Is an agent showing your home? Please clean up :)

Today was a great day! Did I mention that it was freezing? Burrr! I got the pleasure of showing five homes today. You know, I think it’s so incredible that this is MY job. I absolutely love looking at homes. Even as a child, I can remember going with my mother on Sunday afternoons to go look at homes. So, walking into a home with a client for the first time- I sometimes have to contain myself. I def. don’t want to come across as that giddy little school girl!! They might think I am putting on a show but it’s really me just being myself and loving what I do.

So, the homes that we saw today were all incredibly cute. They each add their own little “zing” and were each unique in their own way. 3 out of the 5 homes were vacant. You know, a house being vacant IMO would probably sell easier b/c it’s completely empty. It’s so easy for the buyers to imagine their furniture being there.  They don’t feel like they are actually in someone else’s home.

So, there was this one home…oh my goodness. I can’t stress enough to people that they need to clean their homes before a showing. When we walked in this home, it smelled like cornbread. Okay, I love cornbread but not while I’m looking at homes. Yes, I’m sure they were cooking Sunday dinner but it was a very odd smell and it was the first thing you noticed when you walked in the house. Also, the house was dirty. All of the beds were unmade. It looked as if they had just ran out of the house with out putting one thing in it’s place.

The buyers were very turned off by this. Maybe the sellers were thinking that if they liked it enough it wouldn’t matter what kind of shape it was in.  It was hard to even imagine what the house looked like b/c of the mess. I think it caused a mental block for the buyers. It was a really cute house besides the mess. I think they actually might have been interested in it if it weren’t for the clothes on the floor, tv on, supper still on the stove and the cornbread smell.

First impressions are everything. Be sure to clean up your home so it can make a lasting impression!

And a great day it was!!!

You know, I know most people probably just write strictly about real estate sales and so forth on their blog. I try to make mine a little more personal and interesting. I want to write about every single journey I have in real estate. I am not saying that I will opt out on the helpful/useful content, I just want to let you know that my blog will be a little more personal. So, if that’s okay with you…let’s move on! NEXT!

Today was a very eventful day. Did I mention it’s freezing over here? My co-worker and I, we actually had an open house today in Denham Springs, la. We also had an open house in Baton Rouge, la at our Beau Darren home (last Sunday)that we have listed.  Well, from that wonderful open house last Sunday, we got to meet some really wonderful people. And it just so happened that- someone that we met last Sunday wanted us to show them other houses today.  Conflict= open house 2-4 + someone wanting to see houses 2-4.

You know, I am very blessed to be able to have a wonderful side kick. I can’t be in two places at once but together we can be. She decided to do the open house and I decided to show the homes.  The couple were actually interested in the home on Beau Darren, but I put together a buyer’s packet and found other homes around the area to give them more variety. So, I showed them about four homes today and I think we actually found one that suited them just fine. It wasn’t our listing, but you know- sometimes you have to look out for what is best for the client and what YOU think is best for the client.

I really think that the market is starting to pick up. While I was showing homes, I got a call from a gentleman that was interested in a home that he saw in the www.re-finder.com. I was so excited. I have been working my tush off with all of our listings. I am trying to get them out there so they are not missed. I know there are so many search engines on the internet but I left no stone unturned.

 All in all, it was a great day. I got to really get to know my clients and what they are actually looking for. It really feels good to help people out and to find what they are looking for.  I hope this coming week goes as good as today did!

Webographers.com highlight me b/c of my back to back certification!

Word of Mouth :: Lindsay Pendleton

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Pendleton, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Lindsay’s experience, skill and familiarity with the Baton Rouge real estate market are essential ingredients in providing her clients with an enjoyable Real Estate experience. Her RE Certification and Designations, such as e-Pro and REW™, strong communication and negotiation skills, high energy and effective marketing tactics make her service offerings unsurpassed in today’s market!

Lindsay is really taking her website, http://www.forsalebylindsay.com, to the next level. Not only does she have an extraordinary amount of useful real estate tools accessible directly from her site (such as mortgage calculators, property searches, etc), she has already implemented some of the competencies available in the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ – such as Blogs AND Single-Property websites! Combined with appealing aesthetics, she is truly creating a viable and successful web-presence and demonstrating her understanding of Real Estate Technologies! Because of this success, we took a few moments to ask some questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I am currently a Real Estate Agent with Prime Location Realty, located in Baton Rouge, LA.

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification?

I am proud to say that I have my e-Pro and REW™ certifications. I took both certifications back-to-back and enjoyed both of them. e-Pro definitely benefits the real estate agent who is just entering the technology world. It expresses the importance of the Internet (i.e., e-mail, websites, domain names, DSL, forums) and the impact it is making on the real estate industry. I learned a number of things from e-Pro that increased my Internet knowledge. I think and know that the e-Pro class is imperative for every real estate agent.REW™ is the follow-on to e-Pro, in my opinion. In the REW certification, I learned so many amazing new things. A great example is “single-property websites”. I’m proud to say that through the knowledge of single-property websites I learned within REW™, I was able to create my own single property website allowing my customers to get 24/7 information (http://www.beaudarren.info/). The REW certification is a step further – it really delves into all of the technology options that are available to real estate professionals.3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

Being that my time is limited, and I truly love utilizing the Internet, I was elated that I could take REW™ online.

4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

I signed up Dec 20 and was done on Christmas Day! 5 days with an hour or so each day.

5) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

People underestimate the power of e-mail, websites, domain names, blogs and so forth as highlighted in e-PRO. A number of RE professionals are overwhelmed by all the new technology. Technology is taking real estate in a new direction and it’s time to jump on board.When comparing e-Pro to REW™, they do not compare – rather, they really compliment. While e-Pro was very informative and detailed, REW™ went a little deeper into the technology options of today.While e-Pro teaches and explains the basics of technology to newbies, REW™ enhances it. Every single course that REW™ offered was extremely beneficial. I actually felt more capable and confident with technology options, instead of being overwhelmed. It was very detailed and easily formatted.

I consider e-Pro and REW™ like peas and carrots. While they are both based in Internet technology education, they teach different aspects. They both offer great, in depth information – but it’s information that compliments one another. Collaborating e-Pro and REW™ just makes sense. I cannot express how both certifications broadened my horizons and made me feel like an Internet real estate queen! Thank you both, e-Pro and REW™, for making this available to all real estate professionals who want to go above and beyond.

The information available in REW™ and e-Pro combined is priceless!

—

Thanks Lindsay and all the Best!

What is e-Pro certification?

So, if you haven’t noticed yet…on  my website (by my name) it says e-Pro. Why? Well, hello, because I am e-Pro certified. What is e-Pro? I have had a few people ask what this certification was about. So, in this blog, I will inform all of you who are ‘not informed’ on what e-pro actually is.

What is an e-PRO—— and why should you use one?

A short guide for the Internet consumer

When you’re on the Internet, you don’t have time to waste on endless searches for useful real estate information. You want to get things done quickly and without hassle. So chances are you’d like a real estate agent who

• Answers e-mail promptly and professionally.
• Respects your on-line privacy.
• Offers home listings and other Internet tools to help you find or market a home.

Enter the e-PRO.

An e-PRO is a REALTOR® who has successfully completed the e-PRO training program for real estate professionals. Endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®, the e-PRO course teaches professionals the nuts and bolts of working with real estate on-line: Web sites, e-mail, on-line tools, and most of all, what today’s consumer really wants.

What does all this mean to you? There are several benefits of working with a certified Internet professional.

More privacy

Are you reluctant to give out contact information through the Web for fear of being pestered or spammed? e-PROs understand. They’ve learned the Web isn’t just a place to do business; you need information from someone you can trust.

That’s why e-PROs respect your privacy. They respond quickly to your questions, but don’t send you unwanted communication. And they protect your personal information.

Less hassle

Tired of struggling to find information? e-PROs are more likely to have access to the latest Internet utilities, making your life easier. These tools may include:

• On-line home tours
• Instant access to comprehensive neighborhood data
• Extensive property listings
• Immediate e-mail notification of just-listed homes meeting your criteria
• Referral networks and on-line forums, where e-PROs can quickly find information——even potential buyers——from other e-PROs
• Newsletters on current real estate conditions in your area
• Electronic faxes sent to you by e-mail
• Advanced software, PDAs, and laptops to find you answers on the spot

The result: you get more information, more easily. With electronic files, you have less paperwork to deal with. And since your agent uses e-mail, you can even eliminate phone tag. The e-PRO streamlines your entire transaction, from showing to closing.

Less expense

An e-PRO’s access to advanced technology can save you considerable expense. You have more tools to find or market your home, so you’re likely to get a better price. With on-line home tours, you reduce in-person showings——and the costs involved. And by using e-mail, you save money on long-distance calls and fax charges.

Relocating? An e-PRO is ideal for you. With the tools to do your research electronically, you can make a decision on a home the first day you’re in town——or without traveling at all. You and your family save on travel costs. And after you’ve decided to buy, monitoring the sale by e-mail saves you even more.

Should you use an e-PRO? Yes——especially if you’re an Internet user. In this fast-paced age, technology has become a necessity. An e-PRO is someone who has recognized and responded to the needs of the new consumer. If you choose an e-PRO, it’s a safe bet you’ll get the kind of service you want——and need.

The Open House at Tiger Bend! Come on in!

So, even though the real estate market seems to be a little down in Baton rouge, we didn’t let that stop us. Bring on the open houses. I really enjoy doing open houses. I love meeting new people and also getting other people’s opinions on our homes.

We prepared for the open house like real estate ninja’s. I made sure to place it in the Baton Rouge Advocate two weeks prior. I also make sure to post it in www.re-finder.com. I love this site. It is the sister to the Real Estate Finder magazine. As long as you are placing ads in their magazine, they allow you to use the free re-finder website. It’s a great place to put all of your listings and open houses. The website runs with google and trulia, and who doesn’t love google and trulia.

We also did things the old fashioned way. We put up our open house signs “Open House Sunday 2-4″ around the area. I also had bought a new open house flag, but no pole. What to do. I rigged it. I had two stakes from our “For Sale” signs. I took the signs off and tied the flag to two of them. I was proud. It was really funny trying to dig those stakes into the ground, they were barely even in the ground. It was a sad picture…two stakes leaning, almost about to fall- barely holding a flag up. Oh well, I did my best- I guess it was better than nothing.

We had five or six people show up. I always get excited about our Open Houses. Why, you ask? Is it because of the people? Well, mostly but the main reason is for the refreshments! My co-listing agent makes the best chicken salad sandwiches and these cookies, oh….these cookies. Need I go on? Everytime she would take someone in the back to show the beautiful rooms- I would stuff my face.

I really do love this job. I am just ready to sell this house and move on to the next. It’s such a cozy, little house and I think it’s at a perfect price. The owners are motivated and ready to sell. They are planning on building in prarieville to be closer to relatives. I was thinking that it was slow at first b/c of the holidays. Well, now the holidays are gone so let’s get the ball rolling.

We are also doing another open house this Sunday. I am doing a open house for one of my broker’s listings. I want to do as many open houses as I can, so I can meet and network with more people and YES, eat more cookies.

My Marketing Plan for Baton Rouge/ Denham Springs Homes/Real Estate!

I’ve read in several places that it’s good to have a solid marketing plan. Of course, it can only be so solid when working with a budget. I tried the farming idea. I came up with this brilliant idea to seek out apartment dwellers. I sent out over 500 postcards. Do you know that I pretty much received half of them back? It was a sad day in my marketing world. I feel like they are basically a hit or miss. I mean, how do you know that they are even thinking about buying a home? So, I decided to put my marketing funds into tweaking my website www.ForSaleByLindsay.com ! I am hoping that will get me boosted up in the search engines and get my name out here.

Marketing Plan 101

1. For starters, I publish an ad in the Real Estate Finder magazine once a month. I’ll have to be sure to post some of my ad’s b/c I am so proud of them. They have a great graphic designer. I thought that it would be a better idea, for now- to just list in the Real Estate Finder instead of sending postcards out to a certain area. Did you know that you have to send out at least 5 postcards for them to even remember you?

2. Since I publish in the Real Estate Finder, I am allowed to use their website www.re-finder.com for free. I love it. I think it runs in the search engines, google and trullia. I have had a number of hits from this and have gotten great exposure for my listings.

3. Open Houses Baby! I love open houses! I love meeting people and talking about homes. I am a home junkie. When I was younger, I loved to just ride through neighborhoods and look at houses. So, yeah…open houses..people+refreshments=gold.

4. I also do single property websites. This is where consumers can have information on my listings 24/7. Genius idea. I was thinking about doing the 1-800 number, where people can call and get the same information, but I assume that people want to see pictures and so forth. Ex. www.beaudarren.info

5.  Two weeks prior to my open houses, I place an ad in the advocate to inform people that it’s open house time.

6. The re-finder also has a section in their website that you can post about open houses. This is so helpful. I think that is why we had such a great turn out at the last open house, and possible b/c of the location. Remember- location, location, location- oh and free cookies. We also gave out a lot of freebies at this last open house. We made little goody bags w/ pens, sticky pads, candy, magnets, business cards and so forth. I was so excited about gettin the chance to give away freebies. Why, you ask? Well, I was suppose to be in the Denham Christmas parade back in December. I bought 350 water bottles w/ my name and logo and so forth. Well, once they came in the mail- they were a little top heavy. I just imagined myself trying to throw these water bottles out and giving someone a concusion. So, now I take them wherever I go and try to give them away as much as possible!

7. Craigs List. I put all of my listings on craig list, b/c it is free and you can’t beat free with a stick. I mean, you can try but I think it’s impossible. I have had a few leads just from craigs list.

8. Flyers, Flyers, Flyers

9. Word of Mouth

10. MLS system, of course this is a given.

I am still working on my marketing plan and what I have to offer my clients. I am brain storming constantly trying to come up with unique ideas, so I will continue to storm the brain and will get back to this one later.

A New Year In Baton Rouge! More Tips! Curb Appeal!

Well, we are now in 2008. I am excited about the new year and am ready to hit it head on.  I am ready for the market to pick up and to get things going. So, does your house have curb appeal?  We talked earlier about looking at your home from a buyer’s prospective.

You know, sometimes people focus so much on getting the inside of their homes ready to show that they often overlook the idea of improving the exterior of the home- the CURB APPEAL!

I’m sure we have already talked a little about curb appeal, but I think it’s so important I was to delve into it a little bit deeper. You can really do just minor changes to totally change the overall visual appearance of your home. People tend to put off simple things until they are ready to sell and miss out on the opportunity to fully experience living in a home that is an expression of themselves. People sometimes only see their house at it’s best when they are ready to sell.

You don’t have to wait until your house is on the market to give it curb appeal. Why wait? But, for those who ARE planning on selling, little changes will create a “come on in” look for the buyer’s. Even if your house is in excellent “showing” condition on the interior, what the exterior looks like can either brings buyer’s in or drive them away.

Let’s talk about some tips to get that curb appeal up and going! Are you ready?

1. Try some inexpensive vinyl shutters, this will add more dimension to your exterior windows.

2. Anyone up for a little power-washing? You would be amazed how a little power-washing adds so much ‘umph’ to the look of your home. It removes oil, rust and other stains. ew!

3. I’m not really good with gardening tips but be sure to keep your bushes, shrubs, flower beds and what not neat and clean. You want everything to look clutter-free and simple.

4. Maybe you should think of adding a few things for curb appeal. Think about planting some flowers to make it pop, but just don’t get crazy with it.

5. Make sure all your windows are clear and clean. Make sure you’ve cleaned all the hand prints and the dog’s nose prints off of all the windows.

6. Try to patch up cracks and so forth in the driveway. This will prevent water seepage and more cracking.

7. Last but not least and I have said this before: Take a look at your house from the curb. Look at it as if you were looking to buy a home. Would you buy your home? Does it have curb appeal?

Christmas is gone in Baton Rouge, Bring on the New Year! More Tips!

Well, another Christmas has come and gone! Yipee! What a wonderful Christmas this was. Santa got me a new digital camera and I can’t wait to use it! It will come in handy with all of my listings! New Years Resolutions? SELL MORE HOUSES! I am so excited about the new year, out with the old and in with the new! I am ready to jump in head first, if only the real estate market would just pick up a tad. I should have asked Santa for that.

 Getting back to business. You can never have enough tips on selling your home. Right? I’ve mentioned several different tips to get the show on the road. I want to mention a few others. Remember we discussed clutter, earlier? Just like there is a fine line between love and hate, there is a fine line between clutter and emptiness. While I do support getting rid of Aunt Ethel’s clutter, you don’t want your house to look completely empty. But, at the same time you don’t want it to look totally ‘lived’ in. It should just be nice and chic. Ahh, ‘chic’- I love that word.

 I know this is probably the obvious but make sure the interior of your home is visible from the exterior. Be sure to keep your windows clean (hello, windex), your screen doors open and your lights on. You want the house to say “Hey, come on in, pull up a chair and BUY ME”. 

I know you wouldn’t want to go out and spend a load of money but putting a swing on the front porch is very inviting. Add some colorful pillows. I’ve always wanted a home with a swing on the front porch, that or either a long, front porch with several rocking chairs. I can imagine being old and sitting out on the porch, snapping peas and watching the traffic pass by and talk about ‘back in the day’. Okay, enough about me, back to business.

 So, do you have a fireplace? If it’s cold weather- be sure to light that baby up. It makes the house so cozy. Let me share a little trick of mine that I used at my last open house. At Barnes and Nobles, I purchased two dvd’s that were basically pictures of a fire burning. And guess what? It comes with easy listening music. Wow, it looks awesome on a flat screen tv. It actually looks like a fire burnining. It makes the house look cozy and the music really sets the tone. I keep them in my car so I always have them with me. I bought one for my Father for Christmas, the only difference was it played Christmas music. I figured it would be a great for us all to sit by the “pretend” fire, listen to Christmas tunes and unwrap gifts. It was a hit and I know it will be a hit at every open house.

Be sure to do a home check. Go out in your front yard, even in the middle of the street if you have to (please, don’t get hit by a car) and check your home out. Look at it as if you were a consumer. Please don’t tell me you have  four tires that are just sitting in the front yard with flowers and weeds growing out of them….”You might be a Redneck if…” haha. Get rid of all your junk. You should have already gotten the clutter out of your home and I am hoping that you didn’t just throw it out on the front lawn. The front of the house, the exterior should look very warm and welcoming. Nothing should be in your yard besides flowers, trees and bushes OH MY. Of course, the occasional decoration is okay but no clutter. Okay? When in doubt, NO CLUTTER!

More great tips to come!

Check out my listing around Tiger Bend. She’s a beauty. I call her Betsy. www.BeauDarren.info

More Tips? I’d thought you’d never ask! Baton Rouge Homes! Selling it!

I can’t believe Christmas is right around the corner. Well, it’s not even around the corner- it’s HERE! I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Since I have been so busy with Real Estate this year, Christmas really snuck up on me. It doesn’t even feel real. I must admit though, I had my tree up and my shopping done before Thanksgiving. Yes, I know. I am a nerd but I have to say- I have giggled a few times watching everyone scurry to get their shopping done. “Lindsay, when are you going Christmas shopping?” “Oh, (brushes off shoulder) I’ve already finish <insert evil laughter>”. I’m so glad I planned ahead. I did a lot of my shopping online, which is really the way to go.

So, I figure today I just would throw in a few, little tips for selling your home quick, fast and in a hurry. I hope this information can help anyone who is selling their home. Sometimes, I have to watch what I say b/c I can go off on a tangent with useless information. I am full of it. Did you know that eating cherries before you go to bed can help you sleep better? Did you know that wearing socks to bed can make you live longer? lol Did you know that Doctor’s say that going out in the cold isn’t what gets you sick? They say it’s because everyone stays inside and bundles up together and then they pass all the love bugs. Who knew? See? Useless information. Moving on!

 So, what was the first thing we did when we went to get ready for the Open House? We opened all the blinds, pulled back all the drapes and turned on all the lights. It’s amazing how much better a house can look when you let a little light in. It looks lively and uplifting. If you happen to have dark, heavy drapes in your house -get rid of those bad boys. They bring the mood down. When I moved into my house, in my bedroom, there were huge, dark drapes that covered up the four windows in my room. I just didn’t like the feeling I got when I walked into the room. Of course, drapes are great when you are trying to catch some shut eye. I’m not going against all dark drapes, I’m just saying for an open house or a showing- stuff them in the closet (pack them away neatly). I can even begin to explain the improvement after I removed the drapes from my room. The room is filled with light now and it even makes the room look bigger. So, when in doubt- throw the drapes out.

Remember when I was talking earlier about “out with the old in with the new”. I mentioned going through all of your clutter and possibly putting aside all of the things you don’t need? Yes, even Aunt Ethel’s lovely figurines. A great idea would be to hold a garage sale. Yes, get those old boogers gone! And don’t feel like you are going to hurt Aunt Ethel’s feelings b/c you sell her items for 25 cents. So, not only are you pulling people in for a garage sale but it also gives people a chance to see your FOR SALE sign in the yard. Always think of a way to advertise. And, hey, you make a little money on the side and you are free from clutter!

More Tips on Selling YOUR Home in Baton Rouge!

So, I’m back. Yesterday, I talked about a few tips that could help you sell your home faster.  And, who doesn’t love FREE tips? Well, brace yourself- I have more. Excited? I’d figured you’d be.  Speaking of tips, that reminds me of a movie. A man and a woman just finished eating dinner at a nice resturant and they were about to leave without giving the waiter a tip. The waiter goes, “A tip, sir?”. He says “Oh yeah”. He stands up and the waiter thinks he is about to go for his pocket but instead he goes “Don’t ever smoke while pumping gas”. Okay, maybe that’s not exactly what he said, but it was something like that. It def. had me laughing.

 Okay, so the word for today is “Clutter”. Some people can live with clutter, some people can’t. Clutter is not your friend when it comes to selling your home. Have you ever been to someone’s house that was so filled with clutter you couldn’t even tell what their house actually looked like? “This would probably be a cute house if it weren’t for all this clutter”.  So, maybe Aunt Ethel gave you a figurine for Christmas, let’s say the past 17 years. You hated to just throw them away so you placed all of them on your mantle. Well, do us and Aunt Ethel a favor and pack it up and stash it away. I’m not saying forever, I’m only talking about while showing your home. Honestly, I would just pull them out when Aunt Ethel comes to town- but that’s my opinion.

 I can’t stress enough how your home should be clutter free. If you are a clutter junkie and you just can’t help yourself-store things in the attic/closet/storage until you sell your home. Try to keep the rooms looking spacious. People want to get the feel that they will have room for all of their goods and furniture.

So, maybe storing things in a closet was not a good idea. I think that the best place is in the attic. People can totally understand why your attic is stashed with Aunt Ethel’s “must have’s”. People will be looking in your closets and they need to be neat, clean and clutter free. You are probably stressing out about what to do with all the clutter. I might be a nerd but I love going through my things and organizing. Sometimes seeing old items bring back old memories. Or, maybe you might even find something you’ve been looking for, for years. It’s also a good time for the whole “out with the old, in with the new”. Try to get rid of things you know you won’t use. The last thing you want is it end up on Dr. Phil with a hoarding problem.

 I’ve read a few books about how your home should look when showing. Let’s talk about pictures. Some say it’s a good idea to place a few pictures around the house of you and your family enjoying each other in “certain” areas of the home. I’ve read several places that you shouldn’t load your house up with a lot of pictures of your family. Why not? Of course, this is all find and dandy if you are living there, but different when you are trying to sell.

Try to picture a couple walking into your home. You have pictures on the walls, the kitchen counters, shelves, bedroom dresser- anywhere you can put them you did. The couple starts to think “What a cute house, this IS the Jone’s house”. Instead, you want to be able to allow the couple to think and say “What a cute house, this IS our house”. By eliminating all of your pictures and such, it leaves room for the couple to imagine their own. Sometimes it’s hard for the mind to go past what you see.  You want to leave open space for them to formulate the idea of this being THEIR home and not yours.

Okay, class dismissed.