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Posts tagged ‘Homes Sales’

FSBO Tip – Don’t Do It

My Number one FSBO Tip? Don’t sell it yourself! A “FSBO,” or house “for sale by owner” can sell fast, and for as much as it would have if listed with a real estate agent. Sometimes – but not normally. Consider the following ten points.

 1. Buyers work with agents. Most look at MLS listings. Sell it yourself, and they won’t see or hear about your home. How do you find that “right” buyer or get top dollar when you’re invisible to most of the market?

 2. Your FSBO will get lower offers. Naturally, the buyer thinks you’ll take less because you’re saving the commission! Save a $10,000 commission, get $10,000 less – where’s the advantage in that?

 3. Advertising is expensive. The costs the real estate office normally pays are yours if you sell it yourself. How much could you spend on ads if it takes a year to sell?    4. They have the resources. And you don’t. Agents have books of sold properties to look at, for example, to determine the best price for your home. You can dig through county records, but you do have to value your time too, right?

 5. They know the market. What’s the target market for your house? Young couples, retirees? What features do they want? You should know these things before you write your ads. An experienced real estate salesperson will know.

 6. They know the laws. What about written disclosures, and who pays for the real estate transfer tax? When you sell it yourself you don’t get to ignore the laws.

 7. Are you a good salesperson? Can you develop rapport and properly answer objections? Could your defensiveness scare off a buyer who criticizes your home? Think back on your own purchases, and you’ll realize that a good salesperson makes a difference.

 8. Paperwork. Will you help the buyer properly fill out an offer to purchase? An agent would. Do you have the other closing documents ready?

 9. Agents negotiate for you. When did you last learn a new negotiating technique? Can you counter-offer without scaring off a buyer? A good salesperson is trained in these skills.

 10. You may not save anything. The documents, newspaper advertising, signs for the yard – it’s all your expense when you sell it yourself. After your hard work, you may get low offers and negotiate poorly. Honestly, sellers often net less money from the sale when they try to save the commission.

Most “FSBO” sellers eventually turn to a real estate agent for help. You could learn the things an agent does, but is it worth it to spend all that time and maybe not even save any money? Don’t sell it yourself unless you really know what you’re doing. That’s my number one FSBO tip.

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Real Estate Tips, Seller Tips

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The Importance of Using Caution When Making Your Own Online Videos

Online videos have rapidly increased in popularity, especially over the past few years. Online, you should be able to find a number of different websites that are known as video websites. Two of the most popular video websites include Google Video and YouTube.  With video websites, you are not only able to view videos online, but you are also able to make, share, and upload your own.  If you are interested in doing this, there are a number of important factors that you should take into consideration.

One of those factors involves the content of your videos. Many people do not realize that what they write, say, or video tape literally could come back to haunt them, if not right away then in the future.  This not only involves documentation the use of illegal activities, but your thoughts, views, and beliefs.  As nice as it is to share something that you made all on your own, you need to be careful with the internet. Millions of internet users flock to online video websites just to see what they are coming across.  Although many are there just for a laugh, others are there for a specific purpose. 

If you are like many other internet users, you may be wondering how something as fun or as simple as an online video could cause you so much damage.  Honestly, there are a number of different ways.  Just one of those ways involves employment.  When applying for a job, you will have to supply your prospective employer with information about yourself.  This information should include your name, address, and telephone number.  Unlike in the past, many employers are now using the internet to research their prospective employees. What they find online may be able to help or hurt your case. 

Even though you may not be searching for a new job, it is still important to be cautious when making your own videos online.  You need to think as a prospective employer. Would you want to hire someone who has an online video of them doing illegal activities, swearing, or being downright insulting?  If you would not then chances are that no one else would as well.  In addition to worrying about prospective employers, you should also be concerned with what your current employer would think if they saw your online video.

With employment, adults are the ones who need to worry the most about their use of online video websites, such as YouTube.  However, everyone needs to be concerned, including children.  In the short-term sense, you may not have to worry about the impact your homemade video would have a prospective employers, but you should be concerned with your school.  Due to the documentation of illegal activities and threats of violence, a large number of school officials are using the internet to keep tabs on their students.  This watching often involves the use of social networking sites, but online video websites as well. 

In some cases, but not all, there are little things that a school official can do, if they view one of your online videos and find it to be offensive.  Being offensive is one thing, but participating in illegal activities, as well as treating other students or teachers is another.  Not only could you be suspended from school and sports teams, but you could also be reported to your local authorities.  Even if legal action cannot be taken, it is likely that you will be closely watched for a period of time. 

Whether you are a teenager or an adult, it is important to remember that your actions may have consequences.  So, the next time that you are thinking about making a homemade video to send into one of the many online video websites, you are urged to closely examine your video’s content.  Although you may not mean to cause yourself any harm, you could do so without even realizing it.

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Social Net / Computers

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Incorporating Science into Your Next Backyard Adventure

Your backyard is a great place for your child to get outside in play.  In addition to swimming and playing outdoor sports, your child can also use your backyard as a science experiment. If you are interested in helping them achieve this, you may want to familiarize yourself with some popular backyard activities, especially those that have a focus on nature and science.

Exploring your backyard is not only a fun activity, but it is also educational.  There are a large number of living, breathing creatures that can be found outdoors.  All children love exploring nature, but there are some who may enjoy this exploration more than others. Those children are likely to be toddlers or elementary school aged children. Since young children may need your assistance, you will want to pick backyard activities that you will also enjoy.

One of the many ways that you can incorporate science into your backyard is by studying the plants that can be found in your yard. While all backyards are likely to have a number of different plants or flowers, yours may have more. For the best type of environment, you are encouraged to explore areas of your yard that have yet to be mowed. 

Your backyard is also likely full of a number of different insects. Like plants and flowers, your child may enjoy examining these bugs. It is not only fun to see what bugs live in your backyard, but it is also exciting to learn about how they survive. There is also a good chance that your children may leave your yard with a new pet.

In addition to the living things that can be found in your backyard, you and your child may also want to examine the weather and the impact it has on the yard and everything inside of if. Backyard conditions change as the weather changes. By examining your backyard after a rainy day, your child may find that many of the plants, flowers, and bugs have either changed or retreated to safer grounds. Examining the effect the weather has on the things in your backyard is not only fun, but educational.

To make the most out of your child’s next backyard adventure, you may want to consider purchasing them some science supplies. These supplies may include, but should not be limited to containers, butterfly catching nets, magnifying glasses, picture books, and resource guides. If your child is planning on capturing a few insects, a small cage or breathable container may be just what they need. These supplies, along with others, can be purchased from most retail stores. These stores may include department stores, home improvement stores, and toy stores.

To keep your exploration focused on education, science books and nature resource guides may be a nice addition to your child’s science collection. Many books and resource guide have a focus on insects, birds, plants, and flowers.  Many of these resources will provide you with information and pictures. For a large selection of science and nature books, you are encouraged to shop online or visit your local book store.

When examining the plants, bugs, and flowers in your backyard, you and your child may want to document what you see.  This can easily be done with a notebook or a camera. By taking pictures, your child will always be able to remember their exploration adventures.  Those pictures could also be used for other crafts. Scrapbooks and collages are a great way to turn traditional photographs into something much more. 

Whether your child plans on exploring your backyard or they do so without intending to, it is likely that they will interested with what they see and learn. Incorporating science into your next backyard adventure is just one of the many things that you and your child can do outdoors; however, it may be the most beneficial.

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Backyard Activities

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Pool Slide: The Perfect Accessory for Your Pool

Do you have a pool in your backyard?  If so, you are not alone.  Throughout the United States, pools can be found in many backyards. When it comes to purchasing a pool, you have two main options.  You can either purchase an in-ground pool or an above ground pool.  While many of these pools may seem like “traditional,” pools, after you purchase your pool, you can turn it into something much better. That can be done by equipping your pool with accessories, such as a pool slide.

When it comes to pool slides, there are many individuals who do not fully understand what they are.  Many of these individuals, maybe even yourself included, think that pool slides are only meant for large pools, such as public swimming pools.  This is not true. Pool slides come in a wide variety of different sizes and styles. This means that, with a little bit of research, you should be able to find a slide that will fit your pool. 

As previously mentioned, it may take a little bit of research to find a pool slide that will fit your pool. This research can easily be done by browsing the slides that are currently available for sale. You can easily do this by visiting your local pool supply store or by using the internet. A large number of, on and offline, pool supplies stores carry a fairly large selection of pool slides.  Many of these slides can either be used with in-ground pools or above ground pools. 

In addition to finding a pool slide that can be used for your pool, you may also want to take into consideration the different slide styles that are available. Most slides have a traditional straight angle, but not all do. In your search for a pool slide, you may also come across a pool slide that has curves or small turns.  While these types of slides may be fun, they are often larger than most traditional slides.  However, if space is not a problem, you may want to examine these fun and unique slides.

If you are unfamiliar with pool slides or if you do not have experience purchasing pool accessories, you may want to consider seeking assistance.  This assistance may come from another pool owner or from a sales associate. While you may not think that you need assistance, you may find a number of different benefits to obtaining it. For instance, someone who is familiar with pool slides may be able to point you in the direction of a popular, well-known, and dependable manufacturer.

Since a pool slide is a fairly large investment, slides can cost up to a thousand dollars, you may want to obtain a warranty.  Not all pool supply stores or product manufacturers offer warranties on their products, but a number of them do.  If a warranty is available, you may want to seriously consider obtaining one. Although most pool slides are made with unbreakable materials, you never know. That is why a warranty may be a wise investment, if it is available.

Regardless of where you purchase your pool slide from or what type of slide you purchase, it is likely that you will not regret your decision to obtain one. Whether you are an adult who enjoys water activities or you have children that do, you will find that water slides add extra excitement to, even the most traditional, pools.

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Swimming Pool Tips

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