Autor: heidelbergerwohnen

Obliviously, the advent of online real estate websites has revolutionized the process of buying or selling a home or property. Now, purchasing a dream home does not involve any mind-numbing tasks likes spending hours and hours looking for an appropriate home that suits your dreams, requirements, and budget. Moreover, there is no need to hire a local realtor or broker to help you find a home. The online realtor websites make it possible for a homebuyer to locate a suitable home with a few mouse clicks.

However, it should be noted that the online websites for realtors cannot completely replace the role of an efficient real estate agent. The realtor websites are helpful to make the home buying process easier and simpler and provide information about latest trends in the real estate industry. These websites furnish their users with the listings of properties and homes and the users can make use of these listings to find their type of homes or properties.

There are several realtor websites online and a customer who wants to buy or purchase a property through internet must be careful while choosing the right agent website. Typically, the successful and best online real estate agent websites have certain important features.

Property Listings: As noted above, the real estate agent websites provide the users with listings of various types of residential real estate, including single family homes, condos, mobile homes, and multifamily homes. Some of them even include recently constructed buildings, farms and lands in their lists. There are also certain real estate websites like Yahoo! Real Estate that provide links to foreclosures.

Search Feature Options: The most scary and crucial part in buying a home is locating the right suitable home. The main benefit of online websites for realtors is that they can make this process easier, quicker, and enjoyable. These websites allow users to use specific search features, such as price ranges, location, and zip codes, to narrow down their search for the ideal home. Certain realtor websites have a variety of search options, such as sq. footage, home flooring type, and amenities like garage, basement, and fireplace. They also use advanced features like Multiple Listing service (MLS), radius search, and Google Map

Listed Property Information: The agent websites should contain all required information regarding the home or property they sell, including its price, sq footage, full address, type of property, and how many bedrooms and bathrooms it has There are some real estate websites that provide more additional information like the year in which the home was built and lot information.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Tom Billmore

There is no doubt in my mind that there are plenty of reliable real estate agents out there, but how do you know when you’ve picked the right one? Even though many are reliable there are a lot of them that will just leave you out in the cold after working with you. I know many agents who don’t even answer their freaking phone or respond to their emails! So how can we weed these losers out and find a real estate agent who is passionate about their career and providing great service?

Is it a Numbers Game? There are many real estate agents out there ready to serve you and only you can find the best one. This is a numbers game which gives you the opportunity to find the best. Thank goodness there isn’t only one agent out there that would be a disaster for the client and you know what I mean if you’ve dealt with the cable company. There is a lot of competition out there for agents so they need to cater to you in order to earn you as a client. Go online and search for Keller Williams, ExecuHome, RE/MAX etc… to find agents. You can also search for real estate agents on Facebook and LinkedIn. Call or email these people and see how fast they respond.

Do they Follow up? The faster the real estate agent responds may give you an indication on how fast they will take action and execute. When you have them on the phone ask them how many clients they have, how often they work and what can they do to make sure that your house will sell quickly. This process is very important, once you have the answers you want to setup a meeting with them. Remember your time is very important in this business.

Meet Up With them You should have 3-5 agents that you definitely want to work with by just talking on the phone with them. Now it’s time to meet up with them to discuss further on what you want from them. When you meet them you can see what kind of person they are and see if they meet the criteria you are looking for. You can also evaluate their character and see how they interact with others in public and maybe even in their office. Try to see if any of these real estate agents have clients or testimonials who can back their word up. Having a real estate agent that’s a people person is always a plus.

Learn More About Them Just by asking other agents you meet with about another real estate agent can help you in making your decision. Beware while using this tactic some agents may bad mouth another in hopes of gaining you as a future client. At the same time there are several resources online that rate real estate agents that are free to use.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Marcel Umphery

Whether you are buying or selling a home or property, you will likely want to work with a realtor. How can you find a real estate agent to assist you? Here are some suggestions:

Word of Mouth

Personal referrals are a great way to find a realtor. Ask friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers if they know someone. Be sure to ask if they have dealt with this individual personally. You will want to find out the following information:

Was the agent courteous and professional?

Was he or she a good listener?

Did the agent attend meetings and open houses on time?

Contact a Real Estate Broker

If you are unable to find a real estate agent through personal referrals, contact a real estate broker and explain your needs: Are you looking to buy or sell? What style of home are you looking for and in what price range? Would you like to live in the city or are you interested in rural properties? Do you want to purchase a building lot, a farm, or a multi-family building? Based on this information, the broker should be able to recommend someone in his or her office who has experience with the type of home or property you are interested in.

Check Out Local Signs

Make note of the agents who are working – and selling – in your neighborhood (if you are selling) or in the neighborhood you are interested in moving to (if you are a buyer). You will want to work with someone who is able to deliver results.

Visit Open Houses

One way to meet a real estate agent is to attend an open house he or she is holding. You will be able to get an impression of this person’s working style and start to consider whether this is someone you could work with for your own purchase or sale.

Find an Agent Online

A number of online directories provide listings for real estate agents. In addition to the agent’s name and contact information, you may find a statement about the person’s areas of specialization. A link to the realtor’s web site will likely be provided. This gives the potential client an opportunity to get an idea of how the realtor markets his or her listed properties.

Interview Potential Real Estate Agents

Once you have found some potential real estate agents, it’s a good idea to meet with each one separately and interview them. Buying or selling a home is likely the most expensive transaction the average person will ever be involved in and it’s important to find the right real estate agent.

Start off the meeting by asking the agent to tell you a bit about his or her experience in the field. Then take some time to tell the agent what your plans are for selling your property or what you are looking for if you are a buyer.

Sellers will also want to find out exactly how the real estate agent will market their home. The interview stage is the time to find out what percentage the real estate agent charges as a commission.

Use these suggestions to help you find the right real estate agent to fit your needs. Do take the time you need to find someone who you will be able to work with effectively.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by David Burch

If you are actually looking for investors for a real estate project but are unable to find sources of property investors to campaign to, then you might need to expand your search and look for property investor lists both online and off-line. These lists provide an excellent compilation of locally available real estate investors which can be of great help. As based on these lists you can easily send your brochures and even offer them a multimedia presentation in order to make your project more appealing to them to attract investments. Most people are still unaware of the availability of real estate investor lists and also about their sources and reliability.

Real estate investor lists can be obtained from the following sources –

1. Online sources –

o Investment clubs. There are several investment clubs around the web that provide excellent investor lists for all of their members and most of them do not charge a huge amount of money in order to become a member. The whole membership process can be undertaken online and even then lists can be acquired through email.

o Forums. There are several different online forums with a huge member database that provides some excellent information regarding investments and other topics. These forums are an excellent source of investor lists which are very reliable and often come well recommended.

o Professional assistance websites, These are some commercial websites that provide excellent local as well as global investor lists for a very nominal fee. Since they are commercially available they also provide excellent customer support and after sales support regarding following up on their lists. Also most of these sites do have the latest and most updated lists for sale.

2. Off-line sources –

o Yellow Pages. Most often the local Yellow Pages are a very good source for locating local real estate investors and investment firms that have been advertised or even featured in the Yellow Pages.

o Newspaper listings. Local newspapers also carry some very good classifieds listings offered by locally available investors that are dependable and also available for negotiation.

o Local clubs. Being a member of the local club can also be very beneficial as most of them will provide lists of potential property investors to whom you can campaign for investment with excellent reliability.

Most of the resources that are available online or off-line can be easily used in order to obtain a property investor list in any city.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Mike Lautensack

Last week-end I picked up copies of the „grocery store flyers“ produced by three local real estate companies.  Then I came home and browsed the real estate section in the Sunday newspaper.

You know what I saw in all those ads?  Boring words – and nothing to capture a buyer’s interest.

Many of the ads were a complete waste of space.  Some were misspelled.  Some made no sense. And all of them looked alike in terms of ad copy.  There wasn’t even much difference between ads for the cheapest and most expensive offerings.

They were all filled with „empty words.“

Think about it. There exists an entire set of words so  generalized that they can mean something different to each of us.  Consider the meaning of words such as „wonderful, beautiful, cozy, charming, lovely, cute, large, huge and great.“  I call them the „empty“ words because they serve no purpose except to take up space.

I think back to a conversation I overheard in my real estate office one day.  The agent was describing a property to a buyer and said that it had „beautiful trees.“  The woman replied „The only beautiful tree is a dead one.“ Her definition definitely didn’t match the agent’s.

Replacing those empty words with picture-provoking descriptions does take a bit of extra work, especially when space is limited.  But you can do it!

Begin Now to Rehab Your Ads

You may be thinking „How?“ So let’s rebuild an ad right now.

Here’s what I saw in one ad:

Log home with everything!!  Great Master suite.  Gorgeous lighting and flooring. 4 bed 2.5 bath.  Great shop.  $450,000.

If that painted a picture for you, your imagination is much better than mine!

Now, bearing in mind that I have not seen this house, so the details may be way off, let’s fix the darned thing!

After a hectic day, retreat to a master suite complete with its own dressing and sitting rooms. Crystal chandeliers grace the dining room, great room, and entry way while their light glows off polished hardwood floors. Hand-hewn 10″ log walls keep you warm in winter and cool in summer.  The 4-bay shop includes a half-bath, over 15′ of wall to ceiling shelving plus 30′ of work counters.  Situated in the middle of ten treed acres only 1/2 mile from a State Highway. $450,000

Doesn‘ that sound more like a house that might be worth the price?  

Some buyers will be turned off by crystal and hardwood – but those are the buyers who would be turned off and disappointed in person, so that’s a good thing.  It will save you time and gasoline.

Yes, it took more words. And if your sellers insist on newspaper advertising the cost would be prohibitive.  If I had to cut and slash this ad for a newspaper I’d probably say:

„Log home on 10 A., crystal chandeliers, hardwood floors, 4 br, 2.5 ba, 4-bay shop.“

That would be inadequate, but would at least begin to paint a better picture than „great“ and „gorgeous“ did! And it will create the same effect in terms of bringing you only those buyers who love crystal and hardwood!

So start thinking about details – words that actually describe something. Then use them.

One more tip – Get a recorder!

Some of your best advertising ideas will come while you’ve got your hands on a steering wheel, so get a hand-held recorder and put it on your car seat.  As soon as an idea hits you, record it.  It may need to be polished, but at least it won’t get lost.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Marte Cliff

Property investment is one of the most lucrative investment strategies today, irrespective of how the market functions. Investing in rental properties is an extremely lucrative way of earning money. Firstly, you can make immediate money by way of rents paid by tenants and secondly, you are actually accruing value on the property, which adds to its ultimate resale value. However, investing in rental properties for beginners can be quite intimidating, if you do not know the basic steps to take.

Firstly, it is always advisable to look out for a realtor, who is well experienced in the rental property market. By choosing a good realtor to help you in searching for the property, you can easily identify the right kind of properties. Always make sure that you choose a realtor that you can trust and with whom you can discuss the matters easily. Moreover, make sure that he or she is aware of your exact requirements and budgetary constraints. It is pertinent to note that these realtors often double as agents and help you find tenants for your property.

The second rule for investing in rental properties for beginners is to understand the exact nature of cash flow by identifying a source of money. Properties cost a lot of money and if you are planning to invest in property, then it is imperative that you arrange for the amount that is required to be paid. Once this source is identified in principle, then it is easy to search for properties.

The third cardinal principle for investing in rental properties for beginners is to search for the perfect property. While it is easy for you to like all properties that you see, if you are planning to use it as an investment, it is important to look at all the pros and cons of the property before you decide to invest. Proper inspection of the house to locate flaws and disadvantages, if any, is absolutely essential before you invest in any property.

Once you have decided on a particular property, always be prepared to allocate funds for repairs. Taking a good look at the premises before handing it over to the first renter will help you identify the tasks that need to be completed in order to increase the expected rents. It is important that all safety rules and regulations are properly abided by before you lease out the property. Investing some money into furnishing your space is a very important rule for investing in rental properties for beginners. This will not only increase the overall appeal of your home in the eyes of the renter but will also help you to fetch higher rents.

Screening your potential renters is very important to ensure the safety of your investment. Always check out their references, on both personal as well as work front, before you sign the lease. If he or she has already been a renter elsewhere, check out whether the rent was paid on time and what kind of a renter was that individual.

Rental deposit is absolutely important and can be anything between half a month’s rent to a single month’s rent. Always sign a lease with the renter for a specific time period, so that at the end of it, you can decide whether or not to continue with it.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Anderson Bradley

Finance is a simple keyword around which the globe revolves. It is therefore the basic aspect behind the existence of mankind and the most important of all aspects that support the sustenance of human race.

Going by the dictionary, Finance refers to the science of managing funds. On the other hand, if you seek a fairly brief elucidation on what finance is, the investors come up with this: The act of saving money for future use and making more money with the saved money by investing in new areas and lending etc is commonly regarded as Finance. It is a life-blood of any business that can be categorized into 3 types with respect to the regulation of the funds and the mode of investment in the areas namely

* Personal finance,

* Corporate finance and

* Public finance.

Finance keeps the monetary world running. Scores of businessmen (Personal finance), government and other social financial bodies (Public finance) and few enterprises and conglomerates (Corporate finance) are highly dependent on this seven-letter mantra. Only finance powers a cycle that rotates by means of financial credibility of all the businesses run by several entrepreneurs. Ultimately, this cycle depends on the finance obtained from the lenders and the money offered to the borrowers. Now the need to relate to the importance of financial credibility is rightly understood, I hope.

Experts say that the domain of finance usually deals with the interrelation of 3 fundamental aspects that constitute the major part of financing namely time, risk and money involved. Furthermore, a budget that is sometimes referred to as financial plan would also determine the fate of the business. This is why new companies believe in employing financial experts so that an effective and professional implementation of a plan that they propose comes along well.

While contriving a finance plan, if there is a miserable failure in adhering to expert advice a unbearable financial turmoil— irrespective of the financial reserves and credit ratings on hand-is sure to come about. Granted, every business man who wants to build up his firm into a concrete and profitable business unit must understand that finance would play a significant part of his business development cycle.

Therefore, managing funds is important to ascertain that the future is safe for both the workforce and the enterprise, especially, when there is a global financial slowdown. Financial assessment and development tools would be in huge demand in the times of recession. Naturally, if a businessman wishes to see the firm keep away from succumbing to financial impediments he must put a regulated dynamic budget plan in place. It should be monitored periodically and be changed if the plan invites a strategic change in the finance plan to fend off a possible financial turmoil.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Ramanathan Gangadharan

The Romantic Road follows an old trade route and leads from the city of Würzburg (see a previous article of mine for a description) to the foothills of the Alps. Driving along the Romantic Raod, or part of it, gives you a chance to experience medieval towns, baroque palaces and King Ludwig’s castle.

You can see a map of the Romantic Road at http://www.romanticroad.com/.

After driving south from Würzburg, your first stop should be the palace in the town of Weikersheim, with its marvelous baroque gardens. Further along the road, the town of Creglingen offers the Herrgottskirche, a church famous for its altar carved by Tilman Riemenschneider in the early 16th century.

The road then follows the Tauber river to Rothenburg (which I have described in an other ezinearticle). Take your time to walk around this charming town enclosed by a wall and towers. Among the main tourist attractions are the Crime Museum, St. Jacob’s Church (with another altar by Riemenschneider), Käthe Wohlfart’s Christmas Village, where you can buy Christmas-related items all year long, and the Doll and Toy Museum.

The town of Dinkelsbühl is similar to Rothenburg, as it has preserved its medieval character, though its is much less overrun by tourists. Further south, you reach Nördlingen, a walled town dominated by the 270-foot steeple of St. George’s Church. Nördlingen is famous for a geological feature, as it is situated in the center of a 15-mile wide meteor crater. You can learn about it in the Rieskratermuseum.

The city of Augsburg, which was founded by the Romans 2,000 years ago, is the largest city on the Romantic Road, so be prepared for some heavier traffic here. Among the highlights are the town hall, the cathedral and the Fuggerei, a settlement that the rich merchant family Fugger created for poor citizens in the 16th century.

Further south, as you begin approaching the foothills of the Alps, you should visit the Wies Church, a perfect example of the Rococo style. And finally, near the town of Füssen, the is Castle Neuschwanstein, built by Bavarian King Ludwig II in the late 19th century.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Pamela Bruce

The real estate market is showing peculiar trends these days. The sales for home properties have nearly halved as compared to the previous years‘ figures. One of the main reasons is that since the Information Technology (IT) boom is over, NRIs are hardly pumping money into properties. In spite of this, the developers have refrained from slashing prices to keep their heads above the water.

Developers say that in spite of the drop in sales; there is a little chance of the real estate prices going down. This being because the prices of labor, sand and cost of construction going up. The land owners are not reducing prices either. So it becomes infeasible to slash rates by anything more than 5-10%. Also, the cost of flats are set to rise some more after the Bombay high court recently lifted the stay on recovery of service tax from customers. The service tax is 2.5% of the total cost of the property. This means that if the flat cost is Rs20 lakh, the customer has to pay Rs. 50000 as service tax.

An example of these high prices can be seen in Mumbai’s Lower Parel area, which is now rapidly becoming a hot spot for the rich. Homes in the textile mill area, which used to be sold anywhere between rupees 3,000 ($66) per square foot to Rs. 6,000 ($132) per square foot in the early part of this decade, are now priced between 15,000 rupees ($330) and 30,000 rupees ($660) per square foot as luxury homes. On the other hand, the demand is decreasing because property prices have gone beyond the reach of the common man. There is a huge demand for residential properties but people are waiting for the prices to come down. So, with the sales dropping by over 50% as compared to last year’s figures, the pressure is mounting on the developers to slash prices. Hence, discounts on property of anything between 10-15% could be expected soon.

The real estate market is showing peculiar trends these days. The sales for home properties have nearly halved as compared to the previous years‘ figures. One of the main reasons is that since the Information Technology (IT) boom is over, NRIs are hardly pumping money into properties. Inspite of this, the developers have refrained from slashing prices to keep their heads above the water.

Developers say that inspite of the drop in sales; there is a little chance of the real estate prices going down. This being because the prices of labor, sand and cost of construction going up. The land owners are not reducing prices either. So it becomes infeasible to slash rates by anything more than 5-10%. Also, the cost of flats are set to rise some more after the Bombay high court recently lifted the stay on recovery of service tax from customers. The service tax is 2.5% of the total cost of the property. This means that if the flat cost is Rs20 lakh, the customer has to pay Rs. 50000 as service tax.

Real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle India (JLL) says newly-launched residential projects are recording an average 15% lower prices, especially in Delhi and Mumbai? markets witnessing oversupply in many pockets.

An example of these high prices can be seen in Mumbai’s Lower Parel area, which is now rapidly becoming a hot spot for the rich. Homes in the textile mill area, which used to be sold anywhere between rupees 3,000 ($66) per square foot to Rs. 6,000 ($132) per square foot in the early part of this decade, are now priced between 15,000 rupees ($330) and 30,000 rupees ($660) per square foot as luxury homes.

On the other hand, the demand is decreasing because property prices have gone beyond the reach of the common man. There is a huge demand for residential properties but people are waiting for the prices to come down. So, with the sales dropping by over 50% as compared to last year’s figures, the pressure is mounting on the developers to slash prices. Hence, discounts on property of anything between 10-15% could be expected soon.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Sarita Khanna

You may have lived in your current home for years and it may be as comfortable as an old sweatshirt, but when it’s time to show off your property to potential buyers, it’s normal to feel nervous. Buyers will want to walk into your home and peek everywhere to get an idea of the property. You don’t have to stress out when showing your home to potential buyers, though. Follow these nine expert tips to create a great impression:

1) Have a plan of where you’ll be.

If an agent is showing your home, take your children and pets and plan to be absent from the home. Potential buyers will not want to discuss your home in front of you and may feel awkward about opening doors or having a good look around. Of course, if you are selling your home yourself, you will have to show the property. In this case, practice a warm greeting and plan on giving potential buyers free reign while you excuse yourself to another part of the house for a few moments.

2) Make the price attractive.

Most buyers consider price first. No matter how much you love your property, when you are showing your house potential buyers may want to bargain.

3) Maximize your curb appeal.

When showing your home to potential buyers, be aware that the buyer’s impression of a property begins well before the front door. Make your entrance as pleasant as possible. Rake the leaves, mow the lawn, and clear the snow. The front door or porch should be perfectly scrubbed and free of clutter. If it’s dark, light up the entrance as attractively as possible.

4) Make sure your home is tidy.

Clean scrupulously and ruthlessly get rid of clutter. It’s not too extreme to get rid of as much as possible and put any excess items into storage. A month or two of storage will not cost much and will help make the best possible impression on home buyers. Consider a fresh coat of paint and a professional cleaning service, if possible. At the very least, touch up the paint and do the most thorough cleaning you can do yourself.

5) Keep everything in the home functional.

Go through your home and open and close every drawer, door, cabinet, and cupboard. Flip every light switch. Everything in your home should work perfectly or potential home buyers may get the impression that your home is not in good repair.

6) Adjust the temperature.

Forget about your ideal temperature. Make sure your home is cozy warm in the winter and cool and inviting in hot weather. When showing your home, this lets potential buyers see that heating and cooling systems work well.

7) Look out for scents.

A pleasantly scented home is a must when showing a property but avoid spraying the property with any perfumes or air fresheners. Far too many people are allergic to scents, and it goes without saying that you will lose the sale if a possible buyer breaks out in hives because you sprayed scent a little too enthusiastically. Instead, consider simmering cinnamon in water or baking bread or cookies just before buyers arrive. Make sure the treats are available for buyers to munch on as they browse. If you live in a quiet neighborhood, you may simply choose to leave a few windows open to let in fresh air.

8) Get someone to do a walk-through.

Have them pretend they are the buyer. Make sure they ask you lots of questions, give your home the sniff test and open every drawer, faucet, and door. It’s amazing what an impartial observer will notice.

9) Make your home appear as large and bright as possible.

Remove as much as possible from your closets and storage areas – without leaving your home looking bare. If you are repainting for the showing, be sure to repaint in a shade that is slightly lighter to create the impression of light. Consider leaving curtains open or additional lamps lit when showing your home to potential home buyers – buyers like to see a home that is airy and light.

Showing your home to potential buyers can feel a little like a blind date. With these tips, though, you will be able to rest a little easier. While each step may seem like additional work, it will pay off when a buyer turns to you and says „we’ll take it!“

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Source by Eric Bramlett