It’s a big day… You’ve made the decision… It’s definitely not something you took lightly…
You’ve seen the news, read the newspapers, talked with your friends…
They’ve all said the same thing– Don’t do it. Not now. Wait.
But until when? Who has that crystal ball?
You’ve heard all the naysayers, but you know this is right for you and your family. Surprisingly, you’re a little bit excited, but still apprehensive. But that’s OK… You’re prepared…
Take a deep breath… Lets say it together, slowly… “I want to sell my home.” It feels better doesn’t it? Now what?
It’s time to choose who you want to sell your home with. But, “Their all the same right? An agent is an agent is an agent. I’ll call a friend of a friend from church. They’ll sell it.”
NOT ANYMORE…
Did you know that the average Realtor is almost 55 years old, but the average home buyer is only 34? Did you also know that 750% of home buyers start their search for a new home on the internet. OK, it’s not quite that high, but it’s now into the mid 80% range and steadily climbing.
I know your next question. It matters because you need your Realtor to be able to market your home in the most effective way possible to reach this new type of buyer.
It was easy selling Wisconsin Rapids real estate 5 years ago. Buyers were flocking to real estate offices looking for homes. Being an agent was easy. But, gone are the days of a buyer calling a Realtor and saying “Find me a house.” In this new market a buyer is doing most of their own leg work, and then going to a Realtor and asking to see 4 specific homes. And from those homes the buyer makes a decision. All they needed a Realtor for was to get them into the house and to negotiate a deal that works for them. And if not, they walked away. No questions asked; something better would come along…
The real estate game has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. In this new real estate world the average buyer views 7 homes, down from 15 a few short years ago. Its gone from being agent centric to now being client centric. That’s a good thing too…
And because of that your agent needs to do more than market you home “on the MLS, with direct mail, and on the company website.” Have you been told that before? Is that it? What else? Are they worth 6%?
I have ideas that I feel would be a better way to reach this new type of buyer… To better market your home to the people who are going to buy it…
Take this away– Remember it’s 2008 and not 1988.
My request to you. don’t choose an agent because you know them. Buyers are using technology, make sure your agent is able to reach them.
Remember you want to sell your home, not just list it.
To start the process of selling your Wisconsin Rapids home answer a few questions about your home and I’ll complete a quick Comparative Market Analysis and let you know what I feel your home is worth.
While you’re waiting for the value of your home here a few other related posts:
Photo Credit: Brent Nelson
Congratulations, because as you already know Wisconsin Rapids is a great place to live and raise children. There are great schools, restaurants as well as being centrally located to all major cities in Wisconsin.
Owning your own home brings with it a freedom that you can’t get from renting.
As a renter in an apartment complex for 3 years I understand the problems associated with sharing walls as well as common areas. My apartment was on the first floor facing the parking lot; so you can imagine the traffic and people past my windows at all hours of the night. And sharing walls, anyone who has can understand my plight, TV, conversations, arguments among other things are easily heard from neighbors.
Eventually all of that grew old and I started to quickly save for a downpayment, and I’m loving home ownership.
What’s the easiest way for you to get out of apartment living and into your very first home? Where should you start? In keeping with the theme of my website, do all you can to educate yourself about the Wisconsin Rapids real estate market and ask questions. Looking back to my home purchase their are many questions I wish I would have asked and things I would have done differently (example, attempting to save money I did not have a home inspection performed; looking back I wish I would have).
Follwoing are three areas where you can start your home buying process. These are a few important details that will make your home buying experience in Wisconsin Rapids a positive one.
First and most important, find a lender and get pre-approved not prequalified. Pre approved will tell you the ball park estimate of your borrowing power. Obviously you’ll know in what price range you’re able to purchase in, which will save you from falling in love with a home that ends up being just a little to expensive. Being pre approved can also give you an edge in negotiating the purchase of your first home because it can calm any fears the seller may have about your offer.
Next, start thinking about your family’s needs. How much space do you need? Where in the greater Wisconsin Rapids area do you want to live? In town? Out of town? East side? West side? Do you want your home close to a specific school? Are you looking for a specific type of home? Ranch? Story and a half? Bi-Level? Any style of homes you don’t want to live in?
Now you have to find the right real estate agent. Look for an agent who listens well, understands your needs, and whose judgment you trust. Overall, you need a Wisconsin Rapids Realtor who makes you feel comfortable and can provide all the knowledge and services you need. You can view what I offer buyers.
This will hopefully help you out with many of your questions. I am easily reached with any other questions you have. I’ll be more than happy to help you locate and purchase your first home.
In upcoming posts I’ll continue to share ideas and ways for first time home buyers to effectively move from renting to a homeowner. In order to make sure you don’t miss out, subscribe, to have posts automatically emailed to you.
Photo Credit: bassi baba, sallyrye
The 34th Indmar Marine Engines Division 1 Show Ski National Championships will be held this weekend at Lake Wazeecha in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Fourteen of the best water ski teams will be participating in this year’s event at Red Sands Beach. All told over 1500 athletes will be participating over the weekend in this year’s national championship.
Unfortunately our own Aqua Skiers are not in this weekend’s championships. At the Division 1 state tournament this July the Aqua Skiers failed to finish in the top 5 and secure their birth to the Indmar Marine Engines Division 1 Show Ski National Championship. Does this remind anyone else of a college bowl game name?
The team competition will take place on Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10. Starting times for both days will be 7:30 am. Click here to see the running order for the teams entered.
Along with the team competition athletes will be competing in adagio doubles, swivel and multi-jumping acts. These events will take place on Friday, August 8 starting at 11:00 am.
This will be a very busy weekend for businesses in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Hotels have been filled for weeks. As of Wednesday the Marshfield News Herald reported that only 14 out of a possible 570 rooms in Wisconsin Rapids are still available. With upwards of 10,000 spectators expected each day hundreds of thousands of dollars will be pumped into our economy over the course of this weekend.
Originally the Rock Aqua Jays Ski Club out of Janesville was supposed to host the event. But the flooding on the Rock River resulted in too much damage to Traxler Park.
I would like to share with you a recent post by Frugal Dad entitled 75 Tips to Survive a Down Economy.
There are many great money saving tips that anyone in the Wisconsin Rapids area will find useful.
I’ve personally :
- started to use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins
- planted a vegetable garden using compost from our house
- added shade to the air conditioner by planting a tree
- replaced all the windows in my home
With the rising cost of just about everything, every little bit helps. What are your thoughts? Have you had success with any of his other tips? Please post your thoughts to comments.
The internet is revolutionizing how homes are being bought and sold. Technically adept people shop for homes just like they shop for everything else: By going to the internet first, to see what’s out there. That gives a huge advantage to sellers who work with tech savvy Realtors like myself.
Every Realtor will give you a sign in your front yard and a lockbox. Throw in an MLS listing, of course, since he knows that your home is most likely to be sold by a buyer’s agent. Most Realtors will also prepare a flyer for the home, and, if you’re lucky, it might even be attractive and informative. They’ll take a few pictures, but not near enough. And the unanswered question is: Will any of this be available to internet users shopping from home?
Did you know at least 80% of Wisconsin Rapids home buyers start their home search online? Does your Realtor know how to market your home to this new generation of home buyers?
Question: What is the number one goal a buyer has when beginning to search for homes?
Answer: To eliminate your home from consideration.
Everything a buyer does is an attempt to whittle down the number of homes to view. The big ways a buyer will do this are with price, size, and location. Outside of the price not a whole lot you can do…
But after that a buyer starts to nitpick. You’ve watched House Hunters… You know the crazy things buyers will say. My favorite: “Our furniture won’t fit in the ______.” Are you kidding me? They won’t buy a $150,000 home because their $800 worth of table and chairs won’t fit in the dining room?
My job is to make it difficult for a buyer to say ‘No’ to your home.
One way I do this is with a full-blown web site for each one of my listings. Not just a photo and an address, but a full marketing presentation: Digital photos, a printable flyer, neighborhood information, all the listing details, along with every benefit your home offers to buyers, all presented professionally and persuasively. And each listing is promoted in the national home search databases. You can tell by looking at this web site that we know how to sell to internet shoppers. We can sell your home to internet buyers just as well…
Are you ready? Contact me today and we can get together to talk about how I’ll sell your home.
Photo Credit: eyeliam
PHONE: (608) 542-0178
My name is Adam Holberg and I’m a Realtor with First Weber of Wisconsin Rapids. This website is designed to inform and help bring conversation to a topic I love, real estate. 
