The Internet Has Changed The Real Estate Business!

Change is not easy. And change is even harder for an old timer like me ! But change is necessary to survive in this new world of Real Estate .
What A Difference The Internet has made in the Real Estate business! The Internet has totally changed the rules of the game.
For 32 years now I've followed all the rules on personal promotion and "The Marketing of Me." I followed all the suggestions in the seminars, the classes and the books. Internet savvy consumers have changed everything. You don't care about all the self promotion...you want to know what I can do for you.

Today's typical buyer and seller is very familiar and comfortable with the Internet.The National Association of Realtors says the typical Buyer and Seller will first browse the Internet before contacting an agent.
If you are looking on-line for a home, and /or a Realtor, sure, you want to know that I know what I am doing…. But most importantly, you want to know what's in it for you.
You want up-to-date information. And you want it now. All the marketing stuff we Realtors have been doing for years including post cards ,flyers, ads in the newspapers and in magazines, ALL of that takes a back seat to the Internet.

I began to blog just recently ,and I am amazed at the positive response I've received!
Here on my blog, you will find your Stone Harbor and Avalon Real Estate information. Each month I'll update you on homes that are now on the market, what went under contract, and what has Sold in the month.

Would you like more information? If you do not find what you need at www.StoneHarborRealtor.com , please e-mail me at Nancy@NancyMAlexander.com
Or call me…I Love To Talk Real Estate ! 800.708.5792

Selling Your House? Time For A Garage Makeover!

Making your home stand out will give you an edge on your competition in today's real estate market. One way to accomplish this is to upgrade your garage. Changing your garage into a showplace can be easy and relatively cheap.

You can take advantage of a recent housing trend, the "Garage Makeover." There are all kinds of new products available to spruce up your garage.

You can get special garage flooring systems that snap together in one afternoon; tough enough to withstand our studded tires, oil, grease and dirt. Andyou can pick up 17' X 7' garage mats for about $149 at Wal-Mart or Home Depot.

Or... you can go with a complete garage floor refinishing system with epoxy finish in any color you can imagine. Most Home Depot stores or Lowes will carry these.

Along with a floor treatment, consider painting the walls & ceiling, especially if they're starting to get a bit dingy.
And you can't have too much lighting in a garage, most don't have enough. How about getting some fluorescent fixtures in 4-ft. or 8-ft. lengths.

Next, to get rid of all that clutter, you need shelving, cabinets and organizers. Getting stuff up off the floor will make a big difference in appearance.


With your garage all done over,your property will stand out from the competition.

Now get packing and get ready to move!

Nancy@NancyMAlexander.com
www.NancyMAlexander.com

Realtor Magazine Article Home Improvements Cost vs Value

This article was published on: 12/01/20062006 Cost vs. Value Making Home Improvements Pay What’s the return for remodeling? Remodeling magazine’s annual report compares construction costs with resale values for 25 common remodeling projects in 60 U.S. markets.Prices for most remodeling projects continue to climb, while the recoup value of improvements at resale is declining to levels last seen in 2002. These are the findings of Remodeling magazine’s 19th annual Cost vs. Value Report — the eighth prepared in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine. None of this should come as much of a surprise to you: This year’s recoup values confirm the housing slowdown many parts of the country are experiencing. With both home-sale and remodeling activity at record levels in the last five to six years, some cooling is inevitable. Indications are that the current downturn represents a return to “normal” levels. A number of improvements designed to make the report more reliable and useful has also affected both cost and value data. For starters, Remodeling took a fresh look at the specs for the 25 projects it studies each year. (REALTOR® Magazine, in the past, has limited the number of projects it included in its coverage.) The cost-to-construct figures (which include labor, material, subcontractors, and gross profit) are higher than in previous years, but also more accurate. (Read full project descriptions at www.remodelingmagazine.com.) The estimates of resale value are also more accurate than ever before (see “Survey confidence is high,” below), thanks to the more than 2,000 members of the NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF REALTORS® who completed Remodeling’s e-mail survey this past summer. In addition, the report introduces nine regional averages, following the divisions established by the U.S. Census Bureau. This breakdown provides higher confidence levels than could be achieved with the four larger U.S. regions measured in previous years. What the numbers meanWhen comparing cost estimates for actual projects, remember that averaging tends to have a leveling effect on “Job Cost” data. And, seemingly small differences in size, scope, or quality of finishes can dramatically affect the final project cost. Remember, too, that, even in neighborhoods in the same city, local conditions can affect both the cost and value of a remodeling project, making our numbers appear too high or too low. In an actual real estate transaction, the “cost recouped” for a given remodeling project depends on a variety of factors. These include the condition of the rest of the house, the value of similar homes nearby, and the rate at which property values are changing in the surrounding area. A home’s urban, suburban, or rural setting also affects its value, as does the availability and cost of new and existing homes in the immediate vicinity .

Nancy@NancyMAlexander.com
www.StoneHarborRealtor.com