http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/online-marketing-for-the-estate-agent.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/online-marketing-for-the-estate-agent.html Wed, 20 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Introduction

If you are making a living as an estate agent you can be proud to be one of a few of the elite in a very challenging industry. It is no secret that only the best succeed in this very challenging industry.

Therefore when I first set out thinking on how to write this I had to understand that I was dealing with marketing professionals. The online industry are however very different and many top marketers are struggling to find their footing in this industry. However it is in most cases totally unnecessary as it is an industry that makes sense and is much easier to track statistically than the conventional marketing techniques.

The Internet opportunity

According to internetworldstats.com there are currently more than 1,1 Billion Internet users across the world. More than 30% of these Internet users are from Europe and more than 22% from North America. As far as South Africa are concerned we have the largest Internet user base in Africa at an impressive 5,1 mil Internet users. If all of these facts are taken into account it becomes very clear that the Internet offers a large opportunity for visibility to millions of potential buyers both local and abroad.

Currently there are an estimated 500,000 real estate websites online. In South Africa there are an estimated 15,000 real estate sites. With this amount of competition, it becomes important to be ahead of your competitors in terms of your online marketing strategies.

A view on South Africa

According to world-gazetteer.com South Africa has a population of close to 50 mil people. It is a country with great prospects for the future as is clearly visible when looking at the statistics from the World Bank. In 1985 the GDP was at $67,1Bil. In 1995 the GDP stood at $151,1Bil and in 2005 at $240,2Bil. South Africa’s average annual growth for GDP was 4,9% in 2005. Although these figures have a lot more meat to it, it indicates a healthy economical growth. With a healthy growing economy it shows a great online future for the country that was at one stage considered the black hole of the Internet.

A carefully aimed arrow

With such a large quantity of Internet users globally, able to view your website, it is clear that your website is more than just an advertising billboard. The fact that the Internet is becoming more and more community driven, your website also offers much more benefits than just a brochure to advertise your property listings in. Having a fully dynamic website that are better than anybody else’s website is becoming a minimum standard if you wish to compete. Having partnerships with other real estate websites are also becoming more and more important.

The most important factor to consider when evaluating and structuring a proper online marketing strategy is to consider who your target market is. Demographics is a requirement and should be the foundation of your marketing plan. These market segments will become your target markets and will determine your marketing budget for all online marketing ventures.

Different segments of Online Marketing

Although there are at least 12 main categories that can be used in online marketing, we will discuss 4 of them in the following weeks. Understanding these 4 basic marketing strategies is crucial in understanding the way of the web.
• Editorial Marketing
• Banner advertising
• SEO
• Email marketing

When reading this and future articles, it is important that you understand that these marketing techniques are closely related to each other for the best results. Although this is the case they are also proven to be successful if used independently.



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http://www.cyberprop.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/trouble-pulling-the-trigger-on-your-first-home.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/trouble-pulling-the-trigger-on-your-first-home.html Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500 Perhaps, because your current home is familiar. You know exactly what to expect. You’ve come to accept its shortcomings whether they are loud neighbours, a leaky ceiling or scant street parking. There are few surprises.
For many first-time homebuyers, pulling the trigger can be a frightening experience. Will you be happy there? Will you like your neighbours? Will you be tied down, house rich and cash poor? What if you lose your job? In short, your fears stem from the unknown.
• Get comfortable with your finances: Anticipate the new costs that you will experience such as taxes, homeowners insurance, utility bills, and commuting costs. This will help you determine the maximum price you can spend on a house. Consult a financial expert if you need help. Remember, the first year is the hardest; you will start to receive tax benefits in year two.
• Partner with a Real Estate Agent: Even though the internet gives you access to endless amounts of market information, don’t be fooled into going it alone. Instead, try out a few real estate agents and when you find one who listens to you, stick with him. He or she can line up properties to view, answer many of your questions, and make connections for you in the surrounding Areas. Best of all, real estate agent often have the inside track on a new properties just coming on the market.
• Consider the risk: Realize that there is uncertainty in everything, but no matter what happens, you will deal with it. Ask family and friends about their experiences and learn from them. Be sure to keep some cash reserves in the bank as a safety net. And remember, you have home owners insurance for a reason.
• Your Priorities “must-haves”: Is there a community that you absolutely want to live in? Are you adamant about wanting a garage, a fireplace or a finished basement? Make your list of what’s important to you and look for it. You may find that you are willing to sacrifice one feature, if the rest is fabulous. If you are not crazy about the house, don’t bid. It’s important that you love it at the outset.
• Be ready to bid: Great houses don’t stay on the market long. Sometimes one open house leads to three offers. If you love it, be ready to make your best offer. If you are uncertain, ask yourself, “How will I feel if I don’t get this house?” You might just get it, and if not, at least you’ll you know you tried.
• Reap the reward: Owning a house can be one of the most exciting and satisfying things you’ll ever do in your life. It’s an investment that can pay your personal dividends as well as financial.
Take the first step pull the trigger! “Ready to take the step. Tired of standing on the sidelines. Set a deadline and be ready to bid when you see it. It’s been a long time coming, and you are on your way to becoming a house owner.” Go for it when you see it.
www.cyberprop.com




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CyberProp is filled with real estate news, property investments, listed estate agents and real estate advice. With the click of a button we will provide visitors to this website with a wide selection of property for sale and property to rent in residential properties, farms, commercial properties, vacant land, business properties, industrial properties, holiday homes and retirement homes. CyberProp for property in South Africa.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/a-home-is-not-just-a-house.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/a-home-is-not-just-a-house.html Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Your home's real value is in the dirt. When you purchase a home, you actually buy real estate, a combination of dirt (the land) and all the fixtures: your house, garage, a swimming pool, fences, septic tanks and driveways.
Land is real estate's most valuable resource because the planet provides a fixed supply. You can't move it and you can't make more of it. Your house is little more than an improvement upon the land.
Because it is so valuable, the piece of rock has its own legal description and a documented history recorded under a plot number.
Land use: The planning or building department or division of your local government can provide you with the land's legal description, boundaries and perhaps its surveyed dimensions, as well as a copy of the map of your house within a tract or subdivision. Some files include photos.
The file containing your land's description will include the legal specifications or schematics of septic tanks, wells, basements, the floor plan of your home and other evidence of how your land has been used over time.
If you live in a Townhouse, you own land jointly with other homeowner association members, which explains, in part, why Townhouse are less costly than single-family homes. Your Townhouse unit file will, however, describe and map the air space you own within your association's development, including the land beneath it all.
The history of your land could date back hundreds of years to the time of land grants and squatters, but it likely began with your parcel's development as part of a tract in a subdivision. Building and planning departments usually have this information and other activities that affect the land. If you take out a building permit for a home improvement, apply for a zoning variance or run a percolation test for a septic system. The percolation test will determine if the soil will absorb water adequately to use a septic system.
While most government records are complete and accurate, the sheer volume of records leaves ample room for errors and omissions. Whenever there's a question about the boundaries of your land, its use, basements or zoning, you may need to hire a survey company or seek a title company's interpretation. Have a surveyor or a real estate attorney review any documents you receive.
Land ownership. A title search reveals recorded interests, encumbrances, claims of title and other forms of ownership or claims against your land and its components. That can include the owner's mortgage, titles, deeds, judgments and other legal actions, the status of property tax payments and other claims against the property and its use.
The title search doesn't stop at the current owner, however. It examines public records and any other depository holding a record of your property as far back as necessary to be certain you are buying a home with a clear title. That could include the assessor's files, appraisal reports and homeowner association records. A preliminary title report will document what the title search discovers.
www.cyberprop.com


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CyberProp is filled with real estate news, property investments, listed estate agents and real estate advice. With the click of a button we will provide visitors to this website with a wide selection of property for sale and property to rent in residential properties, farms, commercial properties, vacant land, business properties, industrial properties, holiday homes and retirement homes. CyberProp for property in South Africa

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/mortgage/moving-up.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/mortgage/moving-up.html Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
If your family is growing, you're earning more money than you were five years ago, you want to live in a more desirable area, or you want a larger or better-appointed house, you might be considering selling your house and "moving up."
Many homeowners are also motivated to move up because of increasing appreciation rates; they can sell their existing house and have a hefty down payment for their new house.
There are many things you should consider when moving up:
1. Keep your options open. With prices continuing to rise and inventory low in many areas of the country, you're likely to encounter a depleted inventory at high prices. If you wanted something fairly new, think about something a few years older. "Many 'older' homes have been refurnished, turning them into desirable properties for either new or move-up buyers.

2. Get an accurate picture of your financial situation. How much more of a mortgage payment can you really afford? Just because a bank approves you for a certain amount, it doesn't automatically mean you should spend that much on a house. Factor in other debts and expenses and long and short-term savings goals like college for the children and retirement for you. Lenders generally say your mortgage should be about 25 percent of your gross monthly income. And always factor in some reserve savings to put aside each month.

3. Be realistic about how much you can sell your house for and how much of the proceeds you'll have available for a down payment on your next house. Ask a real estate agent for a market analysis. And don't forget closing costs -- points, which are extra fees paid to secure a lower interest rate, origination fees, taxes, title insurance, and financing costs. The higher your down payment, the lower your monthly mortgage payment and the possibility of qualifying for a better loan.

4. Get a pre-approved loan. This way you'll know if you can get approved and how much you can spend on a house. It also puts you in a stronger position when you ultimately making an offer on a house.

5. Be specific about your needs and don't cater to emotion. If you have two children with another on the way, be on the lookout for houses with plenty of bedrooms and areas to entertain and raise growing children. Take play and study spaces into account.

6. Consider the area as well as the individual house. If you have children, check out the reputation of the schools that your children would be attending. Contact the local police to get an idea about crime activity in the area. And factor in the area’s proximity to work, shopping, restaurants, and other important places you'll be frequenting.

7. If you're considering an existing house, check out the property's insurance history. This could affect your ability to obtain insurance if you buy it. Begin by making sure your credit report is accurate -- credit histories are sometimes used to determine whether a company will insure you, and, if so, at what rate. Also, the Insurance Information Institute says you should get a copy of your property history report. If you have not filed any insurance claims in the past five years, you won't have a history report. The better your report, the better chance you'll have of obtaining reasonably-priced insurance on the house you buy. Ask the seller to provide a copy of their history report, too.




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CyberProp is filled with real estate news, property investments, listed estate agents and real estate advice. With the click of a button we will provide visitors to this website with a wide selection of property for sale and property to rent in residential properties, farms, commercial properties, vacant land, business properties, industrial properties, holiday homes and retirement homes. CyberProp for property in South Africa.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/in-love-with-two-houses.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/in-love-with-two-houses.html Wed, 25 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
When finding yourself caught up in house-hunting mode, you may encounter a situation in which you're torn between two properties. Perhaps you and your partner each have a favourite or perhaps you both like two houses equally - or think you do.
Making a final decision and determining which property to make an offer on. The decision you make should be done rationally and not guided by emotion.
Of course, you may not have enough time on deciding which house you love. You may be in a market in which houses in your price range get snatched up as quickly as they go on the market, perhaps even attracting multiple offers.
But in some situations, you may find yourself caught up between two houses. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is take pen and paper, write down the needs of your family and your budget.
Some things you'll want to compare include:
 The house, make a list of the priorities and attributes what your house should have. If you want that first-floor home office, a large open back yard for the kids or a gourmet kitchen, be sure to include that on the list. Then, rate how each house measures up to each need on your list. If you have kids and being close to a park is important, you'll want to consider that. How close are shopping malls, restaurants, church, and other services? Are the streets maintained? Do homeowners landscape and maintain their homes nicely?

 If you have school-aged children, you definitely want to consider the reputation of the schools around the area. But once you're this deep in the process, you'll want to visit the schools and receive the information first-hand from school officials. You should also talk to teachers and parents.

 Crime, go to the local police station and ask about crime in that specific area. You might find theft or vandalism to be more dominating in one area than another.

 If the two homes you're viewing are in different parts of town or different area, ask your real estate agent to retrieve sales of houses in those two areas over the past few years. If one house shows an annual average 8 percent increase and another is at 15 percent, from there you can make your decision .

 The sellers' situations, If you don't know already, ask your real estate agent how long each house has been on the market. Usually the longer a house has been listed, the better chance the seller will accept an offer lower than asking price. Conversely, if the house has been on the market for just a couple days, the sellers will probably wait for a better offer if you offer less than the listed price. Your real estate agent might also be able to dig up additional information about the sellers, like why they're selling. If it's a job-related move or a divorce, the sellers likely want to move as quickly as possible, meaning you have a better shot at them accepting a lower price.
As you carefully weigh all the factors, it might become clear that one house is more tempting than the other. Or, you may find the houses are still equally appealing. If that is the case, be sure you look at the homes more than once. You may notice something you didn't the first time around - something that could convince you one way or the other.

In fact, you should probably visit each home at least two more times, at different times of the day to get a feeling for how the house and feel in the morning, late afternoon or in the evening. Once you make a decision and an offer, you can take comfort in knowing you may still have a back-up if the deal falls apart.

www.cyberprop.com


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CyberProp is filled with real estate news, property investments, listed estate agents and real estate advice. With the click of a button we will provide visitors to this website with a wide selection of property for sale and property to rent in residential properties, farms, commercial properties, vacant land, business properties, industrial properties, holiday homes and retirement homes

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-choose-the-best-real-estate-agent.html http://www.articletrader.com/finance/real-estate/how-to-choose-the-best-real-estate-agent.html Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500 So, how should a real estate agent be? First of all, you need to make sure you select a reputable agent, an agent with a certain experience, an experience focused on a certain field. There are various agents specialized in specific areas, on large estates, on duplexes or on beach villas, so the first thing you need is to look for the one that has a relevant experience in the desired domain.
When it comes to selecting a real estate agent, it is very important to ask for recommendations. Think about it this way: it is like choosing a lawyer – would you choose one that no one knows, a lawyer that nobody recommended? So, the best thing you can do is to ask all your family members and friends for recommendations: ask the names of the agents they have worked with and contact them in order to see if they are what you need. When meeting with a real estate agent for the first time, you should know that you are entitled to interview him/her and to obtain the answers that you need in order to make the best decision. This means that you do not have to settle for the first real estate agent you meet. Research first, interviews the agents, take your time and only then decide.
But you can not actually consider a real estate agent professional and competitive unless that agent is friendly, communicative and willing to offer you the wide range of information you might need. So, in other words, a real estate agent should have, besides the specific professional abilities, various personal abilities that are necessary when establishing such collaboration: a positive attitude, good will, communicative skills and the desire to help you get the best house. Good luck!
www.cyberagent.co.za


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www.cyberagent.co.za



Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/sellers-tips.html http://www.articletrader.com/business/advertising/sellers-tips.html Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
When selling a property, it's important that you make your home as attractive as possible to prospective buyers. You want them to see your property as their home, and there are a few simple -- and inexpensive-- things you can do to achieve this goal.
1. Firstly make your front entrance welcoming. Paint or wash the front door, clean and, if necessary, fix the screen door, oil all hinges to eliminate squeaks, and clean any glass in the doors. Invest in a new welcome mat and add planters next to the door. Get rid of any clutter around the entrance. Sweep the front steps or porch, and keep the entrance door to the door tidy of children's toys.

2. If your home has vinyl siding, rent a pressure washer and clean the exterior of the property. If you have a wood deck or porch that has turned grey over the years or is stained by mildew, pressure wash the wood while you have the machine; pressure washing makes the wood look new and gives a good impression. Repair, repaint or replace any broken shutters or window boxes, then fill the window boxes with colourful flowers that will make the buyer feel welcome.

3. Don't forget about the yard. Roll up any garden hoses; better yet, store them away. Plant colourful flowers wherever you can. Keep the grass mown and free of branches or weeds; rake leaves off lawns and clean up any cuttings.

4. Now for the interior. Paint the walls in a white or light neutral colour. The idea behind this is to give the prospective buyers a chance to imagine their own colour schemes without any influence from your decorations.

5. Strip the rooms of as much furniture as possible. You don't have to get rid of your furniture, just store it away until you sell the house. This gives the buyers a chance to see more of the wall and floor space in the rooms and to visualise their own furniture in them.

6. Keep furniture dusted and rugs vacuumed. If the carpet is particularly dirty or stained, invest in renting a carpet cleaner and shampoo the carpet. This will not just clean the rugs, but also leave a fresh, clean smell. Install 100 watt light bulbs in chandeliers and table lamps to create brilliance in all rooms. Use air fresheners or potpourri but not the flowery kind; choose one that smells like vanilla or cinnamon to give the home a sweet and pleasant smell.

7. In the kitchen, put away dish drainers and any extra appliances on the bottles and toothpaste tubes. Keep the sink and tub clean and shinny. Wash the floors. Drop a cleaning tablet in the toilets and always keep a full roll of toilet paper in the dispenser

8. Clean out the basement of all junk. This is the perfect time to have a yard sale to get rid of anything you've been keeping "in case you ever need it".

9. Prospective buyers will open closet doors and cabinets, so keep them and tidy. Keep shoes off closet floors by storing them in shoe bags or racks. Take your clothes off door hooks and hang them neatly on hangers.
Finally, when your real estate agent brings over a prospective buyer, stay out of their way as they tour the house. Buyers get nervous when owners follow them around from room to room. If you have pets, make sure they're in a secure area where they won't bother your visitors. Turn off the television or radio, get up off the couch and go outside. If possible, talk to the estate agent in connection with any tours and go over all the important aspects of the property and then leave everything in the hands of the agent to point out the distinctive features of each room.
Good luck in selling that Property
The Editor

Dineo

www.cyberprop.com







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CyberProp is filled with real estate news, property investments, listed estate agents and real estate advice. With the click of a button we will provide visitors to this website with a wide selection of property for sale and property to rent in residential properties, farms, commercial properties, vacant land, business properties, industrial properties, holiday homes and retirement homes. CyberProp for property in South Africa. Now, sit back and CLICK!
www.cyberprop.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>