In today’s world of Reality TV, YouTube and social network sites, it seems anything goes as far as outlandish behavior, uncensored comments and inappropriate actions. Often the more shocking and over-the-top a performer is, the more attention they get (Charlie Sheen for example). But while we are somewhat desensitized to off-the-wall behavior from Hollywood, we should not expect such behavior from professional business people.

The instant access to pictures, video, thoughts and comments through social media is a great tool for today’s real estate agents to promote their business and their client’s property.  But the tools need to be used in good taste so that the agent is regarded as professional and the property is showcased without demeaning a competing property. For example, some agents have displayed their homes on Facebook and then watched as other agents have commented on how they showed the property and did not like it. Not wise of the commenting agents who are tarnishing their own image by bad-mouthing another company’s listing.

Videos displayed by agents can be very thought provoking and entertaining but agents should make sure they are dressed appropriately and not acting in a manner that would lead others to question their professionalism. If they act unprofessionally it may cause some viewers to shy away from using them or viewing homes represented by them.

Make sure when you select a real estate agent that you choose one that does provide all the media tools available so you have the best chance to sell your property. But also make sure the agent will use those tools in a highly professional manner so that no one will be offended and harm your chances for success.

Its about that time of year when homeowners get the itch to put their home on the market. Often I will get a call from a seller who wants to know what they should do to get the most dollars for their home. Should they paint? Should they change carpet? Will it matter or will a buyer want to re-do the home anyway? Here are a few tips I give sellers to help them get a quicker sale and get the most value when they sell.

1. De-Clutter!  Rooms should be easy to walk through and should not have a lot of personal pictures which distract the looker. Taking down excess pictures and filling nail holes may require a fresh coat of paint. Clear off counter tops and pack up your knickknacks so the home looks more spacious. Perhaps renting a storage unit and taking away extra furniture will help make the home look show-ready rather than lived in. Finally re-arranging the furniture to make each room look fresh and bigger is a good idea. This may take a couple weekends of work but it will pay off in the end.

2. Make the minor repairs! Marks on the walls, leaky faucets, plugged up gutters, loose door knobs, wobbly stair steps and rails are all things buyers will notice and they are fairly inexpensive to fix. Eliminating the minor issues will help a buyer to zero in on your home as well cared for and a strong candidate for purchase.

3. Clean…Clean…Clean! Get the house in sparkling condition by cleaning up each room paying special attention to windows and clean carpets. Many times older carpet will suffice as long as it is clean and fresh. Also, make sure the outside is cleaned up as well with debris removed and landscaping well trimmed. Great curb appeal  excites potential buyers when they first arrive at a home even before they enter. Likewise, an unkempt exterior makes buyers dislike the home before they ever get inside.

4. Paint and Carpet! A fresh coat of paint throughout is not always necessary but if the walls clearly need re-painted then do so with neutral colors like off-white. Also take note of the carpet condition. If it is well-worn with traffic paths or is outdated with wild colors then it may be worth the time and money to replace it with a neutral color carpet. Spending a few thousand dollars now may help the home to outclass and out sell the competition.

5. Lots of light! Make sure all light bulbs work and the blinds and curtains are all open to let light in the home as much as possible. A  bright home is much more cheery and welcoming!

6. Get a Professional CMA by a Realtor! The final preparation should be getting a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) from a qualified Realtor. The CMA is not an appraisal but an evaluation of the current market conditions showing what competing homes are listed for, how long homes like yours are taking to sell and what price range they are selling for. If you have followed these tips on getting the home show-ready, your home should stack up well against the competition and should bring you the most money in the fastest time in your market area.

Since January 2009, 70 firms have chosen Indiana as the low cost State to consolidate their operations, adding more than 10,500 in new jobs and over $380 million in committed capital investment according to the IEDC Quarterly Leadersheet, Q4 2010.

In the Northeast region of Indiana there were 6 new business leads in January that were  secured by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership  which were then passed on to the region’s local economic development organizations. What that means is the comparatively low taxes paid in Indiana coupled with the convenient transportation routs make our state and specifically the Northeast area of Indiana extremely attractive to business and industry.

This economic news should bode well for future jobs in Indiana and a stronger and healthier state economy.

In the coming months we will no doubt see rising interest rates on home mortgages. While that usually triggers a concerned response from buyers and sellers, slight increases in home loan rates can in fact be a good thing. Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Buyers who have been sitting on the fence waiting on a perfect home to come along will likely get off the fence and buy if they fear rising rates. That is good for home sellers.

2. Sellers who have been procrastinating about putting their home up for sale usually get in gear when they fear rising rates and they get their home on the market. That means more inventory for the home hunters to choose from which is good for buyers.

3. Buyers get a little less picky if they fear rates are going up and often they will start buying up the nice homes that have been sitting on the market for a while but may have grown stale. This pleases sellers who have been waiting for a sale and often frees them up to enter the market as a buyer themselves.

4. Both buyers and sellers become a little more agreeable at the negotiating table when they fear rising rates could sabotage the market. That is good for both parties because minor issues don’t distract the buyer from getting their dream home or the seller from getting their home sold.

5. Because buyers and sellers are both more eager to consummate a home sale when rates begin to climb, the results are more home purchases which helps stimulate the economy!

The creation of the internet was once seen as a great tool for commerce. Businesses believed having a presence on the net would give them access to a wider variety of clients. And like the telephone and fax machine in previous generations, the Net would speed up the ability to contact clients and make life simpler. All that has indeed happened but the impact of the internet has gone much deeper than most agents expected.

What the internet has actually done to the real estate industry is split it in two. There are now two real estate industries for consumers to choose from. One is the traditional industry where open houses take place, real estate magazines are browsed through and consumers can call in to a physical office and talk to an agent and set up a showing on a home or even make plans to list their own home. That traditional industry now facilitates about 20% of the sales in America.

The second industry is the cyber real estate industry. In the cyber market clients and agents meet on social network sites and the consumer goes to the cyber office (which is a company web site) to take virtual tours of homes, watch video, search for homes themselves and then text or E-mail an agent when the right home comes along. This industry now initiates about 80% of the home sales in America.

At Orizon Real Estate we have every intention of meeting the needs of both the traditionalists and the cyber shoppers. Our web site allows clients to look at nearly all the homes in NE Indiana and gives them the maps, details and contact info to make their on-line shopping easy and informative. Our new blog feature will be used to inform consumers of all the latest real estate news and topics that that will help you to make informed decisions.

We appreciate your interest in our site, and we encourage your comments and suggestions on our blog feature as well as the rest of our web site sections.