Gary White FlexIt Realty~Real Estate & Updates, Grand Rapids & West Michigan

Are you looking for a condo without Association Fee?  Sound to good to be true?  Here is you chance, rare but true.  You don't get the yard, sidewalk or snow removal but you don't pay $250.00 per month as customary for our area for  maintenance fees.  You own your condo as part of a dual unit.  

Split Level Design

• 3 bedrooms with double closets
• 1 Full Bath on Main
• 3/4 Bath on Lower
• 1.5 stall attached garage

Want to see the Kitchen?  I know you are going to call if you are looking for a condo without the Association fees!  Put a local teenage to work, they would love to cut your yard!  

12 Easy Steps to Selling Your Home “Step #3”  Originally posted on the FlexitRealty Blog.

“Step #3” Deciding to sell you home with a real estate agent or without.

For some, the option of using a real estate agent is a real struggle and for others there is no question.  A real estate professional is going to handle the sale of their home for them.

 The Internet has increased home marketing opportunities for real estate agents who understand how to use these resources to reach more home buyers than ever before.  Home owners recognize buyer exposure created by the Internet can help them sell their homes with and without a real estate agent.  Some compare selling your own home like the first walk in space, "you can do it successful or you can fall on your face while the world watches".  Our objective is to provide you with enough real estate comparison information to make an informed representation decision after reading this article.

 The decision process of using a real estate agent to sell your home or sell your own home without a real estate agent is based on personal and financial factors.

1.  Affordability, if you pay a real estate agent a commission from the profits of your homes sale, will you be able to buy the home you want or need after the sale?  Many will argue that this should not be first on the list but you cannot argue economics.  If this makes the difference in between being able to buy and NOT able to buy your next home, you have an immediate decision to consider.
2. Education, you do not need a real estate agent with a Harvard Law degree to sell your home.  You will want someone that is well Informed on Internet Marketing to maximize your homes exposure to as many buyers as possible.  A real estate agent that understands the methods and use of the Internet combined with cross channel marketing.  You may also consider advanced certifications the agent has to establish his commitment to his business and your representation.
3. Market Statistics, does the agent provide home sales knowledge and the ability to supply you with sell price guidance and a competitive market analysis? Is there an outline of the homes your home will be in direct selling competition with when listed for sale.
4. Evaluation process prior too listing your home.  Does the agent offer to do a walk-through or an on site evaluation, provided checklists to help increase the opportunity to sell your home at a higher price if the market allows?
5. Communication, is so important, because the real estate agent and the seller have to work as a team in the selling process.  You establish the sell price together, you have final say but should rely on expert advice If you have chosen a real estate agent.
6. Selling experience, having sold homes in the past on a consistent basis.  Is the real estate agent full time or does the agent work another job?  This may affect your ability to communicate and show your home to prospective buyers unless your prospective agent works with another agent.  Is the agent a member of the local real estate board?  Unless the agent (in most cases) is willing to pay an extra fee to market your home on Multiple Listing Service (MLS) your home may not be visible to local agents and buyers.
7. Marketing or Selling Plans, what are the steps the real estate agent will use to maximize your properties exposure to available buyers and buyer agents? What are the agents guidelines (plan) to insure your home sells within an acceptable time frame for you?  Remember selling time will be dependent on the agent, market conditions, condition of property, location and price sector being marketed within, along with buyer exposure and the agents effective marketing campaign.
8. Financing plan, does the agent have a backup plan for buyers that are not already pre-approved to purchase your home.
9. Negotiations, what is negotiable and what is not an option to discuss or negotiate.  Did the agent represent them self strong enough to hold their ground, so you feel confident of the agent being able to representing you?  For example if you asked for certain concessions from the agent, did the agent give them too you willingly or did the agent offer alternative options that were acceptable?  Or just say no, with justification for the response?
10. Completing the sale.  Do you feel the agent can close the deal!

If so say yes you area ready to list your home with the agent.  Happy Selling! 

 Thinking of Selling Your Own home to save commission?  Here are a few home selling issues to consider, when selling your own home.

1.  Do you have the time to sell your own home.  I know how to do many things, but I choose to hire a significant number of services because I do not have  the time to do them.  Selling real estate takes time.  You have to answer buyer calls and questions.  Take over all the duties of a real estate agent to sell your own home and not pay commission.
2. Do you feel confident in pricing your home to competitively sell again other homes within your market segment.
3. Will you be able to see your home objectively with buyer eyes instead of seller eyes?  Sometimes we fail to see flaws and layout issues with our own properties.  A non emotional viewpoint can give you valuable insight when selling your home.
4. Will you be able to show your home, host open houses and maintain security, when showing your own home?  Will you say to much or hover, not offering enough space for buyers to evaluate and discuss your home.   Can you not become offended with routine buyer questions about repairs or colors or criticisms?  Will you try to sell furniture or other personal items to "sweeten the pot" to attract offer what you perceive as an interested buyer?  Turning selling your home into a garage sale event instead of a home selling mission.
5. Do you feel confident with the real estate paperwork?  The requirements of real estate disclosures, the purchase agreement and addendum's that may be needed to finalize your homes sale?
6. Do you have a marketing plan to expose your listing to home buyers and buyer agents?  Can you develop one?
7. Do you have a real estate for sale sign strategy other than the normal for sale by owner sign that screams bargain?  Using the right signage can save you thousands of dollars.  Will you work with real estate buyer agents?
8. Do you have financing options for those buyers that have not applied for a mortgage?  Will you hold the property with a minimal deposit?  Will you take your property off the market if you have a signed offer without a lenders approval of the buyers ability to purchase?
9. Do you have negotiation skills to keep the sale going without becoming emotional when a buyers asks for repairs, help with money down and wants your furniture!  You may think these are dream world questions.  I am asked these types of questions every week by buyers.  I have already discussed how my seller wants me to respond and do so, according to the question asked.
10. Can you confidently close the sale?  Do you feel like you can bring yourself and the buyer to completion of the transaction.  You have options of help with title companies and real estate agents for nominal fees.  If you find yourself concerned.

 If you answered yes, call or email me, we have a National Company that will allow you to sell your own home or property.  You will also have a local affiliate agent available, should you decide for any reason selling on you own is not for you.

12 Easy Steps to Selling Your Home.

1. Estimating your homes value.
2. Who is your homes competition?
3. Deciding to sell with a real estate agent or without.
4. Marketing Methods to expose your home to the maximum number of buyers
5. Property Descriptions, survey and narrative details
6. Preparing the outside of your home for sale.
7. Preparing the inside of your home for sale.
8. Photos, the visual details to attract buyers
9. Showing your home to potential buyers
10. Financing 
11. Open Houses.
12. Personal Buyer Showings

It has been reported that foreclosed home sales have dropped by 3.5% in December 2011, according to Bloomberg.  This was after posting a home sales gain in November 2011.

The Foreclosure sales numbers, we knew were going to drop because of the pending litigation against banks for processing foreclosures wrong.  The sales slump showed up and everyone was shouting we have turned the corner on the foreclosure market.  Not so, just a blimp in the processing cycle because of litigation.

President Obama may have a refinance program offered up, that has yet to pass congress or even be written as a proposed bill, to help existing homeowners save $3000.00 per year on mortgage costs.  This mortgage option will not have an impact on the housing industry to sell more homes or increase your homes value.  The other issue that we must consider that affects many parts of the country, Michigan included, high foreclosure rates.  The homeowner that is refinancing must meet income criteria and have their homes appraise for this refinance option to become available to them.  Depressed property such as Foreclosures impact home values and certainly will impact this proposed program if enacted.

Home sales numbers are up and down with market fluctuations, finance rates, employment and lending.  I recently wrote, one month does not make a trend in anything, especially real estate!  Looking at quarterly trends will help level the information numbers, offering a better directional view for home sales analysis.

The spring home selling market is just around the corner.  Thinking about selling your home.  

Email mail me if you live in the Grand Rapids Real Estate Market Area for a
"Free Seller's Checklist including a Home Staging Guide"

Home sales numbers for the Grand Rapids Real Estate market and surrounding communities are a concern for sellers and buyers.  Lending and home appraisal values still dictate a home selling or not selling.  Locally we are still in a buyers market with home prices among some of the lowest in the country.  We have fared far better in West Michigan with jobs, even with some exceptionally depressed cities only a few miles away.  Yet finding the right home at the right price, if your are qualified, remains one of the best times to buy a home.  The home selections are amazing throughout most price ranges.  Home Prices remain real values and interest rates on mortgages are unquestionably low.

The numbers are something to talk about but the market fact show homes are great values for buyers and sellers.  You can move up to a larger home less than you ever thought possible.

According to the Better Business Bureau the "Top 20" business types with the most complaints for 2011.  This is the top twenty for West Michigan and the Grand Rapids Michigan area.

This would not be one of the lists any company or business would like to make.  The reason for the complaints can be a varied as conduct, contracts, service, invoices and many more issues people face everyday when hiring services.

1. Appliance Manufacturers topped the list as having the most complaints.
2. Manufacturers or Products was second and we can see why with the number of imports that flood our retail shelves.
3. Mail Order & Catalog Sales hit number three with quality and delivery coupled with advertising issues make this one an easy one to understand as well.
4. New Car Dealers, let me see, you'll get 200 miles per gallon and use only one gallon of gas.  Promises that don't live up to actual performance.  Warranty issues, repairs and more still plague the auto industry.  A lawyer sued Honda over her Prius gas mileage.  It didn't come close to the average according to the complaint.  Honda replied with something like, what do you expect you used your air conditioner!  I thought it was classic.
5. General Auto Repair and Service, local garages didn't fair much better with consumer complaints hitting number five.
6. Hotels and Motels, we heard of those bed bugs, but it seems advertised rates, theft and other issues create complaints too.  What a surprise.
7. Cable TV and Satellite providers hit number seven with programs and billing issues along with non delivery of service.  Those clouds can happen during the best part of a program.  I like the national test of our broadcasting services when you least expect it.  Of course they expected it to work too.  Last test showed approximately 30 of the test functioned.
8. Trash Removal, I thought this was an interesting complaint to hit number eight on the BBB list.  When they come on the wrong day that is a bummer!  When they don't come at all that is worse!  
9. Health and Diet Products, seems you can't trust anyone these days.  You should be able to trust health aids and products but not all products are created equal.
10. Furniture, these days we pay good money for products and services and getting your furniture in good condition, and being charged the right price still means something.
11. Insurance Companies, many times coverage has limitations, read the fine print even if you have to use a telescope.
12. Time Share Resale and Rental Marketing, yup those times shares come with maintenance fees, and yes you can rent that time share too, but don't think you get to use the pool too!  Those rentals of computers, sofas or bedroom furniture carry interest rates, make sure you know what those rates are before signing any contract.
13. Used Car Dealers, I was surprised to see used car dealers this far down the list.  That is a good thing but not that good to make the "Top 20 List"!
14. Internet Gaming, take the time to read the agreement, don't just click the box and say, "Sounds Good"!
15. Construction and Remodeling, this one is not a surprise to me at all.  If more people would make sure what they are getting done is in writing along with when it is supposed to be done along with a penalty of a reduction in the invoice if not done, we would have far more happy consumers.
16. Roofing Companies, again you don't know it not done correctly until it rains!  Then it's too late.  Checking for licenses before giving a retainer is one of the best policies and then get references from other job recently completed.  Even if your mom referred them to you!
17. Heating and Air Conditioning companies, seems like once the trades get a complaint they all line up.  This is one of the areas when you know something is wrong.  You either are freezing because furnaces only fail on the coldest days or you are running around in your underwear because air conditioners only fail on the hottest days!  The other complaint is the bill of course.
18. Electric Companies, when your lights are out the same night the electrician fixed your circuits or the TV goes black in the middle of the season finale of your favorite program you know something isn't right.
19. Grocers, I knew that stuff smelled funny.  This is about wrong prices, bad food and no service.
20. Motorcycle Dealers, what do you mean I need to replace my tire, it's how much?  I could buy a car tire for what a motorcycle tire costs now.  Service and invoices are the main issues for motorcycle dealers. 

Sometimes people use the word ratings and Page Rank interchangeably.  Ratings are more about readership and content approval based on age, gender or preference.  Page Rank was developed by Larry Page and pertains to how Google views your site based on a secret checklist of items Google feels important to their users experience.

The new change is all about user experience and less about the website.  Ever see a telephone pole on a corner with ads and posters stapled, nailed or glued to it?  We some website have little content but offer a host of ads selling unrelated products in banner or spot ads.  Some of these of these ads flicker, you are a "WINNER" click here to claim your prize.  Other offer special body part enhancements.  Others they tell you your website can be at the top of any search engine in hours because we know more than anyone else just how to do it!

If you have a website with these ads that are unrelated or to many of these ads displayed you could get your website devalued.  Punished and lose page rank positions for your economic efforts.  This is according to the newest release by Google Webmaster Blog.

Income streams can still be generated with your website and blog but you must do it in moderation.  How much moderation is a secret only Google knows.  If your site loses ranking positions please let us know if it is because of your ads or just lack of weekly content inclusion.

Just thought you might like to know, doing business online is a never ending opportunity to excel just like real estate!  One home sells and another home is listed for sale.  In the Grand Rapids real estate market we have seen a rise of approximately 5 percent in home sales.  

Using a local real estate expert that understands online marketing and has the data to make a difference when selling your home is a smart choice.  Flexit Realty offers Flexible Real Estate Home Selling Solutions.  When considering selling your home in Grand rapids call Flexit Realty for selling options.

If you live outside the Grand Rapids area and would like the name of a professional in your area, please send us an email. We will be more than happy to share names of professionals in your area to help you sell your home.

Wow, what a great call!  The caller says, "I need to buy a home today and I am paying cash, will you help me"?  Sure I'll help, can I ask a few questions?  I get a phone call out of the blue to my Grand Rapids Michigan Real Estate office.  The voice on the other end says, "I want to buy a home today".  I have seen the inside of this Grand Rapids Foreclosure home, had contractors through, have cash, can you write the offer for me so I can buy this home?

OK, I have seen shooting stars, my mom believes in aliens and my dad was sure we could be haunted but why me?  I asked my home buying questions like I would for any real estate buyer thinking of buying a foreclosure home.

1. What is the Grand Rapids property address?
2. How much are you going to bid on the property when we write the purchase agreement?
3. Why do you want to buy a home today?
4. Do you have verification of your cash funds to accompany the purchase agreement?
5. Do you have the required earnest deposit to go with the purchase agreement?

Today I was contacted by a father of a potential client.  I had talked with his children last year in late summer.  Very nice people with a credit and income problem.  Spending more than their income can support.  Hum mm, where have I heard that before?

We discussed a short sale to market their home.  They had already picked out another home to rent in another more influential community.  Status and location were more important than affordability since he was a college instructor.

The father was concerned that they never moved forward with the short sale and just simple moved to their new location.  Of course they are renting the new home and left the old one behind.  The new neighborhood

offers better schools and the social status that the husband wanted to portray.

Since the father originally (found me via Internet), suggested as only a father can, they meet with me.  That may have caused some hesitation to follow through with the short sale process.  I worked hard to build the rapport and create a relationship needed for the short sale process.  Regardless, they didn't do anything and now they went back to thehome they moved out of only to find the locks changed all the belonging they left behind gone and a for sale sign in the front yard.

The bank filed an abandonment affidavit and was granted possession of the property.  They are mad and don't understand why or how their personal possessions could be thrown away.  They didn't understand how a bank would be given possession just because they moved and didn't pay their mortgage.

We have so many people that are in difficult situations because of losing their jobs, sickness and death.  When someone moves for status, it is hardly something I can feel bad about when the bank takes measures to protect it's investment. 

I have been amazed for over a decade now and probably will continue to have those moments of disbelief.

Short Sales are a time is of the essecence selling process.  Selling your home using the short sale method is a last resort but certainly a tool the help you and the lender.  Making sure you help the real estate agent with all the paperwork and access to the property to enhance the selling process isn't limited to just conventional real estate selling methods.  cooperation has to be given to your short sale agent as well for them to help you sell your home.

Don't wait to act, when you have limited resources and time is crucial, contact a real estate professional that has handled the short sale process to help you sell your home.

Need information about selling your home in Grand Rapids Michigan or other Michigan cities?  If you live outside our service area we will be happy to refer you to a professional in your area.

I am not sure how many of you realize what the SOPA  Protest is about.  Content site like ActiveRain and companies that allow user content to be published could suffer big concequences.  If your real estate website gets hit with spam that includes something deemed to be prirated your site could be shut down and you could be fined based on current language.  

So many believe at this point because the language of the act is so vague the intupretation is wide open.  A lot of the Major sites are going to shut down in protest.  Wikipedia, Reddit, Monzilla and others including the Cheeseburger Network.  You didn't know there was a Cheeseburger Network did you? :-)

Real estate sites could be impacted like Zillow, Truilia, Realtor.com that allow public content to be created.  Lawyers have been looking at this for months and recognize the impact it could have on the Internet.

Here is a video, if you want to know more.  Find out what Protect IP Act really means.

I seen a few bugs and I took note of the comments by CEO Nikesh Parekh with her introductory to the New Beta Version of ActiveRain.  Many people have no idea how difficult it is to roll out a new website.  I am building my own websites while running my own brokerage.  I burn a bit of midnight oil.

I didn't go into the code on the site to see how it is optimized for posts.  I can say at first blush it is very nicely done.  Beta means trial version before full launch.  I don't usually go out of my way to hand out kudos but getting the beta out and letting people take a ride before launch is extremely smart.

I am sure as Nikesh mentioned not everyone is going to be happy but that is just change.  If you have struggled with photos, the slows and a host of other issues you'll appreciate the changes.  It has a bread crumb at the top that lets you know where you are in the site.  That may seem like nothing but let's face it, sometimes we don't know where we are on some sites.

I decided to test the site with this post as well.  Nothing shows you how a website works like using it!  

Optimizing a website takes time and research to do it right.  I am in the process of finishing my Masters in Website Design and Internet Marketing, as some of you may know.  I have one quarter left and I have my life back...well somewhat.  I also decided to get my Google Certification at the same time.  So when it comes to optimization websites can be done right or hit and miss.

User Content Generated sites like ActiveRain, Facebook, Twitter and others face the task of organizational issues, user friendly tools, search engine friendly and search friendly.  All this  while making and keeping them profitable at the same time.

I am not the longest user of the ActiveRain site or have the most posts or highest number of features or all that well known to the majority of users.  The management of ActiveRain certainly doesn't know me, so you can be sure this post was completely unsolicited.  Use the site and enjoy the benefits of their hard work.

Thanks for the peek at Beta I will send you a couple of things I noticed, overall Very Well Done! 

http://youtu.be/zdm-jqdwZ_4 

Rule are rules and we all have rules we follow.  Social rules, workplace rules and rules at home so growing up in a world of rules isn't new for any of us.

Workplace rules are governed by the Federal government, by the state we live and work in and by our employers unless you are lucky enough to be the owner...then my wife makes the rules! (most of the time) :-)

What would you say if you had a receptionist that was required by law to take a lunch.  So she punched out at the appropriate time and came back to her desk on her own time to finish a project you had assigned.  Knowing you had a deadline she worked on her own time to make sure you were prepared with the reports you requested.  I would say thatwould be an employee I would want to keep.  Just my opinion. 

Well what if I told you that being a large real estate firm sometimes you have to many Chiefs and not enough Indians.  Now that isn't a demeaning slam just a way of saying to much management and not enough thinkers to get the work done.

Here is a link on a court case where some brainiac fired the receptionist for not taking a lunch break, away from her desk, after 10 years of servicewith their real estate firm.  They also 

denied her unemployment.  WOW, somebody was mad or carrying a vendetta over something.  

A supreme court ruling granted the fired receptionist her unemployment benefits.  Want to know more on this real estate company receptionist.

 Fired Real Estate Receptionist

Not everything is as it seems, we all know people can be fired for almost anything.  I have run some very large companies and this may take the candles off the cake for me.

Let me know what you think.