Nick Blog's the World!

Security has been an issue for home sellers, but in today's economy, it is even more important. The folloowing are several rules you should follow when selling your ome.

1. Don't let anyone in your home unless your real estate agent arranged the showing.
2. If someone knocks on your door, refer them to your agent. Do not let them in.
3. Make sure that your home looks occupied, even if it is vacant. There are people checking on homes that appear vacant and will try to strip the appliances and whatever else they can carry.
4. Maintain the front of your home, yard and even paint the front of the home if it needs it.
5. Don't let newpapers or other papers accumulate.
6. Tell your neighbors that your home is on the market and inform then if it is vacant. Ask them to call police if the suspect anything.

Your agent should also provide additional information at the time of listing.

Everytime a short sale occurs or a bank owned property is sold (most often way below market value) our economy loses;  other homes in the neighborhood lose value, a family loses equity, appraisers value regular homes for sale at the short sale value. We are creating a massive downward spiral, thanks in part to the banks that we are giving our tax dollars to, so that they can survive and grow.

We need to take this message to congress. Almost everyday I meet homeowners who are giving up their homes, not all because they can't afford them, but because their value is so much lower than their existing mortgage.

This "mess" was created by dishonest buyers and appraisers and greedy lenders and greedy real estate agents. Non of these people have been punished, in fact, I believe that they have changed their questionalble money making schemes to other ventures that take advantage of the current economic situtation.

You can either be passive about this and watch your home values go down, or you can take action and have your voice heard.

The choice is yours.

We have a unique abiblity to assume that what is happeing in one small market applys eqully to the rest of the United States. Newspapers, radio, TV and the rest of the media try to generalize all real estate happenings.

The truth is that there can be many different market situations, even within a small town. In the metro Phoenix area, we have neighborhoods that are doing very well and some that are getting worse every day. Before you list your home find out where your area fits in.

Don't let an agent quote Natgion wide statistics as to how you should price your home.Study the trends in your immediate area then make a decision.

In the last few months, I have seen homes listed so low that the seller lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the sale. (not a bank owned or short sale property) I have also seen homes prices so high that they will never sell. Do your homework and select a knowledgeable realtor to work with.