Ok, I'm not here to paint a pretty picture on the real estate market. I'm not trying to say how great things are, or it's not as bad as it seems.  Not my style. I'm here to give you the truth, and nothing but the truth.

It's tough for Realtors today folks! Newsflash: foreclosures are high, prices are low, inventory is high, interest rates are low and the list goes on.  With all that said, we are seeing multiple offers on well priced properties.  That's right ... multiple offers!

So how do you sell your home in 90 days or less?  It comes down to 3 important elements.

1. Exposure
2. Condition
3. Price

Let's discuss exposure first.  All you FSBO's (for sale by owner) out there, listen up.  The right exposure could easily be the most important factor. Between 80-90% of home buyers are using the Internet to shop before seeing a home in person.  You must be on all the major home hunting websites. This is where the right Realtor comes into play.  Realtors have the proper resources available to them to get your home exposed on the right websites. They assure that the most qualified buyers are looking at your home. Along with that, you need multiple pictures, virtual tours, picture slide shows, videos and more!

The condition of your home must be PERFECT. I can't stress this enough. Don't think the cobweb high up in that corner matters? You couldn't be more wrong. Buyers notice everything, and unless it's a foreclosure, it needs to be spotless. Have your Realtor walk through and look at your house from the buyer point of view. This is where the expertise of a Realtor is priceless. They have the ability to see things from a buyer standpoint.

It all comes down to price at the end.  Pricing is key. If your home is sitting on the market and you're not getting activity, re-evaluate your price.  Buyers will look at recent sales data before making on offer on your home.  They are also working with Realtors who have shown them many homes.  The buyer's know if your home is overpriced to start.  Remember, you have to sell it 3 times before you can close the deal. 1st time to the local Realtors, 2nd to the buyer, and 3rd to the appraiser.  Price it right the 1st time and all 3 will be fighting to get in and close the deal.

Rob Chubb is a licensed Realtor in Novi, MI serving Oakland, Wayne, and Livingston Counties. He can be reached at Real Estate One, (248) 348-6430 or rob@realestateone.com

Attention Home Buyers! 

With the rising cost of gas, there is a better alternative to shopping for homes then the traditional "open house".  Realtors make homes available to home purchasers through multiple pictures, virtual tours, and slide shows ... all on line!  Homes on the market are ready for you to step inside the "virtual open house", 24 hours a day.

You can find these homes on almost any website these days. Yahoo, Google, MSN, Wall Street Journal, etc.  Google and Microsoft have very cool mapping capabilites that allow you to see aerial pictures of the house and neighborhood.  You can see inside and outside of the home without being there.

As time goes on, these websites are making it easier for Realtors to upload pictures and tours. In addition to the public sites that are available to you, Realtors can send you properties in real time.  The public sites are about 48-72 hours behind your area multiple listing service (MLS).

Rob Chubb is a Realtor with Real Estate One in Michigan.  He can be reached at (248) 348-6430 ext. 223. His e-mail is rob@realestateone.com, or on the web www.RobChubb.com .

Thank you to everyone who contributed to my CARE Packages for the troops in Iraq. 

But now I'm back!

Through my efforts I have partnered up with a men's group and we are selling raffle tickets. ALL the proceeds go to purchasing and shipping items to the troops in Iraq.

On Tuesday May 6th, we had a fundraiser kick-off lunch.  We had a solider that was stationed in Iraq come and speak.  I won't get into the details but just imagine not being able to shower for over a week! Seems crazy, eh?  I currently have a friend, Ssgt Logan McKay, with the US Marines that is over there. 

So, let's pull together and raise some money to get these men and women so comforts from home.  Tickets are as follows:

$5.00/ each or $50.00 per book of 10.

1st prize - $300.00
2nd -        $150.00
3rd  -        $75.00
and 10 4th prizes of $5.00/each.

Contact me at robsells1@yahoo.com for details.  You don't have to be present to win. I can take cash or check. Make checks payable to "Boys of Botsford".

If you mail me your check:  Rob Chubb
                                        43155 Main Street Ste. 2300
                                        Novi, MI 48375

Thanks! Your support is appreciated and necessary!

So I'm watching Celebrity Apprentice last night, and Piers Morgan (from America's Got Talent, and a British Tabloid Editor), was raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund.  It helps troops and their families who are injured during war.  Great charity.  Anyway, it got me thinking about the Men and Women fighting overseas right now, protecting our freedom.

It's easy to loose track of reality when we come and go as we please and not have to worry about being blown up.  So, I e-mailed my friend who is a Marine in Iraq right now, and told him I was going to tap my resources and send care packages to him and his friends.

If you would like to help out, I would appreciate it.  You can send the items to me, or put together stuff and I will give you the address.  Also, if you want to make a money donation, you can do that to.  I will of course have to ship everything.

He gave me some ideas of NEEDED items to send. 

Snacks are always good. He did say that it gets up to about 90 degrees really early and stays that way until about 6pm, so nothing that would melt. (ex. chocolate, brownies, gummy bears)

Hygiene items, espeically razors because they are required to shave EVERY day.

Music, games, decks of cards.

Small stuffed animals to give to the kids in Iraq. They can stuff the animals into their gear and hand them out as they patrol the towns.

Also, cards, letters of thanks, stuff like that is great. Let's show these brave people we appreciate them!

Let me know if you have any questions! 248-248-6430 ext. 223

If you want to send me items/money, you can send it to me at:

Rob Chubb
43155 Main Street
Suite 2300
Novi, MI 48375

THANKS!

So I'm watching Celebrity Apprentice last night, and Piers Morgan (from America's Got Talent, and a British Tabloid Editor), was raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund.  It helps troops and their families who are injured during war.  Great charity.  Anyway, it got me thinking about the Men and Women fighting overseas right now, protecting our freedom.

It's easy to loose track of reality when we come and go as we please and not have to worry about being blown up.  So, I e-mailed my friend who is a Marine in Iraq right now, and told him I was going to tap my resources and send care packages to him and his friends.

If you would like to help out, I would appreciate it.  You can send the items to me, or put together stuff and I will give you the address.  Also, if you want to make a money donation, you can do that to.  I will of course have to ship everything.

He gave me some ideas of NEEDED items to send. 

Snacks are always good. He did say that it gets up to about 90 degrees really early and stays that way until about 6pm, so nothing that would melt. (ex. chocolate, brownies, gummy bears)

Hygiene items, espeically razors because they are required to shave EVERY day.

Music, games, decks of cards.

Small stuffed animals to give to the kids in Iraq. They can stuff the animals into their gear and hand them out as they patrol the towns.

Also, cards, letters of thanks, stuff like that is great. Let's show these brave people we appreciate them!

Let me know if you have any questions!

If you want to send me items/money, you can send it to me at:

Rob Chubb
43155 Main Street
Suite 2300
Novi, MI 48375

I would like to send the packages out by April 25th.

 THANKS!

So I'm watching Celebrity Apprentice last night, and Piers Morgan (from America's Got Talent, and a British Tabloid Editor), was raising money for the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund.  It helps troops and their families who are injured during war.  Great charity.  Anyway, it got me thinking about the Men and Women fighting overseas right now, protecting our freedom.

It's easy to loose track of reality when we come and go as we please and not have to worry about being blown up.  So, I e-mailed my friend who is a Marine in Iraq right now, and told him I was going to tap my resources and send care packages to him and his friends.

If you would like to help out, I would appreciate it.  You can send the items to me, or put together stuff and I will give you the address.  Also, if you want to make a money donation, you can do that to.  I will of course have to ship everything.

He gave me some ideas of NEEDED items to send. 

Snacks are always good. He did say that it gets up to about 90 degrees really early and stays that way until about 6pm, so nothing that would melt. (ex. chocolate, brownies, gummy bears)

Hygiene items, espeically razors because they are required to shave EVERY day.

Music, games, decks of cards.

Small stuffed animals to give to the kids in Iraq. They can stuff the animals into their gear and hand them out as they patrol the towns.

Also, cards, letters of thanks, stuff like that is great. Let's show these brave people we appreciate them!

Let me know if you have any questions!

If you want to send me items/money, you can send it to me at:

Rob Chubb
43155 Main Street
Suite 2300
Novi, MI 48375

I would like to send the packages out by April 25th.

 THANKS!

How was your weekend?  Mind was very good.  Met the family out at my in-laws for the holiday. Good food, good drinks, good company.  It was warm out too.  Sure there was snow on the ground, but it was warm.  That spring time sun just feels good.  You can feel the Vitamin D soaking into your skin.  Then I hear we are getting another 2 inches of snow tonight, followed up with a near 50 degree day tomorrow.

So, I'm asking all you to get your winter jackets out again. If you already have it out, put it away, and get it out again.  I put mine away a while ago, and it's back out. You know the second you get it out, spring will be here.  Then we can dust off the camping supplies, golf clubs, and slip-in-slides!

There was a total of 483 residential homes and condominiums SOLD in Novi in 2007. 

The lowest priced being a 2 bedroom/1 bath condo for $69,900.  The highest priced was a 6 bedroom, 3 full and 2 half bath home for $1,900,000. 

 These numbers show an improvement over 2006.  In 2006 there were a total of 417 residential homes and condo SOLD.

 What does this mean?  Quite simply, things are turning around ... finally.  Here is the Summary from 2006.

 You can see that the average sale price for Residential property increased, as did the market time. We see the same patten for condo sales.

Overall this is great news for Novi.  Novi is a community that continues to increase in population, and is a popular destination for new business.  Novi, MI provides excellent schools, community involvment, youth programs and more.  You can read more about Novi at www.cityofnovi.org. 

When you're ready to make a purchase, that's when you need a top rated Realtor ... me! I am a Realtor with Real Estate One, Michigan's largest and #1 real estate company.  I provide buyer and seller services.  Call me at 248-348-6430 ext. 223 or email me at rob@realestateone.com.