House Connect - Your Flat Fee Atlanta MLS Listing Service: February 2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Why We Love Atlanta Real Estate (And You Should Too)!

Whether you’re buying or selling real estate, a positive location rating is never bad news; obviously you would prefer to move to a top notch city & so would your potential buyers. Here are just a few of the many reasons working with Atlanta real estate makes our job easy.

We’re (still) growing!

While Atlanta is definitely not a newly emerging metropolis, we’re still gaining steam. Our above average median pay, above average population growth, & below average unemployment rate ranked us #12 in Forbes’ recent America’s Fastest Growing Cities 2014 list. Not to mention, our impressive new MLB & NFL stadiums currently in the works.

We’re improving!

Despite the slight winter fiasco endured on our interstates, Atlanta is still ranked one of the best in public transit. Also, our ongoing greenspace/multi-path initiatives have garnered national recognition with no signs of stopping.

We’re financially secure!

Polifact.com recently fact-checked Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reeds’ public claims to superior GDP & found that Atlanta indeed is 17^th in the union in terms of annual gross domestic product (GDP) with 11 Fortune 500 companies in the region; only NYC & Houston claim more.

We’re trendy!

We’re constantly headlining on national public opinion polls, most recently as the hub for the #4 National Arena, #1 Most Trusted American Builder, and #3 Best City of 2013. Right on!

House Connect is an Atlanta flat fee MLS listing company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate brokerage.

To find out more about our flat fee MLS listing service that can save you thousands of dollars versus a traditional real estate brokerage, call us today or visit us online & “let’s get moving!” 770.640.6800 www.houseconnectnow.com

We also offer plenty of Atlanta real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well. We’re constantly posting Atlanta market tips, real estate trends, and home selling pointers to keep you ahead of the competition. Not to mention the money you’ll save in commission prices!

Please feel free to post comments, send emails, visit our social media pages and the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you with selling your home without the pricey commissions.

* * A transaction fee of .005 x the sales price will be paid at closing.

Friday, February 7, 2014

What Is A Flat FEE MLS Listing Service?

Flat fee MLS, is an online listing service, allowing a home owner who is getting ready to sell their home, the opportunity to get it sold, and save thousands of dollars in realtor fees.

What Flat Fee MLS provides -
A flat fee MLS service provider, places the seller's home on an online market, and helps the owners sell their home quickly. A multiple listing service (MLS), is an online site where realtors place homes they are selling for clients; as a home owner, using the flat fee sites, you can skip the middleman, and have the online directory, place your home on the market.

What services are included? -
This depends on your market, and the flat fee company that you choose to list your property through. All companies will list your home, on their online directory, along with other homes in the area the home is being sold in. Additional services, which some listing companies provide include:
- Yard signs, which include the seller's phone number.
- Supra Lockbox on the property
- Negotiation of offers (if desired)
Although not all flat fee MLS companies offer these services, House Connect does. Depending on the price you pay for listing your home on their site, some or all of these services, may be included in the flat rate.

Advantages of using these MLS sites -
One of the biggest advantages of using these listing services, is that your home is going to be placed on the same exact directory and online site, as homes which are being sold by a traditional realtor. If you want your home to sell, it has to be listed on an MLS site; therefore, listing with a top flat fee company, is something the home owners should do, if they want more exposure, and want their home to get sold, in less time.

Another benefit is the fact that you truly save on the cost of listing. Most realtors charge 6% (or higher), for the sale; on a $400,000 home, you are basically losing out $24,000 in fees you pay a realtor. Commissions of 3% and higher are generally charged on top of this listing fee; that means, an additional $12,000 is going to the realtor. Also, other fees and costs might also be required, prior to a real estate agency listing and selling your home. Using a flat fee MLS, you avoid these huge costs, and you simply pay a flat fee, to have your home listed on a major online database, allowing prospective buyers to see the home.

With a flat fee MLS service, you are going to cut out a great deal of expenses, which are associated with selling a home. By cutting out the middleman, you keep more of the profits, when your home is sold. And, for a flat fee, all the listing work is done for you, meaning you do not have to worry about going out there and marketing the home, through several other sources online and locally.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

5 Things Your Competitors Can Teach You About Real Estate

Let me start off by saying we MAY not be the real estate brokerage for you. At House Connect we pride ourselves on being a service for savvy sellers. If you need someone to jump through hoops, swallow fire & conjure miracles to sell your house, you can throw a rock & hit someone claiming to do so…and you’ll pay a pretty penny for them to try. BUT, if you are willing to take our advice, make wise decisions & provide good resources, we can help you walk away from your transaction with more money….you know, if you’re into that sort of thing. Below are a few things your competitors can teach you to become more real estate savvy.

#1. Get An Audience

You can have the best house in the world but no buyers if no one knows about it. The FIRST rule of selling is to get in the MLS system. The majority of buyers are set up on automatic email notifications of homes fitting their desired criteria currently listed in the MLS. If you’re not on it, they won’t see it, but they WILL see your neighbor’s house for sale that is.

#2.. Highlight Your Assets

Once you’re in the MLS system, take the time to list ALL the features of your house. This is the info that buyers cater their ideal home criteria to. If they request info on only energy efficient houses or homes with a level lot for pets, your real estate may fit the bill but not be seen because you haven’t properly described it.

#3. Pictures Speak Volumes

Once you’ve properly listed your house & made the email rounds to your potential buyers, it’s important to remember your competitors have too. If your neighbor’s similar house has better pictures, you’re likely to be passed over. Take the time to take great photos of your house yourself. Get rid of ridiculous clutter & take clear shots of the best areas, after all…no one knows the best view in your house better than you.

#4. Pricing Is Everything

At the end of the day, ANYTHING will sell if it’s priced competitively enough. Get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of your competitors’ prices; list with a flat fee Listing service so that you can lower the amount of your house without lowering the amount of your take home.

#5 You Don’t NEED A Traditional Real Estate Agent

One thing you may or may not know is that your competitors who have listed with a traditional real estate agent will have to pay that agent a percentage of the sales price, probably, 3-6%. With a flat fee MLS Listing company you can get ALL of the above advantages while spending MUCH less with a up front flat fee. This gives you the ability to lower your price significantly less than your competitors (see #4) OR simply take home more money. Call us today to get a free CMA, list for a low flat fee, & out smart those other guys.

* * A transaction fee of .005 x the sales price will be paid at closing.