Common Moving Mistakes

Be it moving from one home to another or moving from one city to another, moving can be highly frustrating, expensive and you have to keep your mind prepared to face all types of unforeseen events. You are at the risk of committing a lot of mistakes like hiring disreputable movers, getting wrong quotes of price, overstuffing of containers and speeding up of the moving process etc. These mistakes are very common and can lead to disasters.

Are you living in a house or dorm or apartment with your friends or your parents? Are you planning to move? Do you want to know the tips of how to avoid the common moving mistakes? If your answer is yes, proceed to read further.

Tip #1. Avoid hiring dubious movers

You should have heard many people relating their bitter experiences they had with shady movers or you would have had a bitter experience yourselves with a scam moving company when you moved previously. You can easily avoid this mistake if you do a little research before hiring a mover. There are many reliable sources like The Transportation Regulator of your state, The Better Business Bureau, The Department of Transportation USA and The Angie's List. You can have a look at one or more of these sources. If your friends or neighbors or colleagues have moved recently you can ask them for references. If you have a moving company in mind, don't hesitate and don't feel lazy to do online research. Go to their website and look for the testimonials and reviews made by customers. Make sure the reviews are positive and the rating given is good. Spending quality time to make sure that the mover you hire is not a shady mover can help in avoiding a lot of problems while moving.

If you are not satisfied with any of the movers and if you are confident that you can handle the moving task yourselves, you can always go for Do-It-Yourself method.

Tip #2. Avoid muddling of quotes

Have you decided on the mover you would like to hire? If so, call him and ask him to come to your place. Get an in-home estimate. If they are not willing to give an estimate call another company.

It is not wise to stick to one company alone. Prepare a list on the most recommended movers and contact them. Don't make your decision based on the quotes alone. The least quote is not always the best. If you are satisfied with the services of one mover but feel they are expensive you can talk with them and try to lower the price quoted by them. Don't rely on oral estimates. You should accept only written estimates.

Tip #3. Avoid Overstuffing

Is your place overflowing with your belongings? If so, this is the best time to dispose the things that you don't need. Do you still have your 6-year-old's baby clothes packed in several boxes? Open all the boxes. Sort out the things. Throw the waste into the trash. Donate unused clothes and toys to charity. If you feel your friends or relatives may need few things that you don't need, give them those things. If possible you can even put up a junk sale. This can clear most of the mess in your place. Take all your clothes out. You are sure to see that there are a lot of clothes that you have not used for a year or more. Now it is up to you to make a decision. Do you really need them? Do you need to take them to the new place where you are shifting to?

Tip #4. Avoid rushing

Planning in advance is very important. Most people prefer the summer months for moving. You cannot dream of hiring the best movers if you plan in the last minute. If you start to look for a mover the day before you are planning to move, you are sure to find that all best movers have already been booked. To avoid ending up hiring shady and incompetent movers you should make a decision several months before. This can save a lot of stress and frustration.

Tip #5. Avoid last minute packing

A study conducted by SpareFoot in the year 2013 shows that most people who moved last year hated packing and unpacking. They feel that packing and unpacking are the biggest nuisance while moving.

Packing need not be a big hassle if you don't postpone it until the last minute. Start stuffing the boxes weeks or even months before. You will not need all things in your home until the last day of moving. There should be several things that you don't need right now. For example, is it summer time? If so, you will not need your winter clothes for a few months. Pack your winter clothes in a box. Prepare a list of things to be packed. Pack the not needed and less needed first and tick them off from the list.

Do you have good friends, close relatives and helpful neighbors? If so, why don't you get their help? Make sure you don't send your voluntary helpers in empty stomachs? Be generous in serving snacks and beverages. Is it not possible to get voluntary help from your near and dear ones? If so, you can always get the services of paid workers. It is true that your budget would shoot up but your physical and mental stress related to moving will be reduced considerably.

A Kitchen Makeover Pays When Selling Your Home

Making a few affordable changes to your kitchen can really pay off in the long run - especially if you are planning on selling your home. You don't always need to pay for an expensive remodeling project in order to transform the look of your house, and making some changes here and there can make your kitchen much more appealing to prospective buyers. In fact, with the right know-how and a little determination, you could increase the value of your property just by making a few small changes.

Here are a few things to start with - remember, it's always best to de-clutter the kitchen area if you expecting people to view your property, so take some time to clear countertops and hide any appliances. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is leaving their kitchens in an untidy state. It may be an inconvenience, but taking a few hours to tidy your kitchen can really make your home more attractive to prospective buyers.

Take a look around the kitchen and see what you can pop into a cupboard or a drawer - or even throw away completely. The less clutter, the better, especially as buyers like to visualize their own belongings on countertops and shelves.

Remove any pots and pans that hang low from walls or ceilings, and patch up any holes that are left behind. Unless you are sure that the decor in your kitchen doesn't block a view, it's probably best to take it down.

Spend some time cleaning down countertops and other areas of the kitchen. This point may sound obvious, but you'll be surprised how many people forget to do this before a buyer visits their property. Pay attention to any stains around the kitchen - remember, a little care and attention can really go a long way.

A rolling butcher block island can provide you with some extra working space and can enhance the look of your kitchen. You may even want to really impress buyers who visit your home by leaving out a plate of freshly-baked cookies along with flyers for an open house visit.

Light is really important when selling your home - especially in your kitchen. Pendant lighting can be a cost-effective way to enhance the look of your kitchen, and will help to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Changing your flooring can also be a great way to increase the chances of getting your property sold - especially if the floor looks worn or damaged. Inexpensive contemporary flooring can instantly transform your kitchen, and could even increase the value of your property.

Other small modifications you can make to your kitchen include adding some greenery to the interior space, especially potted plants and fresh herbs. They will add a pleasant odor to the kitchen, as well as a vibrant splash of color.

Clean any kitchen appliances that have seen better days, and replace any broken appliances if you are selling the home "as is".


They say the kitchen is the most important room of the home - so care should be taken to keep it clean and looking contemporary, especially if you want to increase the value of your property.

The Importance of Seller Disclosures

As a seller, you should be aware that both state and federal law takes a strict approach to the information you must tell buyers what you know about the condition of your home. This is particularly important for details that aren't obvious or visible to a potential buyer. After all, a buyer isn't able to open up the walls or look under the house. A buyer must rely on getting accurate information from you, the seller, about the operating condition of your home's systems and appliances.

In order to comply with the law, when you go to sell your home your real estate agent will give you a federally-required and possibly state-required disclosure form, known as a Condition Report, Property Condition Disclosure, or Real Estate Disclosure Statement. On this form, you have to disclose the non-obvious details which you're aware of: for example, if you know that your home has lead paint, asbestos, radon, or other toxic products, you must mention this on the form.

You are not required to go out and do tests for the presence of toxic substances in order to fill out the forms. However, you must disclose them if you're aware they're present, and the buyer's lender may require you to supply proof of testing or pay for remedying any problems you did disclose. If there was water or fire damage, you may have to pay to fix it.

All questions on the form must be answered as truthfully as possible. Your real estate agent can't answer them for you -- you must fill out the form yourself, though your agent is allowed to help you understand the form. Of course, if in doubt, it's better to disclose too much information rather than risk not disclosing enough.

Yes, the form does let you check an "I don't know" box if you genuinely don't know about the condition of some item. However, if you claim not to know about the condition of something you use regularly, the buyer may get suspicious. It's hard to believe the homeowner wouldn't know whether the sinks and bathtubs are in good shape.

In case you're concerned about this process, hiring a licensed professional home inspector is the best way to be confident about your home's condition. (Ask your real estate agent for recommendations.) In exchange for a few hundred dollars, the inspector will be able to tell you if your home is ready to go on the market or if you need to fix a particular problem.

If you do fix a problem that you subsequently disclose to the buyer, make sure you provide them with copies of invoices, receipts, and work orders to demonstrate the work was done professionally. If you didn't fix the problem, the buyer will probably ask you to arrange a repair, or the buyer may offer less for your house.

Incidentally, this is why it's important to get your house inspected and repaired before you put it on the market. The more problems left unrepaired, the greater the buyer will discount his or her offer if he or she even decides to make one. Homes in good condition sell best.

However, you don't need to fear the seller's disclosure. It's designed to do just one thing -- protect both you as well as your real estate agent as long as you've disclosed the true condition of your property. The last thing you want is for the buyer to have room for complaints or litigation after the closing is complete.

If you want an idea of what questions a disclosure will ask you, you can find disclosure forms at FindLegalForms.com.

Again, the disclosure is all about making the deal, not killing it.

The Benefits of Using a Flat Fee MLS Service

     Flat fee MLS is a practice in the real estate field whereby pertinent information regarding a particular property is placed in the database of a local Multiple Listing Service at a particular fee, contrary to the traditional method where a commission is charged based on the sale price of the property. This is basically an agreement in which the broker will enter a property into the MLS and he or she will be paid a flat fee for that service. It saves property owners the burden of buying a large package of services from a real estate agent, some of which may not be contributory to the sale. There are four basic services that a traditional agent will offer. Once they are bypassed, they all turn out to be advantageous to the property owner because it means spending less while getting the same or even better services. If you are stressed about the amount you will be paying an agent to sell your property, it is time you realized there is a better option. Consider the following advantages of adopting the flat fee MLS:

You do the pre-market preparation yourself

This is one of the basic services that you are buying whenever you opt to sell your property through an agent. The flat fee MLS, however, gives you the opportunity of doing pre-market preparations yourself. This means you can even give your home a better look because you want a better value compared to an agent who is out to get a fee and move to the next client. This preparation entails making a few fixes, staging and taking photographs. Taking photographs and staging is not a daunting task, and nobody knows the best spots of your house better than you! Most of the resources needed are readily available over the internet, some of which are step-by-step guides explaining how you will best prepare a property for sale

. 

It expands your market/showing 

The real estate market has transformed dramatically due to internet marketing. Once your property has been placed on the local MLS service, it means that it will definitely appear on the main real estate sites. The reduced commissions also means that better commissions will be offered to the buyer’s agent, which actually completes the legwork halfway for you. You may now opt for additional marketing strategies such as placement of a signage and sending word to your social networks. You can do this yourself or agree with a broker on a flat fee. The ultimate end is that your property will meet an expanded market reach.

It is less risky

Selling your property through the traditional agency actually means entrusting your entire home to the hands of an agent. When you do it yourself, however, it is an opportunity to stand in charge of the entire process, which reduces the risks that are involved. With such control, it is obvious that any benefit from the buyer’s agent will get to your directly while in the other case, they might be siphoned along the way if the agent is a dubious one.

You make substantial savings 

A good amount of money is saved when you decide to sell the property yourself. If you were selling property worth $400, 000 for instance, you will pay a commission of $24,000 to the agent when standard rates are applied. This is exclusive of the buyer’s agent whom you will also pay a commission of 3%. When using the flat fee MLS service on the other hand, it will only take you hundreds of dollars to have the property listed on MLS. You will then be required to pay a commission of 3% if your buyer was using a real estate agent. In the end, you will find yourself saving a whopping $12,000 or even more.

In summary, with the revolution of internet marketing there isn’t so much of a need to use real estate agents across the entire sale process. Take a bold step and research the real estate companies that lie within your area. We invite you to compare flat fee real estate companies as well. We are confident you will find that House Connect offers more services at a better price to help you save potentially thousands of dollars on your real estate transaction.

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!

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

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

Get Your Atlanta Home Ready For A Winter Listing

     Metro-Atlanta was hit hard this week from the national Polar Vortex sweeping most of the United States, reaching record lows and leaving many Atlantans feeling unprepared for winter. We thought it was only fitting to post about how to keep your Atlanta real estate listing optimally winterized and eco-friendly, both of which we predict will be trending for homebuyers in 2014.

Insulate: Extra insulation is the best way to winterize your home. There is a section in your MLS listing where you can list energy features your property possesses. If you want to optimize your listing for the winter months it may be time to add extra insulation to nudge you ahead of the competition. Eco-friendly options such as cellulose & spray foam, in place of traditional insulation, give your listing an extra-green boost.

Have your furnace serviced: Letting sellers know that the furnace has recently been serviced & is in good condition is a great way for your Atlanta listing to stand out from the others. Another eco-friendly tip -- think about installing a permanent furnace filter which cuts down on waste & helps inhabitants breathe cleaner air.

Upgrade to a programmable thermostat. It can save you money without sacrificing comfort, AND you can list it as an energy feature on your Atlanta MLS listing.

Install weather stripping: Sealing gaps around windows & doors is an easy way to make your home feel warmer & save you money on your energy bills.

Another quick fix: Foam insulation gaskets for outlets & switches. They prevent air leakage, and you can get multipacks at most major hardware stores for $5 -$10.

Use evergreens or shrubs on your property line to create a natural windbreaker. That’s about a “green” as you can get, and it could save you up to 30% in energy costs.

Little items that go a long way: If you can’t spend the time or resources for major upgrades, make minor ones and market the heck out of them. Replacing the air filters & all exterior lights is an easy way to let buyers know that your Metro-Atlanta real estate is well-maintained. Then place neatly printed notes on all energy efficient features so potential buyers are aware during showings. Finally, be sure to list these feature in your Atlanta MLS listing. It will guarantee your house stands out among the competition as environmentally friendly and winter ready.

Happy selling Atlanta! We hope these tips help you have a speedy & successful home-selling process this winter. Please call us today at 770-640-6800 or visit us online to learn more about our $499* flat-fee listing & how you can save thousands versus using a traditional real estate company.

From our House to Yours

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.

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.

* * A transaction fee of .0015 x the sales price will be paid at closing.

4 New Year's Resolutions for the 2014 Atlanta Home Seller

    

 Since one of our most popular blog posts last year was our New Year Resolutions for Home Sellers, I decided to revamp the topic for 2014 so that Atlanta home sellers can revamp their selling tactics & follow the success of our 2013 House Connect customers. Here are our 4 New Year’s Resolutions for the 2014 Atlanta home seller to keep you ahead of the competition, supported by the 2013 National Association of Realtors Home Buyer Seller Trends report.

1). Get Your Home Into 2014 Selling Shape! All of the traditional rules apply i.e., improve your curb appeal, clear out interior clutter, complete any fixer-upper items you’re been avoiding, but newly trending in 2013 was the importance of environmentally-friendly or “green” homes.  In the NAR report, 39% of all respondents rated at least one green feature as “very important,” so get creative! Update your appliances to be energy efficient, use energy efficient lighting, cater your landscaping to be energy conservative, and MOST IMPORTANTLY don’t neglect naming these features in your MLS listing.

2). Know the 2014 market! Keep yourself abreast of real estate trends by studying this NAR profile of current home buyers. Also, follow House Connect on social media platforms & this blog where we post updated market reports about Metro-Atlanta & the many ATL micro-markets. After all, what’s trending in North Fulton can be vastly different than real estate market trends in South Dekalb.

3.) Know the 2014 new lending laws! Staying well informed of the financing process your buyer will likely endure will keep your expectations realistic. NAR reports that 87% of home buyers financed their home in 2013, and 17% of those home buyers found the financing process more difficult than they initially expected. In 2014 expect more of the same with new mortgage laws being implemented in early January.

And finally…

4). Know your home worth! In 2013 over half of home buyers paid 94-100% of the asking price, so it’s important to know your appropriate price point. Before listing, you should get a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to know what similar homes in your area are successfully selling for. If you call House Connect today & mention this blog, we will offer you a free CMA at no cost or commitment from you.

Happy New Year Atlanta! We hope these tips help you have a speedy & successful home-selling process. Please call us today at 770-640-6800 or visit us online to learn more about our $499* flat-fee listing & how you can save thousands versus using a traditional listing agency.

From our House to Yours

We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on comparative home pricing, real estate market trends, and Metro-Atlanta 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.

House Connect is an Atlanta, GA discount realty company offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a Flat Fee MLS Listing service which saves Atlanta home sellers thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate agency.

* * A transaction fee of .0015 x the sales price will be paid at closing.

MARKET UPDATE: Atlanta Winter Real Estate Market Brief

     Baby it’s cold outside! But things are heating up in the Atlanta real estate market. November 2013 metro Atlanta market reports are in & we’ve got a handy SlideShare presentation to keep you well informed. Check it out! You know you want to…

                   

               Atlanta Winter Real Estate Market Brief from House Connect, LLC

     So what does this mean for YOU? It means NOWS THE TIME TO SELL! Prices are up & inventory is down creating a HIGH demand for homes throughout Atlanta. Also, days on market dropped showing that you can sell quickly & hassle free. Not to mention, 94.2% of asking price was received! No more low balling to sell quickly! What are you waiting for? List for just $499 today with House Connect to save even more money! Take advantage of the current market & call us to List. Sell. Save today! 770.640.6800

We also offer plenty of Atlanta real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging ideas, and real estate market trends 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 the House Connect website, or call us directly at 770-640-6800 for more info. We have dedicated, knowledgeable professionals waiting to assist you in selling your Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

**House Connect is an flat fee Atlanta MLS listing agency offering an alternative to the high cost of selling your home. We offer a discount realty service which saves metro-Atlanta home owners thousands of dollars versus using the traditional real estate broker.

Qualified Mortgage & Ability to Repay in 2014: A Seller's Perspective

Next year a new set of mortgage rules amended to the Truth In Lending Act by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will go into effect, no doubt changing the home buying process. Here is a quick refresher course so that as a seller, you can know what to expect in your future real estate transactions.

Overview:

Home buyers often struggle to understand the type of monthly payment they can afford. If approved for a mortgage bigger than their wallets, results are likely to be delinquency & foreclosure, exemplary in the years leading up to the financial crisis. The Truth In Lending Act was established to hold banks accountable for the size of loans they approve & the documentation needed to support lending.

New Rules:

On January 10, 2014 an amendment to Regulation Z will go into effect requiring lenders to look at a consumer’s financial information and be sure the consumer has the ability to repay that loan. This rule creates a category of more stable loans called Qualified Mortgages and reduces the risk of reckless lender tactics such as “teaser” rates, negative amortization & loan terms longer than 30 years.

How this will affect Home Sellers:

In the past five years since the financial crisis, real estate agents have changed how they qualify buyers drastically. Many agents now require proof of funds or a pre-qualification letter from a lender before they will even meet a prospective buyer to show the property. Expect more of the same with the new rules meaning fewer showings, inquiries & offers for your real estate.

The Good News:

Loans often fall through in the home selling process after the property has gone into Under Contract status, cutting off potential buyers who may be more qualified to purchase your “Active” property. Also, this new rule lessens the chance that you will be tied up with tedious paperwork from buyers who are not financially able to close your real estate transaction.

 So while it may seem like you're not getting as much traffic as you have in a previous transaction, it is important to be aware of the changing mortgage laws and adjust your expectations accordingly. Remember: “It’s Quality Not Quantity.”

We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends 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 listing your Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

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

Atlanta Real Estate Market: New Construction on the Rise

     One of the biggest indicators of a recovering real estate market is the rise of new construction. Here are the latest stats from The US Census Bureau & the National Association of Home Builders.

• Privately Owned housing units authorized by building permits in Oct were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,034,000 - a 6.2% increase over Sept 2013 & a 13.9% increase over Oct 2012.
• Single family authorizations in Oct were at a rate of 620,000 - a .08% increase over Sept 2013.
• In the South in Oct, 259,000 New Homes were sold compared to 183,000 in Oct 2012 in a steady incline. 

     At House Connect we're ahead of the curve on what's trending. If you're an Atlanta area builder, our flat fee listing service can save you THOUSANDS on new construction homes. Call us today to see how we can help you unload your inventory. Now is the time!

We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends 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 listing your Metro-Atlanta real estate without the pricey commissions.

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

Atlanta Real Estate Marketing: Don't Overlook Social Media

There is one vital element to selling your property quickly: EXPOSURE!

While the best form of exposure is to make sure your listing is in both Atlanta Multiple Listing Services, another form of internet exposure should not be overlooked: social media. 

Here are 10 statistics that explain who social media exposure is important.

1. 90% of home buyers begin their real estate search online.
2. Home buyers are 26% more likely to contact us via social media platform than they were just a year ago.
3. Total number of minutes spent on social media sites is up 21% from 2011.
4. One in three social media users prefer contact via social media or “social care” over contacting a business by telephone.
5. The median age of first time buyers is 31 –Generation Y.
6. 96% of Generation Y uses social media sites, outnumbering baby boomers.
7. Home buyers who use the internet take just over two weeks to find the real estate of their choice. However, a traditional buyer takes close to two months to make a decision.
8. Online buyers are clear about the type of real estate they are shopping for, making it easier & quicker to complete a deal.
9. Customers who watch a YouTube video of a product or service are 85% more likely to purchase.
10. 55% of consumers share their purchases socially on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest & other social sites.

At House Connect, we’re ahead of the curve on what’s trending. Your listing will be advertised on all major social media platforms to guarantee maximum exposure for your property. 

Don’t take my word for it: Check out House Connect online to see for yourself.

We also offer plenty of real estate tips online! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, & Pinterest as well as subscribing to this blog. We’re always sharing our market-insider tips on DIY renovations, home staging tips, and Atlanta market trends 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 listing your Atlanta property without the pricey commissions.

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

FSBO: Why Listing Your House in the MLS is Important

Selling your real estate yourself, AKA For Sale By Owner (FSBO) may seem like a great opportunity to save money, but you risk missing key exposure that is vital to selling your property quickly.

Some background...

The idea behind FSBO is that you save on the listing commission. As you may or may not know, the home seller is the person who pays both agents in a real estate transaction. Typically 3 (sometimes up to 6) percent of the sales price will come out of the final payday and go into each real estate agent's pocket.

Ex. For a sales price of $184,000 (the Atlanta average) 3% = $5520. Totaling $11,040 to the agents instead of the seller.

While there's almost no avoiding the buyers agent commission since 92.4% of home buyers use a real estate agent, a home seller that opts out of using a listing agent can still save over $5000. Not too shabby.

The bad news...

The problem is that selling your home yourself cuts out your property's exposure - most notably MLS exposure. By listing your Atlanta real estate in the two Atlanta MLSs your house is exposed to over 55,000 Georgia real estate agents and then syndicated to real estate sites such as Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com and the 90% of home buyers that begin their serach online.

Also, using a real estate agency means brand recognition, a team of experts to help handle the contract-to-close process, an agent to show your property, and several other tasks that help effectively market your real estate.

However...

This doesn't mean you HAVE to forego that 5 grand by using a traditional real estate company. House Connect offers a flat fee Atlanta MLS listing service where you pay a flat fee of $499 upfront no matter your sales price & in return, we list your property in both MLSs, syndicate your property to over 100 real estate websites, provide you with a lockbox & yard sign for added exposure, AND help you every step of the way from showings to contract negotiation & closing.

The catch…

There is none! The only additional fee you pay is the transaction fee ONLY once your property sale is final which is .0015 of the sales price ($276 in the example used earlier).

With House Connect you CAN have your cake & eat it too...and $775 versus $5520 sounds like a no-brainer to us! Give us a call today for a free Comparative Market Analysis & to learn more about what House Connect can do for you! 770-640-6800