FSBO BLOG

I am happy to announce the latest version of FSBO.com has now been launched.  Among the many new features we have added, the most notable is the addition of our ability to take Rental and international Listings.  We now also allow our users to upload an unlimited number of photos to each listing at no extra charge.  Please visit www.FSBO.com to check out the new site, and to give me your feedback.

It is currently FREE to add your Vacation Rental, Long Term Rental, and International Listing to FSBO.com.  Please add yours today.

NEW FEATURES FOR SELLERS:

• UNLIMITED PHOTOS 
  • You may now upload an unlimited amount of photos at no additional cost
• FREE VIDEO UPLOAD
  • You may now upload one video to your listing at no additional cost
  • Professional Editing and Photo Tours Available in the Video Section
• NEW MESSAGE CENTER
  • Double Duty:  You no longer have to log in to check your messages. Messages will be sent directly to your email address, along with a copy of that message saved in your message center for later review.
  • Report Spam - You can now report scam emails directly to FSBO.com with a click of a link
• New Open House Features
  • Enter Unlimited Open House dates  - Add as many Open House dates that you have scheduled (or add them as you go along in the process of selling your home
  • FSBO.com now gives Buyers the ability to Search by Open Houses in their area so be sure to get yours posted right away
• New Hit Counter 
  • Your hit counter will now display both “Total” Visitors, and “Unique” Visitors.
• Rental Property
  • If your property is also available as a rental, you may automatically add it to our New Rental Section at no cost!  From your registered user’s area, you can select “Add as Rental” and we’ll automatically copy your property listing information over for you.  From there, you can then edit your Rental record to include more specific rental information to your potential new renters! 

I will be posting all week long about new Features and Promotions like our “FSBO.com National Open House Day - May 17^th & 18^th“

Ok, Video #2 is Ready thanks to my good and talented friends at http://www.realtyflix.com/.  This Video highlights the biggest task I will face in prepping this house for sale; painting.  Painting every wall in the house a different, dark, color seemed like a GREAT idea a few years ago.  Just remember, whenever you decide to paint your home, the job is always only just half over, because you will most likely have to repaint everything in the end when it comes time to move. 

The only reason I decided to use a paint sprayer was that the ceiling, after 9 years, needed a face lift.  Otherwise, I would not have covered anything, and just done it all by hand.  I think you will enjoy this video, and see that Mike Malkasian, President of FSBO.com, is not afraid to get his hands dirty. 

Paint and supplies (which include Pizza and “refreshments” for my friends) cost just under $400 for the entire project (paint sprayer was borrowed from a friend).  Based on the quotes I received from professional painters, I saved between $1100, and $1300 by doing it myself.  A special thanks to Matt, Jeremy, Chris, and Phil Minnes (Google Him!) for helping me paint.

Charity Info I Mentioned:

The green shirt I was wearing in that video is from my favorite non-profit called H.E.R.O. for Children (http://www.heroforchildren.org/).  H.E.R.O. became the first non-profit organization in the State of Georgia to solely focus their effort and energy to raise funding and awareness for the Quality of Life of children affected by / infected with HIV/AIDS.  I have been involved with them for over 3 years, and I mentor (big brother/ SuperHERO) an 8 year-old boy whose mother is infected with HIV.   Getting involved in this little kid’s life is the best decision I have ever made, and plan to continue my relationship with him for the rest of my life.  We are best friends! 

If you live in the Atlanta area, I strongly urge you to get involved, and consider becoming a “SuperHERO” yourself.  If you do not live in the area, I ask that you consider visting the website, and making a donation.

The SuperHEROes program:  The SuperHEROes program is the only one-on-one mentoring program for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Georgia that provides year-round, positive role models with each matching meeting a minimum of 24 times per year with their child. (Source:  www.heroforchildren.org ) 

I hope you are all having a safe and successful holiday season thus far. 

As America becomes a more heath and weight conscience society, I am sure we are all thinking about that extra cookie or slice of pie we grabbed around the holidays.  Well, maybe not all of us, but if that’s you, I have a few quick suggestions for shedding those extra holiday pounds while increasing your chances of selling your home. 

I suggest getting outside, raking the leaves, mowing the grass, or shoveling snow as a good way to stay active around the holidays, while also improving the curb appeal of your house.  Whether it is currently on the market, or soon to be next year, the more you can do now the better.  Cleaning and fixing the small things now will save you time, money, and stress when it comes time to show your home, or to have it inspected.

Here are a few quick stats that may motivate you to get some work done around the house: 

•  
  • Mowing the lawn for half an hour = 150 calories burned.
  • Gardening for 30 to 45 minutes = 150 calories burned.
  • Raking leaves for a half an hour = 150 calories burned.
  • Shoveling snow for only 15 minutes = 150 calories burned.
  • Vacuuming for half an hour = 100 calories burned.
  • Washing windows for 15 minutes = 50 calories burned.
  • Sweeping for 15 minutes = 50 calories burned.

This week I have gone over a few worthwhile remodeling projects for you to consider, and few that may not be worth the effort.  Of the projects we have discussed, which ones will you attempt, which ones have you attempted, and which ones will you stay away from?  No matter what the answer, just know that the more effort you put in to preparing your house for sale, the better chance you will have to impress the first buyer that walks through the door. 

In a slower market, any competitive edge you can give yourself over your competition is something that you should consider.  Remodeling may not always be the answer, but is worth researching.  The easiest, quick, fix can be done with a can of paint, and a fresh cut or the grass and trimming a few trees and shrubs.

I encourage anyone getting ready to put his or her home on the market to check out the 2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report to which projects may give you that edge that you need to sell quickly and for a good price.

So, we have been talking about which projects will get you the most bang for your buck.  Now let’s look at which projects had the lowest return for the money according to the  2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report …

57.0% return - Home office remodel (mid-range)

58.0% return - Back-up power generator (mid-range)

59.1% return - Sunroom addition (mid-range)

64.1% return - Master suite addition (upscale)

64.6% return - Garage addition (upscale)

65.7% return - Roof replacement (upscale)

66.0% return - Bathroom addition (mid-range)

67.4% return - Roof replacement (mid-range)

Have you had any personal experience with these projects?  How was the return on your investment?  Let us know if you think these figures are accurate and if any of these remodels/additions are worth it.

Keeping with this week’s theme of remodeling ideas, the two other top projects for you to consider are discussed below.

Siding Replacement:  Replacing the Siding (fiber-cement) proved to be the number one remodeling project on this years Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report with 88.1% of the cost recouped.  Vinyl Siding showed an 83.2% recouped cost.  This seems like a pretty big undertaking, and it would most likely be in your best interest to hire a professional to ensure everything is installed properly and up to code. 

Window Replacement:  This project showed an 81% return on investment.  Upgrading your windows can do several things for you home.  It can bring more light inside to help show your home better, save on energy cost depending what type of windows you choose, and finally, new windows can help your home appear more modern which could be important to your buyer. 

Of the four projects mentioned so far, I think I would go with the Minor Kitchen Remodel, and the Window Replacement.  They both seem like they would be finished in less time, and with less headache. 

Minor Kitchen Remodel -  This project showed an 83% recovery of the cost, and was the TOP interior remodeling project for the survey.  Please take notice of the word “Minor”.  This suggests that you do not need to rip apart your entire kitchen, and build a new one.  Some small upgrades to consider would be replacing the kitchen faucet or sink, installing new counter tops, or even something as basic as re-painting the cabinets.  All three are small projects that can be done by a contractor, or yourself in about 1-2 days.  Always remember that your time costs far less than that of a professional, so use it whenever possible while still maintaining a certain level of quality and safety.

Wood Deck Addition - This may seem like an expensive and time-consuming project, but showed 85.4% of the cost recovered the survey.  In a slower market, adding a deck could be exactly what you need to win over a buyer, or to keep pace with the competition (your neighbor).  For some of you, this is a project you could handle yourself which could save you even more money, and for others, with enough due diligence, could probably find a reasonable time and cost estimate from a local company, or even the Home Depot.  And after viewing the “Decking Idea Gallery” by Home Depot I am ready for the weekend, and a cold glass of lemonade!

If you have attempted, or are attempting either project mentioned above, please share your experiences with us, and let us know what to do, and what not to do.

Again, for a full copy of the 2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report please Click Here!

 The 2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report  produced by Hanley Wood, LLC and the NAR was recently released, and should help us to better answer this question.  Is remodeling worth it?

Keeping in mind that each home has unique needs and specifications, this information should help the majority of us to best decide where to spend your remodeling dollars,  if at all.  I’ll spend the remainder of this week discussing information provided by the report, and highlight which projects will most likely help your home sell, while recouping the majority of your costs. 

Please feel free to jump in with your own home remodeling experiences, and let us know if you have had any success or failures that we can all learn from.  I know I have plans early next year to upgrade a kitchen on a home I am preparing to sell, and according to the new report, I have a good chance of recovering up to 83% of my cost.