Thursday, April 29, 2010

Arkansas average/median list prices, inventories report for April 26

Prices steady, but inventory is higher.  Check out full report at http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com/ara/2010/04/26/arkansas-averagemedian-list-prices-inventories-report-for-april-26/.

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tax credit ends soon. No time for crazy offers.

With tax credit ending friday, buyers should not be making ridiculous offers. Remember the tax credit is for your benefit, not the sellers. Make good offers and take the tax credit.

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Did it Work? Tax Credits Have Been Pricey and Effective

Check out this website I found at realtor.org

Posted via web from Scott's posterous

Monday, April 26, 2010

Excellent Mayflower Short Sale Opportunity

Nice Quality Home!  The short sale has been approved, and can close ASAP.  In Move in ready condition.  Interested buyers need to act now due to $8000 tax credit deadline.  Check out http://www.exite-listings.com/36013.

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Friday, April 23, 2010

Its a great day !

two closings and another agent transfers to exit realty deaton group. Congratulations to my two sellers and our latest agent.

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Tax Credit...you still have time.

Check out this short video at http://www.youtube.com/jeremysmith01

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Note to buyers....

If you are under contract to purchase a home, do not, let me repeat, DO NOT buy anything on credit as the additional debt may disqualify you for your mortgage.  Especially don’t buy a car!

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

5 Costly Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make

Check out this website I found at realtor.org

Don't let some of these suprise you...first time homebuyer or not.

Posted via web from Scott's posterous

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Sellers - Ten Ways to Distract Buyers and not sell your home

 10) Leave your "friendly" dog roaming free inside the house when you know we are coming to see it.

Not all buyers are dog people.  Many will actually be scared of your dog.  I have had clients refuse to go into homes because the dog was out.  Or they go in but don't stay long because the dog is either scared of them or overly friendly.  It's hard to pay attention to a home when your nether regions are being inspected by Fido.  If the buyers are true dog people they are going to focus on the dog not on the house.  Trust me I have seen it happen.  One way or the other your pet has effectively distracted the buyer from looking at your home.

9) Leave something aromatic cooking in the crock pot for your dinner that night

Not all buyers are going to be fans of your food choices.  In fact if it is particularly aromatic and something the buyer's don't care for, they are likely to ask me if I think the smell will come out or leave quickly because they don't like the smell.  They were so focused on your food choice they didn't look at your house.

8) Keep photos of your family up throughout the house

Not a big one, but it is on the list.  Buyers are going to look at your family photos to try to figure out who you are, do they know you, how many kids do you have? Guess what they are not doing?  Looking at your house.

7) Keep all your nick knacks out

I know they are precious to you but honestly they are distracting to the buyer.  Instead of looking at the fabulous mantle the buyer will be looking at all the items on the mantel.  As with family photos, buyers will often comment on these items trying to form opinions on who you, the sellers, are rather than focusing on the home.  Pack them up in boxes so you have one less thing to do later on moving day.

6) Make it difficult for me to show your house

I know selling your home is a pain, that you have a life and the appointment time I'm suggesting might not fit into your schedule.  But, hey I have a buyer that wants to look at your house.  You want to sell your house right?  Know what happens when you can't make that appointment time work?  The buyer goes and looks at other houses that are available to see at that time.  Do buyers reschedule to see your house at a later date?  Often times not.  Many buyers find another home that they like or are just not interested in going back to see one they couldn't see right away.  I am not saying that you have to turn your life completely upside down and backwards.  I am just saying that if our appointment time does not work for you don't be surprised when we don't reschedule.  The buyer is likely to have moved on.

5) To continue on the pet theme, leave your cat roaming free throughout the house with a note by the front door stating "Please do not let the cat out".

You are setting up a stressful rather than relaxing situation for the potential buyer and for me the buyers agent.  Buyers are forced to dash in and out of doors rather than wander freely throughout the home and property.  They miss out on the opportunity to call back into the house to their spouse or partner that "they have got to come see this garden, bbq area, hot tub etc" because they had to shut the door so the cat didn't get out.  If they do get wrapped up in looking at the house and forget to shut doors I have to remind them instead of pointing out the features and benefits of your property.  You just made me the nagging hall monitor instead of the helpful agent.  When your pet does manage a jail break, as I swear 99% of them do, I am forced to give chase to Houdini the Wonder Kitty.  Meanwhile my buyers are cooling their heals either irritated that we are off schedule or more likely worried that you are going to be mad if we don't catch your pet and get them back inside your home.

4) Don't replace burned out light bulbs or use low wattage bulbs.

Yes I know it's only the laundry room, a closet or the spare bedroom you never use but guess what? The buyer wants to see these spaces and when the buyer can't see it they can't form an opinion.  Use a good high watt bulb that appropriatley lights the space.  While the lower wattage bulb will save on your electric bill it will also make for a dark space.  Dark spaces do not impress buyers.  I will typically bring a flash light to help out when a bulb is out but it is still not the same as having a working bulb with the appropriate wattage to light the room to the best benefit.  Buyers will focus on the burned out bulb instead of the space.  Is it just the bulb?  Is there something wrong with the fixture?  If the bulb is dim buyers will focus on how dark the space is instead of how useful it might be.  Don't give them a chance to wonder and worry just replace the bulb and show off the assests of your home in the "best light".

3) Close all the curtains and turn off all the lights

When we walk into the house instead of immediately noticing the great things about the house we are going to be fumbling around looking for light switches.  It is likely that either I or one of the buyers may stub a toe on a hall table trying to find the switch.  Buyers are hesitant to enter dark areas.  In a home that is dark the buyers tend to follow me around as I turn lights on instead of lingering in various rooms to focus on what they might like about a room.  They feel more like they are intruding and less like they are welcome.  Instead of paying attention to the homes benefits they worry about whether they remembered to turn a light off as they left a room.   They also don't get as much of my attention because instead of being able to answer their questions about whether or not the fridge is included or what the square footage of the lot is I am running around opening and shutting drapes and turning light switches on and off.

I know it may not be practical to leave all the drapes open and all the lights on all the time.  At least leave the drapes open on the windows with the best views and leave a few lights on so we can find our way around the house.  If it was on when we got there I will leave it on when we depart.  If it was off I will turn it off.  Please at least leave the porch light on.  I do carry a flashlight but it is just not the same as pulling up to a home with a welcoming porch light on.

2) Turn the heat down

I know especially if you have already moved out that you would like to save on that energy bill but if it is colder in your house than it is outside buyers don't want to linger.  They don't get a warm cozy feeling from your home.  They just feel cold and that feeling transfers to an emotional opinion of your home.  If you can't keep the heat all the way up at least keep it at 55 so we are comfortable in our coats and for heaven sake if you are going to turn the heat down don't expect us to take our shoes off, leave some shoe covers.  One of the quickest ways to drive a potential buyer out of your house is to make them view a cold house in stocking feet.  It is hard to admire the spacious kitchen when your feet are being flash frozen by the cold tile floors.

1) Stay in your home while we are showing it

This is the BEST most SURE FIRE way to make a large majority of buyers uncomfortable.  Buyers don't even come close to paying attention to the features and benefits of a home if you are there.  They are so nervous about offending you and so uncomfortable looking at your home while you sit in your living room or worse follow them around that they rush through. They will tell you thanks for letting them look and dash out. Upon leaving they can't begin to tell me if they noticed what colors the wall were, if there was carpet in the living room or if they liked the kitchen or not. What they do tell me is "That was uncomfortable", "I don't like looking at homes when the seller is there" and "Can you make sure the seller will be gone at the next one, if they are there I don't want to see it"

Leave, even if you go sit in your car, take a walk around the block or dash over to your neighbors, just leave.  The buyer will stay longer and pay more attention to your home then if you are there.  If they are interested in your home and have questions I will call your agent and ask.  Think about it.  Would you feel comfortable wandering through someone's master bedroom and checking out the closet space while they were sitting in the living room?  If the buyers fall in love with you home and decide to make an offer there will likely come a time where they will want to meet you and discuss your home at length and in detail with you. Typically buyer's and seller's agents are more than happy to set up this meeting.  It is just not the first time the buyers are viewing your home.

Reposted from Noelle Blazevich, John L. Scott - North Bend

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New Construction starts rising for 3 straight months!

New construction of U.S. housing units revealed an upward trend in place since the beginning of the year.  Starts rose 1.1% in February and 1.6% in March and are now at their highest level since November 2008. “The bottom line is that there is an upward trend and construction will be moving higher provided that new-home sales improve as well,” said Michelle Meyer, economist at Barclays Capital. Starts of single-family homes are up 47.1%, while starts of apartments and condominium units have plunged 31.8%.

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Monday, April 19, 2010

Funny Kid Photo Contest

Great opportunity to share your favorite photo of your kids.   It's a really great prize-we have one more week to place entries before the voting begins. It's going to be fun! All you have to do is email your favorite funny photo. Picts of kids 0-18 are eligible.  RULES: http://amyjonesdesign.wordpress.com Email: amyjones@amyjonesdesign.com http://amyjonesdesign.com

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Friday, April 9, 2010

Arkansas REALTORS report increased activity

The market is hot.  Check out the latest news….http://positiverealestateprofessionals.com/ara/2010/04/08/arkansas-realtors%C2%AE-reporting-increased-activity/

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Monday, April 5, 2010

Graduation is just around the corner

Whether graduating from high school or college…owning a home could be a big advantage for your family.  If going on to college, how about living for FREE?  Yes, Mom and Dad, your child can live in a home at college for free.  Not only that, but how about a little free spending money as well?  If you are graduating from college, a greater percentage of 20-25 yr olds understand the importance of early home ownership, and the investment potential it brings.  Don’t waste your money anymore with renting, especially when you can own a home for what you would pay in rent…which is only paying someone’s mortgage instead of your own. 

Graduation is only a few months away, but now is the time to begin looking….especially since there is up to $8000 available from the government tax credit through April 30th, 2010.  Call me if you have a child going to or graduating from college.  You need to buy real estate now.

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Daughters first turkey!

Youth hunt in dallas county. 10" Beard, 3/4" spurs. yours truly called it in!

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Friday, April 2, 2010

Housing Prices Up! But for how long?

http://rismedia.com/2010-03-31/home-prices-increase-slightly-in-january-2010/

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Loads of FREE dirt

Have hauler needing to dump 4 loads of dirt and shale, FREE in the Maumelle/LR/NLR area.  Need to know ASAP.  Text or call me at 501-580-9151.

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

Thursday, April 1, 2010

New Listing in Maumelle

See this move in ready and updated home priced at only $139,900….http://www.exite-listings.com/46562

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

How to Get the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit

Check out what you need to know to get your $8000, http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/extended_home_buyer_tax_credit_how_to

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous

EXIT Realty Deaton Group Is Growing...Still!

Three New Licensees Join as agency growth continues.

Little Rock, Arkansas (Grassroots Newswire) March 31, 2010 -- Three more new licensees pass the State Real Estate exam and join EXIT Realty Deaton Group as REALTORS.  EXIT Realty Deaton Group welcomes Deborah Trevino, Marsha Mason, and Camille Ostergren.

 

"We are excited to have these new agents joining our growing team at EXIT Realty Deaton Group.  Now is an excellent time to become a REALTOR, and we are energized about the growth of our industy, and for the accelerated success of these new agents," states Scott Deaton, Broker/Owner of EXIT Realty Deaton Group.

 

 "I chose EXIT because I was impressed with their focus on technology and their innovative approach to Real Estate. With a background in advertising and marketing it was important to me that the company I went with was knowledgeable about today's marketplace. I believe we share the goals and ideas for my business. The residual income potential that EXIT offers tells me that they care about me and my family as well as my business", comments Marsha Mason.

 

"I decided on a real estate career because I enjoy meeting and helping people.  I chose EXIT Realty Deaton Group for several reasons.  First, there was an excitment in the office that people really enjoy what they are doing.  I got a feeling of a real team effort, that they worked together to get the job done.  Second, since this is a new career for me, training was important, and learning the ins and outs of the business from people who have been in the real estate business for 30 plus years is proving to be very beneficial.  I'm looking forward to an exciting future with EXIT Realty Deaton Group," says Camille Ostergren.

 

"As a new agent I want to make sure I give my clients the finest service possible. That's why I chose EXIT Realty, they care about making sure their clients receive the best service from the the most highly trained REALTORS in Arkansas. Training, cutting-edge technology and a field with endless possibilities are just a few of the reasons I chose EXIT Realty," states Deborah Trevino.  

 

With EXIT Realty Deaton Group's focus on their TM2 concept of Training, Mentoring, Technology, and Mindset, the agency has become one of Central Arkansas' fastesting growing real estate firms with over 60 agents and production in the top 10% of all area agencies in only 3 years.  EXIT Realty Deaton Group has experienced double digit production growth each of the last two years, making it one of Central Arkansas' most successful and productive firms.

 For more information about EXIT Realty Deaton Group, please call 501-221-3948. EXIT Realty Deaton Group is located at 11300 Financial Centre Parkway, Suite 910, Little Rock, AR 72211 & 3120 S Hazel, Suite C, Pine Bluff, AR 71603. Also go to www.WeAreExit.com or www.ExitRealty.com.

 

thx,
 

Click Here

"I Am Building a Company, By Design, that Honors Success & Productivity."

For a short video on what is EXIT, go to www.ExitRealty.com and click "Up Close and Personal with EXIT"

Posted via email from Scott's posterous