Sarasota Florida Flat Fee MLS Listings FSBO

High property insurance premiums are weighing the pocket books of my clients & its so severe in some areas that necessities such as food spending has to be re-evaluated.. The root of our property insurance tax burdens stem from hurricane damage and liabilities of owning property on the Gulf Coast.. Finally, a little relief is on the way.. The Federal Government is extending a tax credit to Coastal homeowners who have been severly affected by rising Property Insurance Premiums.. Below is an article I’m passing along to you from the Sarasota Board of Realtors.. Along with The Sarasota Deed, you are always “In the Know”..

WASHINGTON – Aug. 1, 2008 – Coastal residents of states hard-hit by hurricanes – including Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas – would benefit from proposed tax credits for high insurance premiums and storm mitigation improvements.

Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., thwarted in an effort earlier this year to expand the federal flood insurance program, is taking a new tack on insurance relief for coastal residents in a bill he is introducing Friday.

“I think of this as a short-term focused solution to provide immediate assistance to people in coastal areas,” said Wicker in an exclusive interview with McClatchy Newspapers.

The bill would give residents affected by hurricanes in 2004, 2005 or 2006, a one-time tax credit up to $5,000 if their insurance premium increased 50 percent over a three-year period. It would also create a permanent tax credit of up to $5,000 per year for residents who make hurricane mitigation improvements to their homes. The bill is being co-sponsored by Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., Mel Martinez, R-Fla., and David Vitter, R-La.

“This is a way of providing some sort of assistance to taxpayers,” said Wicker. “We shouldn’t make them wait another year.” Mississippi coastal insurance rates, for example, have jumped 80 percent after Hurricane Katrina.

Under Wicker’s plan, individuals would be eligible to receive a one-time tax credit up to $5,000 for an amount equal to 50 percent of the increase of their insurance premiums over three years. For example, if a resident paid $1,000 a year for homeowners’ insurance in 2005 and $5,000 in 2008, that person could claim a tax credit of 50 percent of the $4,000 increase.

Coastal resident along the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean would also be eligible for a proposed permanent tax credit up to $5,000. Homeowners could claim 25 percent of the cost of hurricane mitigation improvements, such as elevating a structure or reinforcing it.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., who lost his home in Katrina, has argued that the inability of Coast residents and businesses to secure insurance for wind as well as water damage has hurt rebuilding. His bill to expand the federal flood insurance program to include wind coverage passed the House but met considerable resistance in the Senate. Wicker proposed the wind amendment to the flood insurance authorization bill but it was soundly defeated 74-19.

Wicker said in the interview that he felt he could not overcome the objections of Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., to expanding the federal program but that he had raised awareness of the need for insurance relief.

“It looks like a permanent type of solution will not be approved this year,” said Wicker. “I think the chances are better for this approach.”

Take advantage of this policy and apply for the credit if you are one of the unfortunate homeowners burdened by Sky Rocketing Insurance Premiums & hurricane damage..

 Justin Shirley

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Shirley International Realty Inc.’s Flat Fee MLS Listing Service has become such an unparalleled selling niche in our real estate market.. Our real estate company has joined the Mid-Florida MLS which includes 13 Realtor Assocations and over 35,000 Realtors! This means that any home, condo, land, or property you’re looking to sale from Orlando to Port Charlotte will be seen by all Florida Real Estate Licensed Realtors/Appraisers, & Mortgage Brokers constanlty scowering the MLS.. from Orlando to Port Charlotte.. Even in this slow market, we’re listing more homes than ever because local sellers are seeing the value in being promoted on the Multiple Listing Service.. Even national renowned builders such as KB Homes, & local powerhouse names like Capstone Construction, have teamed-up with our office to have their inventory homes listed through our Flat Fee MLS Service.. Our biggest testimony for the success of our Flat Fee Programs are the Sellers & Builders that are now outsourcing their listing inventory to us.. $199 will get your home listed on the local MLS & Realtor.com for local Realtors & National/International Buyers to come preview your home..

I’ve expanded my Flat Fee MLS Listing Service beyond Florida Boundaries and reach out now to ANY seller around the US Looking for MLS Coverage.. Scanning over my inventory of listing from the past 8 weeks, I’m seeing that Shirley International Realty Inc. has listed 5 homes in Maine, 4 in New Hampshire, 4 Homes in New York, 6 Homes in Massachusetts & a handful of properties in states such as Maryland, Virginia, Minnesota, & New Jersey. Our Flat Fee Listing of Flat Fee Network Brokers is expanding everyday and we’re helping promote sellers listings in every corner of America! Our focus is centered around maximizing the promotion of your property, while still saving you the most money.. This is called Grade-A Value & its something we take great pride in offering..

If you, or anyone you know is looking to sell a home and isn’t interested in paying a Realtor 6% to do so, please call Justin Shirley, CEO of Shirley International Realty, to talk about how to get your home the most expansive promotions for a Minimal Flat Fee/Rate.. I’m always “sweetening” the promotional marketing our Real Estate Company offers for your home, & specialize in Web Marketing.. The MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, is the foundation that you SHOULD HAVE in selling your home in any market.. Realtors are waiting for your home to hit the MLS so they can bring their most urgent buyers to you & close a sell.. You No Longer have to pay 6-7% for this service.. We offer Full Service Packages for any seller looking for assistance in scheduling showings for your property, negotiating contracts, over-the-top marketing, & access to our full support staff.. If you’re just looking for the most valueable MLS listing Package, talk to me about listing your home on the MLS for $199 (& this listing stays active until the property sells, or until you request it be terminated..)..

We’re here to provide quality listing services and can offer this package anywhere in the State of Florida.. Located outside the State?? We’ll get any property isted from Seattle, to New York, & San Diego to Key West! We’re constantly adapting to Real Estate & Economic Conditions to give you more Marketing Bang for Your Selling Buck!!! Innovation will continue to take place in Shirley International Realty Inc.’s offices..

Justin Shirley..

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2 Bedroom Corner-Unit on 10th Floor @ the Renaissance Condo’s Lcoated @ 750 North Tamiami Trail Across From the Van Wezel Auditorium*Steps to Beautiful Beaches, Downtown, & St. Armands Circle! Great Water & City Views From all Rooms!*Brazilian Cherry Floors, & 2 Parking Spaces in Parking Ramp*This Newer & Beautiful Building has a Fitness Center, Pool, Media Room, Club Room, Conceriege, & Many other Amenities*New Publix Building Being Built just 1 Block Away! Open Floor Plan with Bay & City Views! Classy & Elegant Describes this Renaissance Gem

Virtual Tour: http://wcf.thevtpros.com/tours/1682

These are the kind of Flat Fee MLS Listings I’m bringing to the market..  This seller can’t afford the cost of a listing commission because the property is so discounted on MLS already, leaving him little room for Co-Brokerage Fees.. He’s willing to pay a Realtor, representing the buyer, a commission (A really High Commission as well), but isn’t interested in a listing commission.. Without my Flat Fee MLS Listing, Realtors wouldn’t have the opportunity to take there clients to this property for a discounted purchase, & the seller wouldn’t have the traffic coming in from MLS Listing Exposure.. Total Win/Win!This seller is a perfect candidate for a Flat Fee MLS Listing & is using my service to leverage Buyer Incentives.. Very Smart & Effective strategy! I even offered a Virtual Tour as assistance to “Turn the Volume Up” on his marketing plan.. This seller is motivated, and would love to sell this condo.. The Virtual Tour will provide you with a Gallery of Pictures showing the Upgrades and Bay/City Views from the unit, as well as the Amenities in the Complex.. 

For Showings and More Information on this Downtown Condo, Contact Larry Face @ 941-587-7395

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My Listings are now exposed in front of 35,000 Realtors from Orlando to Port Charlotte.. Mid-Florida MLS, corporate headerquarters in Orlando, is a Giant Multiple Listing Service Website that has now replaced our local Sarasota MLS System.. Members of the new System are, Manatee, Tampa, Hillsboro, Greater Tampa, Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, Englewood, & Port Charlotte, among other smaller noteworthy assocations.. 13 Total Assocations make up this new Multiple Listing Service, so over 35,000 Realtors have Confidential Previewing Capabilities to all of my Listings.. This is great News for My Flat Fee & Full-Service Sellers.. Read on about Sarasota’s new membership to Mid-Florida MLS (Multiple Listing Service..)

“In 1995, six Central Florida REALTOR® Associations pooled their resources and joined forces to form the Mid-Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service. By doing so, they unified the Central Florida real estate market and made it easier for REALTORS® from across the service area to cooperate with one another. Four years later, the West Volusia Association of REALTORS® joined MFRMLS, and in 2003 the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS® came on board. Now, five Southwest Florida Associations have joined MFRMLS, making our MLS one of the largest and strongest multiple listing services in the country.

MFRMLS is a member-run organization, owned entirely by our shareholder member Associations. Each Association has representatives that WHO serve on the Board of Directors. The number of representatives from your Association is proportional to your Association’s size, and every Association has at least two, ensuring everyone has a fair voice in the leadership of the MLS.

The daily operations of MFRMLS are conducted from our headquarters in Orlando, FL. MFRMLS Vice President Joel Cohen has led the MLS through significant growth in the past several years. “We are ready to grow again,” Cohen says. “We have assembled an extraordinary team of management, administrative, and support staff that are prepared to pave the way for a smooth transition, and we look forward to providing a service that exceeds the expectations of our new member Associations.”

The staff of your local Association also plays an important role in running MFRMLS: they serve as your local MFRMLS Service Center personnel. We are currently giving them the tools they need to support the resources of MFRMLS.”

Why Did We Merge All These Assocations into One Giant System?? Read on to Find Out..

“Alan Mitchell, 2007 President of the Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of REALTORS® said, “We had worked for years to create a Data Sharing Alliance among the Associations in Southwest Florida, but we knew it was just a first step. We were impressed with the professionalism and outlook of MFRMLS, and sharing a common MLS with our neighboring associations to the north will be a tremendous benefit for our members.”

Louise Bacher, 2007 President of the Englewood Area Board of REALTORS® says, “As an individual Association, we could not offer our members all the software benefits that Mid-Florida will because of its size.” Louise also notes that joining MFRMLS will give her sellers more exposure and introduce Englewood to larger markets.

Joe Hembree, 2007 President of the Sarasota Association of REALTORS® says “Forward-thinking REALTOR® Associations nationwide are looking at consolidation of MLS systems. . .the consolidation effort strengthens our technology platform, improves our data exchange, and makes life much easier for our members.”

May Aston, 2007 President of the Manatee Association of REALTORS®, is excited about joining MFRMLS. “It is something that our members have wanted for many years,” she says, “and it will provide us with many services that would be difficult or expensive to obtain on our own.”

Laura Kopple, 2007 President of the Venice Area Board of REALTORS® says that becoming a part of MFRMLS eliminates the need for Venice Area REALTORS® to be members of more than one MLS. “It will unify the local market and provide greater exposure for listings in Venice,” Laura said.

Jack Vahey, the current MFRMLS Immediate Past President said, “We appreciate the trust and confidence the Presidents of the new Associations have placed in MFRMLS, and we are looking forward to our new partnership.”

The current subscribers of MFRMLS have a lot to gain from the resources and leadership provided by your association. We are glad to have you aboard.”

Currently, the MFRMLS member associations include the Bartow Board of REALTORS®, East Polk County Association of REALTORS®, Greater Lake County Association of REALTORS®, Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®, Lakeland Association of REALTORS®, Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association, Osceola County Association of REALTORS®, and West Volusia Association of REALTORS®. The new member associations include Englewood Area Board of REALTORS®, Manatee Association of REALTORS®, Punta Gorda - Port Charlotte - North Port Association of REALTORS®, Sarasota Association of REALTORS®, and Venice Area Board of REALTORS®.

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(I love these Cartoons! They bring light to, and relax the mood of our dismal Real Estate Conditions.. May was a great month though! Read on..)

This information was compiled & presented by the Sarasota Association of Realtors reflecting, condos & Single-Family Homes Sold in the Month of May, 2008.. Shirley International Realty Inc. looks forward to a summer fueled by International Buying..

Sarasota Real Estate Sales Hits New High Since March 2007! The Best is Yet to Come!

Home sales in the Sarasota MLS for May 2008 stood at 627 - the highest level in 14 months, and approximately 92 percent higher than the sales in January 2008. In 2008, sales have been increasing each month, possibly due to the influence of the new property tax portability law enacted in late January. Sales have climbed from 329 in January to 423 in February, 514 in March and 567 in April.
 
“This year, the Sarasota real estate market has been a beacon of hope as the state and national markets continue to struggle,” said Helen Sosso, 2008 SAR President. “I believe our local agents have embraced the concept of a buyers’ market, and educated sellers on the realities of pricing. We still have advantageous interest rates, and our communities’ natural and cultural amenities always attract buyers.”
 
The May 2008 report continued to reflect strength in pending sales, which stood at 692 - the second highest level since June 2006.  Last month’s pending sales stood at 756, the highest in the period.   In May 2007 only 541 pending sales were reported.  Like closed sales, pending sales have been edging upward since December 2007, when there were only 374 pending sales reported. Pending sales reflect contracts executed by buyers and sellers, and indicate more closings in upcoming months and an improving market in the early summer months.
 
Inventory levels were lower in May 2008 for the third month, and are the lowest they have been since February 2006.  Still, with 9,500 single family and 5,100 condos listed, buyers have a huge selection of more affordably priced housing to select from.  The reduced inventory is a combination of fewer properties being listed, and increasing sales numbers.  As the inventory continues to decline, the market will come back to more balance.  As we approach equilibrium, the buyer’s market we’ve been experiencing will be gone, and price appreciation will creep back into the market.
 
In general, the Sarasota MLS statistics show a rebound throughout 2008 - every month seeing stronger numbers than the month before. In fact, Sarasota statistics have been stronger in recent months than sales in the Miami market, which is a much bigger geographic and demographic area.
 
In the local Sarasota market, we have seen the trend already beginning toward lower inventories, higher sales, and a leveling of prices after several months of declines. The May figures reflect this new reality.

Sarasota Association of Realtors..

This is great news! Looks like our market is showing a short term rebound.. Who wouldn’t want to live in this paradise?

Justin Shirley
941-448-4872
CEO
Shirley International Realty

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(No Matter How High Inventory Gets, or How Out of Whack Rates Become, This Picture Represents Why Florida Real Estate Will Always Be In High Demand.. We Live in Paradise..) 

I’ve Been Working Overtime To Bring You Better Service.. 

Wow! Its been a great 2 months for Shirley International Realty! I apologize for being a little distant from my blog, (You’ll notice I haven’t posted in a few weeks) but I have been “on the ball” rounding up as many great relationships as possible that assist me in selling Real Estate! My Flat Fee MLS Listings have been a dependable avenue for sellers to get exposure on the MLS and I’ve learned so many things about my competition.. I want to re-iterate why I feel we have a competitive advantage over Full Service Listing Agents, & other Flat Fee Listing Brokers..

Full Service Listing Agents Aren’t Providing Over-the-Top Service..

The Real Estate Market is slow.. Unfortunately, thats the reality of the situation we’re in.. When this happens its only natural for real agents to 1)Bail out of the business (to the tune of 1,000+ agents dropping out of the local Sarasota Board of Realtors) 2)Tighten up on Marketing Expenses.. Even I am very picky about the Full Service Listings I am taking and have turned down quite a few because I know the seller can’t afford to pay me 6%, and price the home to sell.. I don’t think every seller is in this distressed situation, but for the ones that are, dishing out 6% shouldn’t be “in the cards” for your hard earned equity.. Full Service Listings are simply listing your home on the MLS and then waiting for another agent to bring a buyer, so they can collect their commission.. Is this the attitude you want from your sales person? I’m not saying all listing agents operate like this because I know quite a few that are worthy of that 6%.. However, most assume holding a few open houses and running a classified ad is worth 6%.. I have a better option for you..

Find the Best Way to Get Your Home on the MLS..

Our Flat Fee Listing service eliminates the seller from paying a listing commission.. This allows you to offer broker incentives and discount your property’s asking price.. We can put you on the MLS for a Low Flat Rate & STILL provide you more service than most 6% agents.. I love my Flat Fee offering because we’re closing so many deals for our Flat Fee clients by saving them money at the closing table & delivering a great price to the new buyer! The real estate market is still in good shape for a sale.. Inventory is up, but you can compete as long as your receiving the right advice & marketing strategies from savvy real estate people..

The Reasons Why Shirley International Realty Can Help You Sell Through a Flat Fee MLS Listing..

-1) We can list & sell any home in the continental US (I’ll go into how we’ve worked this out in a future post).. This ability gives us maximum exposure to the latest marketing strategies & techniques to get your home sold the quickest in any market.. (Florida isn’t such a bad market by the way!)

2) When you Flat Fee list with us, you can make changes to your listing at any time.. (This is very uncommon among my competitors.. This gives most Flat Fee Brokers an opportunity to charge you more for your listing.. Not with us.. You need a new picture added to the listing, or a price change on your home, We’ll Get it Done For You!)

3) Our Price is Unbeatable.. $199 until your home is sold or until you terminate the listing, unlimited changes to your listing, & an agent on Call from 9-5 to talk to you about Real Estate Market Conditions.. Unbeatable! We offer Value..

4) Efficiency is our Strength.. As soon as I get pictures of your home, within 24 hours, your home is active on MLS and your phone may start ringing.. I know full listing agents that drag their feet getting your home listing.. I’m operating with a sense of urgency here! Let’s get you home sold quickly..

5) I’m an Internet & Search Engine Optimization Guru… I’ve taken a number of websites; real estate, fitness, etc. and turned them into high traffic platforms in less than 1 month.. I can show you so many avenues of listing your home on the internet that you will get you more internet exposure than your competition.. I have a database of over 100 websites that I can advertise your home on.. Getting your home listing on many web portals, and putting it in front of as many people as possible, is what you want in a listing agent.. I’m your Guy!

5) I Can Market Your Home Internationally.. I have a database of over 75 international real estate domain websites that are specifically set up to sale Florida Real Estate to Overseas buyers.. I can get your home in front of the international crowd that’s buying our real estate due to our weak economy.. This is where the market’s at, and I’ve found a way to bring them to my listings (Your Home).. International Marketing of Real Estate is What I’m focused on Now!

6) If You Need Help with the a Real Estate Contract or Disclosures to Make Sure Your Selling Your Home Properly, We Can Do This..

Give me a call or drop me an email about how I can help you sell your home.. I have an endless menu of ways I can help you market your home and generate a buyer! I like our current market conditions, and I’m actually selling more real estate now than I was 3 1/2 years ago when it was easy.. I’m making things happen for you, and would love to help.. Let me know what I can do!

Justin Shirley..

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(Which Guy Could Sell Your Home the Quickest? The One in the Blue Shirt and Gold Tie Looks Like a Winner to Me.. (But The Donald Wins the Best Resolution Pic Award..)

The real estate market has picked up quite a bit in the Shirley International Realty Inc. office.. I’m seeing many international buyers diving into the market and taking advantage of economic slumps in the States, & many investors sinking their investment dollars back into rental properties, vacation homes, & really taking advantage of the great deals that our market is currently saturated with..

We feel our advances in internet marketing have lead to many of recently closed deals, and are now providing listing services for sellers all over the state of Florida. I will go over our new marketing techniques in a soon-to-be post.. For now, I want to take a look at the number of closed sales that have occured during the month of April 2008, and see if the market reflects the, “in-office” spike we’ve noticed..

Our numbers reflect Sarasota’s MLS statistics of Closed Transactions only during the month of April..

Single-Family Homes - 291

Condominium - 139

Multi-Family - 6

Land - 5

Its nice to see the single-family products selling really well.. This is probably a reflection of builder incentives, and being out of “season”, you’ll see more buyers grabbing the single-family homes as they are more interested in living here full time (annually). The condo market really spikes well in the early & late quarters, so moving out of that the single-family looks a little more attractive. Plus, with real estate prices coming down so low, as I mentioned above, there are many investors putting tenants in single-family products and trying to cash flow these investments. Great for the market, and clearing out the bargain/discount/distressed properties that many of sellers are competing against.

Here’s a list of the number of properties that entered the market during the month of April.

Single-Family Homes - 730

Condominiums - 425

Mult-Family - 42

Land - 44

 As you can see the trend continues.. As the market picks up quite bit, and the volume of buying spikes, so do the number of sellers entering the market and trying to take advantage. This could continue for years to come, so its important to have an agent that markets your home internationally, putting your listing in front of more buyers than the competing sellers.

Talk to Shirley International Realty Inc. about listing your home and saving money at the closing table! Our sales volume is up as our model is to work harder during this phase of the real estate game because many Realtors are diving out of the business and this is the time to seperate our brand from other firms. We love selling real estate! Let us know how we can help you!

Justin Shirley..

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After reading a recent 2007 NAR (National Association of Realtors) Report on International buyers swarming Florida, you Simply MUST make this advertisting part of the campaign for your home. Due to the current strength in foreign currencies, Florida Real Estate is where most the US Real Estate appeal lies.. Read on for the Details..

During a Spring of 2007 study,  65% of Florida Realtors had conducted a transaction with an international buyer. During that same study focusing on the Realtors that had conducted a transaction with a foreign purchaser, 50% of those Realtors had represented between 1 and 4 international clients in their career. International buyers are soaking up the Florida Marketing campaigns run by leading International real estate companies. The top five countries representing this flood of buying are, Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, India, & China. Reports show that as US purchasing of Florida real estate has slowed, the percentage of foreign purchasers has risen. This is due to current strengths of foreign currencies, in relation to a weak dollar.

Polls found that the most important reason for the Florida purchase among internationals is a vacation spot for family and friends. (Attention Sellers of Beachfront Property: Advertise Your Vacation Spot Overseas..)

The median sales price for the international buyer was $299,500 in 2007 (note this is higher budget than the average US resident spending on Florida Resident), and the majority of these deals were financed through a conventional mortage.

The typical International Buyer spends, on average, 4.2 months per year in their United States property. International buyers of Florida Real Estate show a balanced preference between single-family homes and condominiums.

According to another 2007 NAR Poll, China seems to be spending on average $340,000 on their vacation home, representing the most costly average among foreign countries purchasing Florida Real Estate. The UK runs a close second place, spending on average $322,000.

International buying of Real Estate has increased due to currency conversion advantages. When choosing a broker to help you sell your home, talk to the Realtor about their International Campaigs. Feel Free to talk to Shirley International Realty Inc. about how they can assist you in promoting your home overseas.

Justin

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I watched this program just yesterday on HGNet TV, and thought about the downfalls many buyers and sellers go through in the Home Selling Process.. I think this is really good information to pass on to my ”For Saley By Owner” sellers (as well as buyers), to re-iterate the need for a real estate specialist. All of these mistakes can be eliminated with great real estate advice. Shirley International Realty Inc. would like to assist you in hurdling these mistakes by offering our professional marketing/consulting services. Here goes the list, in no particular order, of how they appeared on the program.

10-Not Providing Easy Access to Showings-

In a buyers market, there are many selections. If your home isn’t easily accessible for buyers at any time, you may get skipped a lose a big opportunity to sell your home. Be really flexible with buyers interested in previewing your home. Sellers need every opporunity to put their home in front of as many buyers as possible. 

9-Losing Money With Auctions-

While starting an auction is a great process to attract traffic to your home, it doesn’t necessarily mean the final price is going to be congruent with what you wanted out of the sale. Don’t get caught giving your home away through the auction process.

8-Trying to Make the “Hard Sell” while Showing-

If you are holding an Open House, or have buyers previewing your property at any time, don’t be in the home selling it while the buyers are trying to preview. This is very annoying and can get in the way of your property selling itself.. Buyers know what they are looking for and won’t let themselves be “Sold” anything. Relax and let them experience the amenities of your home. They will appreciate the privacy you award them.

7-Waiting Until Spring to Sell Your House-

Timing is everything; however, it doesn’t mean you can’t highlight the seasonal amenities of your home at any time. Real Estate is bought and sold 365 days a year. Don’t wait for the right time. The time is now!

6-Failing to Market Your Home in Different Ways-

The for sale sign in the front yard looks great; however, marketing and advertising your home now needs to take a global approach. The Internet provides different campaigns that promote your home well. (Shirley International Realty specializes in Internet Promotions for your Home! We are the best at this)

5-Not Thinking about Resale -

The average home is bought and sold once every 5 years. If you are not planning on being buried in this home, consider how the cosmetic changes you are making to the home will affect the value when its time to sell.

4-Trusting Everything a Real Estate Advertisment Says-

Physically visit the property before making the purchase. Many sellers and brokers will promote the home in a way that’s completely correct just to attract traffic. Also, follow the old adage, “if its too good to be true, then it probably is”.

3-Picking the Wrong Agent-

Meetings with your real estate agent need to be held the same way you were when interviewing for a big job. Ask plenty of questions and ask for a resume of statistics showing the creditials a particular agent has making them worthy of brokering the biggest investment of your life. When you sell with a certain agent, you are selling under their brand. Make sure you approve of that brand.

2-Not Hiring an Agent-

You need the experience of a real estate agent. 84% of homes sold in 2006 had touched a real estate professionals hands at some point. They work everyday to sell homes and understand the “ins and outs” of the industry. Working with a great real estate agent can save you money, liability, and time in the buying and selling process.  

1-Doing Major Renovations/Remodeling Before Selling-

Putting too much money into your home before selling trying to increase the value, could result in “overimprovements”. Take care of cosmetic touch ups, and let the home sell itself. Allow homeowners to improve it to their liking later on, or offer a discount on the price (also known as allowance) to give you a competitive advantage over other sellers.

 Of all these principle mistakes, I would say picking the wrong agent to sell your home would be the most critical. The real estate market is slow, so its paramount to have an aresenal of tools that will highlight your home in a positive light for the world to see. With Shirley International Realty you are going to receive maximum marketing exposure, coupled with your transaction handled professionally & delicately. We love our customers and want to help in any way we can. Talk to Shirley International Realty about how we can sell your home!

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One of the biggest hurdles a Sarasota or Bradenton homeseller must leap over, is the avenue they must take to get their home sold.. It is common knowledge that a Realtor can be very expensive (@ 6-7%), but is there value in their service, AND what is that value worth? Well, as you all know, I am the biggest cheerleader for the Flat Fee MLS Listing Service.. I know this service gives the homeowner maximum exposure on their home, and also allows them to engage in a relationship with a Licensed Realtor that can advise them through the process, WHILE saving them money at the closing table.. However, many Flat Fee companies are not congruent with my policy of holding the sellers hand throughout the selling process.. They accept the upfront fee for listing the seller on the MLS, then the Realtor walks away and like a bull in a China shop, goes aggressively after the next Flat Fee listing. This is not how Shirley International Realty Inc. operates.. We stick around.. We are always on call and feel its our fiduciary duty to assist the seller in everything from, making price adjustments to give the MLS listing a new facia, to having open-ended conversations by phone on what the market is doing.. We are well-rounded real estate consultants that do not bail on our Flat Fee Sellers.. Below is a NAR (National Association of Realtors) statistical analysis that shows, a little Realtor assistance is a good thing.. Ya just have to get that assistance from the right place (Shirley International Realty Inc. is the PERFECT place)..

Did you know? In 2006 the average FSBO sold their home for $187,200 compared to $247,000 on an agent-assisted transaction.. (With our Flat Fee Listing Service we help coordinate pricing on your home and advertise it in the highest traffic real estate marketing venues, bringing more demand and garnering higher prices)

Most Difficult Tasks for FSBO Sellers:
Getting the right price . . . 11% (We are experts @ establishing market value for your home & will help you do this)
Understanding paperwork . . . 16% (We teach you the contracts/disclosures needed to sale your home, reducing the liability of a negligent transaction)
Preparing/fixing up home for sale . . . 18% (We will introduce you to the best Handymans’ & home inspectors in Sarasota/Bradenton)
Attracting potential buyers . . . 9% (Our Marketing for the Flat Fee of $199 is all the “Butter you need for the Bread” to attract multiple buyers)
Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale . . . 9% (Your life is busy.. Shirley International Realty Inc. can take this stress out of your day..)

 Top 5 Websites where REALTORS® place their listings:

 Realtor.com (82%)

 Local Realty Firm Website (76%)

 Local REALTOR® Association Website (50%)

 Franchiser’s Website (30%)

 Broker IDX/Broker Reciprocity Website (29%)

The above percentages represent 72% of the traffic generated to sell your home with a full service listing agent (Charging you 6-7%).. We will list your Home on all of these sites for the $199.. You need this exposure.. Its that simple..

There’s no other way to sell your home in any market, than the Flat Fee MLS Listing.. We are Southwest Florida’s #1 Provider of Flat Fee MLS Listings.. Our service is unparalleled, unbeatable, unmatched, the best, second to none, over-the-top, #1, distant from #2, uncomparable, the cookie not the crumb, & the finest while still getting refined.. We can help you.. Give me a call for anything.. 941-448-4872 (I even know the best babysitters if you need one.. :))

Justin

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