home: If you think your buyers aren't looking for Walk Through Check Lists THINK AGAIN! - 08/06/08 10:31 AM
                          
Do you see these types of reactions when your buyers are touring homes? Frustrated, confused, ready to pull their hair out? Ready to pull your hair out?
Buyer's and Renters are touring more property these days then ever before. If you don't think they are looking for a system to stay organized and keep track of the properties they tour think again.
Rate A Home for the first 5 days has 76.6% of our hits coming from "Walk through Check Lists". Buyer's and Renter's are searching for the tools to help them make a better choice of the place they will … (19 comments)

home: Glen Arbor Michigan Vacation Home over looking Lake Michigan - 05/06/08 01:47 PM

Hal-Sea-On House
If you are looking for the special vacation home to make your escape, The Hal-Sea-On House in beautiful Glen Arbor Michigan is your answer.
Six bedrooms/four baths. Shared frontage on Lake Michigan in Glen Arbor. Accommodates sixteen. King bed in master bedroom; queen bed in second bedroom; king bed in third bedroom; full/twin bunk bed and sofa sleeper in fourth bedroom; full bed in fifth bedroom; two twin beds in sixth bedroom; full futon in reading room. Two kitchens; two living rooms; two fireplaces; washer/dryer. Gas grill. Screened in porch. Deck with lake view. Four kayaks available. Linens and towels provided. … (12 comments)

home: The Ultimate Tool for the Ultimate Agent. - 12/07/07 06:11 AM
Allowing your buyer client to make the decision in the largest investment in life shouldn't be approached through emotions.
If you personally are diving into investments in your own 401k or retirement account with utilizing your Professional Investment Brokers "Due Diligence" reports, you may be in for the shock of your life. My guess is your not.
So why would you expect your clients as their Professional, to make that same mistake you wouldn't allow yourself to make with your investment?
Today's Buyer's market has the client touring more homes then ever. This not only adds a tremendous expense with the price of gas, but also … (0 comments)

home: Changing the way your buyers choose. - 11/24/07 07:57 AM
 
Are you still leading buyers to chose the place they will call home purely on emotions?
Purchasing a home becomes (in most cases) the largest investment in life. We wouldn't approach our 401k investments solely on emotions, therefore our buyers should approach the largest investment with the same due diligence approach as we would expect from our investment adviser.
Today, the buyer's due diligence approach can be achieved by the Real-estate Professional providing an online buyers rating program. This will narrow down the decision to the best home or condo that would meet the buyer's needs.
If a couple is purchasing a home together, the choice has to … (2 comments)

home: Is "HOME" really house? - 11/14/07 03:36 AM
  
"Home" is where the heart is.
Is "Home" really a Home or merely a house? As a structure, the property is a house. But add the contents of lovers or husband and wife, kids, pets with the ingredients of family values, love and respect and the house is quickly turned into a "Home." Real-estate is sold as "homes" and has been for as long as I can recall. 
 
"Home" can be a rental unit, mobile home, 1000 square foot condominium or a 20,000 square foot home. Without the ingredients above it still remains a house.
With the current economy straining relationships nationwide, there have become … (8 comments)

home: Real Estate Poker Face - 10/24/07 03:31 AM
Are you as an agent holding the ace in the hole for helping your clients? The blogs I'm reading are riddled with the frustration in the real-estate industry.
What are some the cards your playing to help your clients through the hand that the industry has been dealt?
With "AR" being such a great place to share the ideas or search for insight, tout your services on what you are doing different these days to hit the jackpot for your clients.
It may be listing ideas, selling idea, web sites you tell us.
… (4 comments)

home: When Good Agents go Bad - 10/20/07 03:25 AM
Are you stuck in a rut? With the changing world of Real-estate the agent that doesn't change will be the dinosaur of tomorrow.
Sure, we can all surf the blogs and learn from there, which is an excellent source. But what we do with our new found education is what will make the difference of surviving or not.
Todays general public is so much more advanced and savvy than the buyers of yesteryear's. Reports show that 80%+ are now surfing the net before ever making contact with an agent. It has become the agents obligation to think outside the cookie cutter box that … (4 comments)

home: Building a New Home Guideline - 10/19/07 04:15 AM
With today's economy builders are desperate and some times find ways to be the low bidder only to sock it to the buyer after construction has started. The builder that under bids the next builder by $10k isn't always the best choice. It's not the bottom line that the buyer should be looking at!
A few suggestions to the upcoming new home buyers. The Home building industry isn't as organized as the commercial building industry. That has to change and unfortunately it's the buyer that's paying the price of certain associations not educating their members or the general public.
1. Use an online New Home … (3 comments)

home: Create your own leads for free. Great for agents, builders, leasing agents and mortgage brokers - 10/17/07 04:11 AM
With over 80% of Real estate buyers and renters surfing the Internet before making verbal contact, you have to capture them at your home page.
Rate A Home provides a Free Lead Generating Wish List program where only the web site owner receives the leads. There's no fees to you or the buyer.
Wish Lists for existing homes, new construction, condominiums (high and low rise) and rentals
How the program works:
You add a link on your home page, for example: "Create your Dream Home Here" or "New Home Wish List"
The buyer or renter completes a personal wish list. Only the customer and yourself receive … (6 comments)

home: Agents, Builders, Mortgage Brokers and Real Estate services in your area. - 10/17/07 01:40 AM
 
80%+ of the general public search the Internet before ever making contact with an agent. It's even more important to have a resource page for the general public to locate you.
To help the buyer's and seller's please post in the comment area what area and state you do business in. Include any information such as, what services you specialize in, web site, name etc. 
… (2 comments)

home: House Hunting - 10/14/07 03:16 AM
Buying a home can be a frustrating venture. But it doesn't have to be!
To streamline your house hunting trip to locate the trophy home you must prepare for your hunt. 
The weapons you will want for your excursion to be a success:
 
Create a budget of your current house hold expenses and income. Get pre-qualified of a mortgage. Create a Wish List of your families needs. Research the area's you plan on hunting. Make a radius map with your targeted area, and how far from the bulls eye you are willing to hunt. Hire a Licensed Professional "Realtor" or Builder guide. Do your research on … (4 comments)