourself and your business, then your ready to move on to the next step to market to your audience. Keep watching for more helpful ideas and steps to marketing and reaching your goals!

Brande Bradford
Home Grown Marketing, Inc.

What Does Your Body Language Say?

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:54:31 -0500

Understanding Body Language

Everyone has body language and sometimes they don't realize that they are showing their feelings more through that, than when they verbally express them. Sometimes we speak without even saying a word. This is a very powerful tool to use when in sales, if you are able to understand the signals and pay attenion close enough to read the signals.

Let's start with "I need my space." There are 4 types of space, you have public space, personal space, social space and intimate space. Although most selling occurs in personal space, where one-on-one conversations are more apt to occur. Everyone needs to understand that personal space is very significant for a few reasons. Each persons personal space is characterized differently and if you enter someone's personal space without permission, they will shut down and stop listening to you.

One visual signal a person can give you, is losing eye contact. As you walk up to someone maintaining eye contact with them as your talking to them, and they suddenly look away. You can bet more than likely you have just stepped into their personal space. For many people, being able to look someone in the eye shows how honest a person is being and we tend to believe someone more who maintains eye contact as we speak. Eyes that dart away and look around while they are listening or talking to you sends a message. Those who maintain direct eye contact seem to say they are interested and comfortable with you. People who cannot seem to look at you and maintain eye contact may be lying, uncomfortable, uninterested or confused.

Then there is "With Open Arms." Upper body and arm movement are easy to connect with ones actions. If a person has open arms and open hands, it sends a message to one of openness, pride and honesty. If you put your hands in your pocket or behind your back, this suggests that your hiding somehting. Someone who is listening to you, if they are tapping their fingers on a table, shoulders are hunched over, this tends to suggest a lack of interest, boredom, anxious or agitated. You should rethink your speech and approach it differently.

For some people reading body language is easy and some it is very difficult. If you fail to consider all the body language one has during a closing sale, you may just overlook a great tool in sales process. Just try and think of the ability to interpret body language as just another necessary skill to use be to a successful salesperson.

Brande Bradford
Home Grown Marketing, Inc.

Visions Can Be Perfect!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:00:30 -0500

Visualize Practicing

Everyone of us has heard that good ole saying "practice makes perfect." But how often do any of us really have time to try and practice what we are going to do or going to say to someone before we have to actually do it? We don't, that is why we can use a very reliable technique called "visualization."

Visualization is a great process in which, you run through scenarios in your mind, acting out events in your mind, realizing your role in them. This enables us to practice things mentally, before actually encountering the real event, heping to give us a good idea of what to possibly expect. Using this outstanding technique for any difficult or challenging situation is going to give you a huge boost!

Just think about this, your meeting a client for the first time to discuss all their options, their needs, their wants, but you also know they are going to question you and your business. You act it all out in your head with all the possible scenarios the meeting might take, all the questions they might ask you, and you already know a bit of what they are looking for. You can keep replaying it in your head, then by the time you meet your client you will have all the answers to the questions they could possibly ask. Showing that client you are on top of your game and know what your doing!

The hard part will always be realizing that you can't play out only the scenarios that pertain to you, you have to take into consideration everyone who is involved. Taking into account all their desires and needs as well and that you play out scenarios with simple techniques. There is no point in practicing if you don't think of everyone involved, you would end up practicing the wrong thing and end up being unsuccessful.

This visual technique allows you to approach stressful or difficult situations with great confidence. It works for anything you can think of, from your first day of school to planing a vacation. So the next time your faced with a challenge, try visualizing it and see just how much it can help you to succeed that challenge!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

Targeting Messages And Your Audience - Part 1

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:07:35 -0500

Targeting Messages And Your Audience-Part 1

All to often, most of us start off on the wrong road when it comes to marketing our messages. Taking short cuts that will only lead to a dead end road. Why does it lead to a dead end you might ask, well the answer is quite simple. None of us have budgets like Walmart or Burger King, we cannot afford to mass market our products or take that big of a risk. Also, our clients we are looking for are bombarded daily with similiar messages. Just tossing your message anywhere and everywhere, at any place you can think of to market will not reach the clients your looking for.

There are alot of media sales people out there that get alot of us in the real estate business roped into huge advertising campaigns, by talking them up, making them sound like it is what we need. So we spend several dollars broadcasting and letting the media market all over to consumers who are not interested. You know what this does in the end? It produces zero results, leaving us right where we started, except we don't have the capital we once had.

Don't get me wrong there are some top agents out there that like to reinforce their market positions and raise their reputations, by taking some of their marketing budget and turning it into image advertising. But beginners should start out by reaching targeted clients with messages that specifically target their wants and needs. When you are planning your marketing strategies, always ask the three W's. Who? What? Why?

Who is your targeted Audience?
What are you offering?
Why is it good for your target audience?

Once you can answer these questions you will be able to go to the next step on reaching your target audience. Keep watching for more helpful blogs to help build your business.

Brande Bradford
Home Grown Marketing, Inc.

Growth Leader: Cash Deals...No Brainers!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:48:42 -0500

Yesterday, I had just gotten home from church when a prospective client from Growth Leader called. We have talked to him a few times on the phone, and exchanged several emails. Alison Hunter, one of our agents has been really the one working with him.

So anyway, my phone rings, and he wants to write an offer on a house that he found on our Growth Leader website. What we DIDNT know was this...He is an investor who is going around and buying more "high end" foreclosures and flipping them. He has purchased several homes and will be purchasing more.

He is NOT the first lead like this that we have received through our Growth Leader Website. We have had 3 or 4 cash buyers, who want us to ultimately help them with more than just one purchase. The cool thing is that with this client, because he bought them through us, we also get to relist them.

Normally, the leads that we ever received through lead generating programs were simply crap! No REAL contact information, credit that was horrible and soooo many time wasters. Its a nice change to actually get real leads that are qualified to buy, let alone pay cash.

I know, some people are not seeing the success that we are. Again, I will tell you, we are really working the system. You need to be creative and think out of the box. It is like anything else, it takes time.

Back to the client, I took down all of the information for the offer and explained to him that I could not write the offer. Ethically, I needed to give it to Alison. Yes, I was the initial contact, but I turned it all over to her. He understood and said that was fine.

Growth Leader has also proven to be a great way to build our agents business. We have had unbelievable amount of growth in the last year, and with the all the new agents, Growth Leader has kept them busy.

Growth Leader: Please Dont Kick Me Out!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:25:40 -0600

Growth Leader: I Am About To Get Kicked Out!

A couple of months ago, I volunteered to TEST DRIVE the GROWTH LEADER lead generation system. I really had a bad taste for these programs, but I had a new agent that I needed to keep busy and honestly, I was curious as to how it would compare to the others. Besides, I wanted to be on the first to say it wasn't any good!

Well, part of my obligation was to blog on a regular basis about the program and what kind of results we are getting from it. I dropped the ball. Jennifer had to email me and warn me....LOL So why have I been behind? Well, the majority of it is Growth Leaders fault!

After 109 Prospects Total So Far

We have 97 Subscribed to our Bi-Weekly Buyers Newsletter
Actively showing 10 prospects homes
55% of the prospects are being alerted to listings that meet their criteria
100% of our prospects have been contacted either by phone or email (some we had to get creative in how we found them...lol)
ONLY 5% have unsubscribed from the service
Working on 4 possible listings from prospects or referrals
3 contracts written and pending closing
Prospects are calling US, we are not spending all of our time chasing people
Averaging 3 to 4 Leads per day!

I have to admit that I have really been surprised by the results we are having. In fact, we just brought aboard another agent in order to meet the demand that we are facing (more on this in another post). The addition of Growth Leader has really caused our office to get behind. We have a part-time agent who is fixing to go full time, IN TODAYS MARKET! Granted we are doing a LOT of marketing, and we are also VERY CREATIVE in how we promote our Growth Leader program.

We approached this as a fun project and really did not expect much. We have had to give it 110% effort in order to get the above results!! We are NOT spending hours a day working it, but we are consistent in what we are doing.

So, how are we going to make up our lack of attention to details? Even though they offer FANTASTIC training, we will be blogging continually about different components of the system. Watch for a different post every couple of days. We will start at the beginning and work our way through the system. In fact, just subscribe so that you wont miss it!

Home Grown Marketing, Inc. will also be promoting Growth Leader to our coaching clients. As owner of HGMI, I have to say that I would never have thought about promoting a lead generation company until this experience. If you have the desire and need for one, Growth Leader is it.

I have had the pleasure of speaking with several agents who are looking at trying Growth Leader and at this point, I will again repeat....It is the best lead generation program I have tried!

We are officially going "LIVE"!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:05:35 -0600

I have mentioned a little bit about a venture that I have been working on. Home Grown Marketing, Inc. has been in business since 2003, but our marketing efforts were on a larger scale than it is now. We were assisting several different industries with their marketing.

We are now coaching the Real Estate industry only! Our coaching style is making the experience all about YOU. We walk with Jesus and help teach others the power of building their business the way the Bible suggest. NO!, I will not be pushing my views on you, but we do coach spiritually and from the heart.

We have a staff of very capable businss people with a mind for customer service, along with a very nice desire to see others succeed.

No, you will not see me pushing the company here on my personal blog. We have created our own Home Grown Marketing, Inc. Active Rain Blog for those that are interested in learning more about what we offer. More importantly, you can interact and learn more about marketing, personal growth, and growing and maintaining your business. We have also created a PRIVATE group for those that need help help but don't really want to put it all out there. You can join the group at Check Your Ego At The Door . It will be a safe place, with no fear of the judgemental comments we sometimes find. It is all about learning and sharing experiences.

We teach a lot of the basics with a twist. We find that our clients appreciate the time we take to personalize their marketing plan. We have a variety of services that will offer time freedom for the busy agent. If your not currently busy, we can show and assist you in building your business to the point of no free time!

Home Grown Marketing Inc, doesnt come with a big price tag. We are everyday people, and know how the economy is. We also don't believe that coaching is about making the BIG bucks, it is simply about helping others. We are passionate about what we do, and if we can help someone else become successful then we are happy with that!

Please be sure and visit our website to find out more about our services. Feel free to subscribe to our Active Rain Blog for coaching ONLY!

2160 Chambers Road, Stockbridge, Ga 30281

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:35:39 -0600

Links

Vist Our Website

Description

This home is conveniently located to I-75, with a rocking chair front porch, swimming pool with deck, new carpet and newly painted. This home offers convenience with a touch of the country. Being located within minutes of a fast growing major shopping area, you can find all your needs within just a few minutes drive, including schools. Move in ready!

Features

Bedrooms:	3
Bathrooms:	2
Parking Spaces:	Garage
Year Built:	1988
Subdivision:	Morgans Pond
Garage Size:	2 Car
Square Footage:	3592
Agent Name:	Brande Bradford
Broker:	Bradford Realty Group
MLS #:	02594447

Location

2160 Chambers Stockbridge GA 30281

vFlyer Id: 1622169

Thanksgiving Specials For Active Rainers Only!

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:40:59 -0600

Thanksgiving Specials For Active Rainers Only!

Home Grown Marketing, Inc. has meeting the needs of clients since 1992. With a combined 70+ years of Real Estate experience, we understand what is happening in today's market. We also know how to beat it! We have recently added to our staff ( I will be posting the announcement shortly) to meet the needs of our clients. We understand that people are paying us to help build their business, not drain their pockets. That is why we offer AFFORDABLE training and services. We would like to pass on two Thanksgiving specials.... Disclaimer: Home Grown Marketing, Inc. WILL NOT work with more than one industry professional per area. Area is determine by size and zip codes. All information is CONFIDENTIAL and will not be shared with others. PERIOD!

	Special #1 Coaching Package Discounted 40% Starting January 2009! (Limited to the first 5 first time clients) Weekly Training Calls Direct Mail Campaign Creation Weekly Training Emails LIVE Prospect Training Calls SEO Training Personalized Marketing System Special Training... We can't reveal everything! $300 a month with 6 month commitment! Set Up and Lock in Fee (we will spend a month getting to know your needs and areas BEFORE coaching starts. We want to take off out of the gates on January 1, not just beginning) must be received by December 1, 2008 to hold spot for January 1, 2009. Regular rates are $500 per month. We do have additional openings, however we do limit our number of clients on a monthly basis. After the 6th month, rates will return to $500 a month.

Special #2 Direct Mail Campaign Set Up and Maintenance We can actually locate every street in your area of interest. We can distinguish between renters and owners. We can also make sure that your mail appears to be coming from your area, not ours! Creation of Direct Mail Campaigns Handle the mailing of all Campaigns Weekly Updates Continuous Direct Mail Training and Development To give you a few ideas for direct mail.. *Just Listed Just Sold * Expired Listings * Neighborhood Updates * New To Your Area * Announcing...* Open Houses * And many others... Beginning at $450 per month ( Based on desire of service, it could be less) We will discuss your needs and determine a fair price! As one of our top services, this tends to be the most demanding and time consuming. However, your business is worth the personal touch we offer! To guarantee your spot, set up and lock in payment must be received by Decemeber 1, 2008!** *Clients are responsible for all postage.


During the month of December we will be setting up client files, getting to know your areas and needs, and doing the initial preparation for a January 1, 2009 kick off to your 2009 EXPLOSION!

She proudly serves you all...

Brande Bradford... South Metro Atlanta Specialist (Bradford Realty Group) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:54:24 -0600

I will never forget the days leading up to the birth of my first child, Amanda. My life was in turmoil. I was only 19. Amanda was born on February 20th, 1988. She was three months early, and had a fight on her hands. At such a young age, I don't think I realized just how serious her condition was. All I knew was that I had to leave my baby at a hospital that was over 2 hours from where I lived. I was assured that she would be in the hospital for the next three months.

With daily visits, I watched her fight off surgeries that we were told would happen. I watched her fight for the weight she was losing. I watched her fight many different battles on a daily basis, only to see her win! She was a strong little thing.

One month later, she weighed 5lbs, 2 oz. She was being released to go home. I was a nervous wreck. She was on a heart machine that seemed to constantly be beeping at me. She was so tiny I was afraid she was going to break. So here I was, taking care of this little child when I was still a child myself.

As she grew, you could tell there were areas that she was behind developmentally. It wasn't anything major. Dental wise when she was 6, she was on a 4 year level. She was a small, petite thing. She was a real miracle to me.

Shortly after her 9th birthday, she started to have some problems. She could just be walking and all the sudden she would fall. The doctors assured me that she was fine. They couldnt find anything wrong. This went on for several months, until I decided to take her back to KU Medical Center where she was born.

After a day of testing, it was determined that she had to much blood pumping through her heart. (You will have to forgive me, but medical terminology is not my forte). There was an extra valve that needed to be closed off. She would need major heart surgery. The left side of her heart had doubled in size compared to the right because of the extra blood pumping through there.

If we had not found out the problem, the doctors said she would have had a heart attack by the age of 13.

Her problems seemed to stop once this was done. She was given a clean bill of health and has prospered.

She was a great kid growing up. Never caused any problems, and always wanted everyone to be proud of her. When she went to college, she started to struggle a little bit. Amanda was so responsible, went to school, worked full time, but yet started to enjoy the "party" scene. Soon, she realized it was all wrong for her and needed to make some decisions. Decisions that only she could make.

Today, Amanda will be having Family Day followed by Graduation tomorrow from Boot Camp. She joined the Army in September and has been stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. She will remain there for training until January (except for Christmas, when she comes home). From that point, we don't know where she is going. She is in the Nuclear field, so they might not tell us, who knows.

When Amanda has called home, she has been full of spirit. A spirit that I haven't heard in her for a very long time. It touches my heart to think that she is loving what she is doing, and to know her future can be as bright as she can dream.

Even though I can't be with her today or tomorrow, I would like to tell her this...

Amanda,

Your my miracle child. You came into this life fighting to live. You grew up to become the best you could. You fought through struggles, not to always win, but you did your best. It wasn't long ago that you were sitting on your bed crying saying, " I feel so lost and don't know what I am suppose to do." All I ever wanted for you was for you to be happy. I don't know if the Army will bring you that happiness, but your honor can never be taken away. As a mom, many would think having two daughters in the Army would be devastating and a real test of nerves, but to me its joy and happiness.

You will soon learn that some people don't respect what it is your doing for their freedom, however, there are many more that can't express their thanks enough. Don't listen to the media. They thrive on the negative. Your country not only needs you, the majority appreciate you. You have the opportunity to become whatever you want. Whether you spend 20 years in the military or you get out at the end of your enlistment, no one can take away what you given to your country. From this moment on, always walk proud.

I do have one favor to ask you...I want you to really focus and renew your faith. I want you to come home at Christmas and be prepared to give yourself to Jesus. Let him walk through life with you. Don't make the same mistakes I did and walk away from him for so many years. He will watch over you and guide you. You just need to have faith in him. This would be the greatest gift you could ever give YOURSELF!

Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will always be there for you. It might not be in person, but always in my heart.

I love you,

Mom