West Bank Living

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, over 80% of home buyers begin their search for a new home on the internet, long before they ever contact an agent or view houses personally.  This makes perfect sense, since google has entered our language as a verb.  We "google" maps and people and even ask questions online to find more expert information on topics of interest.

From the REALTOR.org website:

According to the 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84% of all homebuyers used the Internet as an information source. (Source: 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.)

With the staggering number of potential home buyers utilizing the web to find their dream home, it has become more important than ever to use a West Bank REALTOR® who has embraced technology as a staple in the advertising of their listings.

What type of technology should a professional West Bank REALTOR® use?

Email

Whether through their desktop computer, cell phone or via wi-fi access to their laptop, today’s REALTOR® should have the ability to send and receive emails without having to run to the office computer to do so.  Sending documents to lenders and title companies immediately via email makes for a much smoother transaction and provides documentation that tasks were completed in a timely manner.  Since time is of the essence in real estate transactions, email is one tool your agent should never be without.

Digital Camera 

Pictures are the number one request of today’s home buyers who are searching online.  Homes with multiple photos and virtual tours receive many more views than homes with no photos or only one photo of the exterior.  

The New Orleans MLS service allows agents to upload 8 photos to every listing, yet many still have just one photo of the front of the house.  I haven’t seen a home yet that I couldn’t take eight photos of to showcase in the best possible light and capture the attention of both buyers and their agents.  Remember, buyer agents are using the information provided in the MLS to decide which homes best suit the needs of their clients and often will skip over homes with only one photo. 

Website

Not just a company provided website, but one that serves as a resource for both buyers and sellers and ranks well with the search engines.  Most people surfing the internet for information never go beyond page 2 of their search results.  If your agent’s website doesn’t show up in the top 20 spots for homes for sale in the area, how many buyers will find it (and your home)?

Additionally, round the clock, 24/7 web access to the activities taken to market your home is a convenience that few agents are offering.  See the snapshot below of how easily my clients can remain informed of all activity on their homes while listed.

Blog

Many people don’t even know what a blog (web log) is and may not even realize that they are reading one when surfing the net for information.  This article is part of a blog!  REALTORS® who blog have committed to providing the most up-to-date information to their customers and clients and are more likely to keep up with other advances in the real estate industry that will enhance their ability to market and sell home listings. 

Video and Virtual Tours

A new market is emerging for real estate videos and virtual tours.  No longer are buyers content with seeing just photos, they want to see more of the homes they are most interested in along with neighborhood information.  The ability to provide video tours of your home is offered by very few REALTORS®.  Doesn’t your home deserve the best marketing your commission fees can buy?  YOU could be one of the first home sellers on the West Bank to take advantage of the power of video advertising!

What’s in it for you?

Participating in online networking and advertising has had the benefit of increased exposure for all of my clients’ homes for sale as I’ve continued to expand the number of places that my listings are advertised.  Here are just a few of places you can expect to find your home when listed with Lisa Heindel…

Want to know more?

Feel free to contact me at (504) 616-6262 for details on my entire marketing plan and how I can help you sell your West Bank home.  Or, just google me…

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Are you still paying that high rent in a post-Katrina market?  Or perhaps you relocated and are ready to return and call the New Orleans West Bank home again.  Instead of surfing the internet and dreaming about being a home owner, why not take these 5 easy steps to make it a reality rather than a dream?

Prequalification

First things first….and getting prequalified for a mortgage is the first and most important step in the home buying process.  Today’s sellers are not willing to take their homes off of the market for a buyer who has not taken the time to be qualified for a mortgage!

When you are serious about buying a home, it’s important to sit down and meet with a mortgage professional who will take the time to understand your budget and work with you to find the best loan product to suit your needs since there may be special programs that can assist with your closing costs or that require a smaller down payment.  Your lender will require you to provide documentation such as your tax returns, paycheck stubs and bank statements and being prepared to provide all of this information makes the approval process much quicker.

REMEMBER:  Most of the 100% financing programs are a thing of the past.  Plan on at least a 3% down payment for any home you decide to purchase.  For a $150,000 home, this works out to a $4,500 down payment.  Additionally, you will need funds to pay for (at minimum) a home inspection ($250-$350) and a termite inspection ($85-$100).  Additional inspections may be suggested dependant upon the home you choose.

Mortgage Qualification Calculator

Wants and Needs

Once you have been pre-qualified, it’s time to decide what is most important to you in your new home.  Is it a particular neighborhood or school district?  A certain number of bedrooms and bathrooms?  A garage?  Make a list of the must haves and the nice to haves and try to remain flexible.  You don’t want to pass on a great house because it’s missing one of your nice to haves but meets all of your other needs.  The articles below may help you narrow your focus.

How to Choose a Home

How to choose a Neighborhood for Your Home Search

Choose a REALTOR®

Home buyers don’t pay a penny to be represented by a professional West Bank REALTOR®!  There is no need to go it alone when you can have an advocate on your side, looking out for your best interests during the home buying process.  Since this is more than likely the largest investment you will ever make, doesn’t it make sense to have a professional guide you?

5 Steps to Choosing Your New Orleans West Bank Real Estate Agent

Find a Home

This is where the fun starts!  Visiting available homes and choosing the right one for you or your family should be fun - keep it that way…  If you visit a home that is not quite right, that’s OK.  Move on to the next home on your list.  As an agent, I learn more and more about my clients tastes, wants and needs each time we see a home, whether they love it or hate it. 

Although it’s tempting to want to see everything at once, limit your showings to about 5 homes a day.  More than this can be overwhelming and the homes will start to run together and become confusing.  Was the great closet in this house or that one?  Which one had the big backyard?  Taking notes during the showings can also be a great way to keep them all straight.

I usually ask buyers to rate each home as we go along to narrow down the list.  Did you like house #2 more or less than house #1, and so on as we work our way through each.  This helps keep you focused on your favorites and makes choosing so much easier!

10 Steps to House Hunting with a Critical Eye

Negotiate an Offer

This step in the process is where the assistance of a professional is invaluable.  Before you decide what to offer on a home, review the neighborhood comparables to learn about recent sales of homes similar to your choice.  This will provide a guideline for what you can expect to pay.  Remember, each home is unique - some sellers are willing to negotiate more than others and working with a professional West Bank REALTOR® who knows the area can arm you with the right information to get that offer accepted!

The Basics of Making an Offer

Your Offer’s Been Accepted - Now What?

When you are ready to stop dreaming and make owning a home on the West Bank of New Orleans a reality, contact Lisa Heindel, REALTOR®.  A specialist in West Bank real estate, I’d be happy to help you find the perfect place to call home!

When buying or selling a home on the West Bank of New Orleans or relocating to the New Orleans West Bank, you deserve local expertise and advice. Lisa Heindel provides full time, professional real estate services to buyers, sellers and military transferees in Algiers, Algiers Point, Belle Chasse, Gretna, Terrytown, Harvey, Marrero, Westwego and more.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.