ATTENTION: Real Estate Brokers, Mortgage Brokers, Financial Planners, Insurance Brokers (and other small business operators)

Would you invest $15.28 to secure $10,000?

If you answered ‘Yes’ read on. If you said ‘no’ then read on to discover why you are washing tens of thousands down the toilet.

In real estate, mortgage lending, insurance underwriting and even financial planning, there is an extended period between when a sale begins and ends. During this period there is much tension and stress for most parties involved.

It has always been my view to ‘over communicate’ during this period to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved for all parties; mine in particular. (more…)

There are basically two ways to sell your home: Offer the home for sale yourself as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO), or hire a Real Estate Broker. There are advantages and disadvantages either way. Many owners who have chose to market their home without a broker have been successful in selling. You must be knowledgeable of the market, have patience, and a little luck, too. The main advantage to sell without a broker is not paying a real estate commission. Make sure you know what to price your house for. If you are not sure, hire a licensed appraiser to give you a comparative market analysis.

There are advantages in using a licensed broker versus selling on your own. For instance, some homeowners just don’t have the time to market their home because of a job or other obligations. If a potential buyer wants to see your home at a specific time and you are not available to show it, you could lose a sale. A real estate broker can show your property to a prospective buyer anytime, if you arrange it that way. (more…)