Super location in Dublin! Close to parks, bike paths, schools, Dublin Rec. Center and shopping. Green space out the back with nice deck. Stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. Finished basement. Large eat-in area. New HVAC in 2006. Newer flooring throughout. Fresh paint. Want move-in condition? Here it is!

Super clean former model home! Nothing to do here but move in. Lots of attention to details. Upgraded insulated siding. New carpet. Fresh paint. Pergo floors. Huge screened porch with quarry tiles. Fenced backyard. Master bedroom has walk in closet and extra vanity area. Dublin Schools. Super location. Don't delay!

Beautiful soft contemporary in popular Scioto Woods. Hilliard Schools. 1st floor Master with door leading to spacious deck. Vaulted Great Room with skylights. 2 bedrooms up with addition loft overlooking GR. Super landscaping. Nice shed for all of your gardening stuff! Park in Subdivision. Close to OSU, Downtown & UA.

On the lake at beautiful Bartholomew Lake Estates! Serene views from the Great Room or Screened Porch. Nearly 1 acre lot with super curb appeal. 1st floor Den & Laundry. Center island Kitchen. Spacious Great Room perfect for entertaining with wet bar. Bonus Room over 3 car side load garage. Finished basement. See it!

Great price on this fee simple in the Dublin School District. Move-in condition. Fresh interior paint. New carpet. Updated Kitchen--great cabinets! Finished basement. Shed and patio out back. Green space out front with park like setting. Close to shopping, entertainment, restaurants, freeway access and the ZOO!! C it!

Scioto Woods Gem! Hilliard Schools. 4 Bedroom with 1st floor laundry. Finished basement. Center island kitchen. Spacious deck with eastern exposure. Super location close to OSU, UA, Downtown and several golf courses. There is also a park in the subdivision! Total finished sq. ft. is 1870. Won't last long. Don't delay!

Price reduced for quick sale! Immediate possession. Hilliard Schools. Super location close to downtown, UA and OSU. 1st floor Den & Laundry. Florida Room. Vaulted Family Room with Loft. Finished basement with half bath and tons of extra storage. Park is within walking distance and offers access to Griggs Reservoir!!

Seller will pay first 6 month's of condo fee!!!!! Like New!! Move-in condition. Fresh paint. Neutral carpet. Great floor plan with dual master suites. Finished bsmt with cozy FP. 1680 total finished sq. ft. 2 car gar. Private patio. All kitchen appliance included. Washer & Dryer also included. Super location just off New Albany/161 Exit. Condo fee includes community pool, gym and party house!!

Reduced $5000 on 11/10/09. Act fast! there's still time to take advantage of the $8000 first time buyer's tax credit. This is the lowest priced home in Scioto Woods for all of 2009!! This home is ready to go. New flooring at entry to Kitchen. New roof & siding-2003. New windows-2007. Washer & Dryer included! Close to OSU, UA & Downtown. See it!

Whether it's wasting money on the lottery or chasing rainbows in the latest pyramid scheme, the American public seems ever-willing to pursue the something-for-almost nothing dream.

Home sellers are no exception. A small, but noteworthy, number of them continue to opt for the "FSBO" route in marketing their homes.

The basic question is: Can a home be sold without the help of a competent, full-service Realtor? Honest answer: Of course it can, but does it make economic sense to do it that way?

Seldom, indeed--and I've seen no evidence to the contrary during my more than 22 years of residential sales experience.

Before you dismiss my opinion as merely the self serving view of an industry loyalist, please read on; if you're ever going to sell a home, you'll be glad you did.

I'm (safely) assuming that, as a seller, you will be interested in realizing the highest price obtainable. (If the proceeds don't matter, any old marketing plan will do, including an absolute auction or accepting the first cash offer of a speculator)

Realizing that the highest obtainable price is possible only-repeat, only if you can expose the property to the best market, in terms of size and quality, and if you have the proficiency to identify, satisfy and obtain a commitment from the best qualified buyer.

Let's first examine quality. Unless your home comes to the attention of the largest possible pool of potential buyers, you can't even be marginally sure that the best offer you received represents the best possible price.

Consider the facts: Although a Realtor may spend thousands of dollars each month on advertising and may have hundreds of yard signs dotting the landscape, only about 20 percent of actual buyers will be attracted by these media.

So much for doing it yourself: How many of that 20 percent will be attracted by your single yard sign and occasional ad? So-much, too, for the fringe marketers who will sell you a sign, help you write ads and tell you how to generate a few prospects.

If you want to realize that "best price obtainable", you must challenge the whole market, not just a small slice of it.

How to reach the other 80 percent? That's where the quality of the market come in.

In a full-service real estate firm, about 30 percent of it's buyers are brought to the table by cooperating brokers. It is axiomatic that the best qualified buyers are availing themselves of the (usually) free services offered by real estate professionals. Why should they track down ads and signs when a competent practitioner will sift through the available inventory and match their dreams with realty?

The professionals who attract those best buyers play for pay-and the good ones are worth every penny of the six figures in their income.

The only motive, then, that could possibly lure buyers to a for-sale-by-owner home would be the hope of saving the same commission that the FSBO is trying to save-a bit of logic that seems to escape many do-it-yourselfers.

Thus, both the optimum quantity and quality of your potential pool of buyers will be available only through the help of competent professionals, who also supply the third necessary ingredient-proficiency.

It takes skill, experience and objectivity to find, qualify, service and sell a prospective home buyer in an arena where dozens, if not hundreds, of homes, sellers and agents are vying for the same prospect.

It is naive to hope that rank amateurs or cut-rate counselors could effectively compete with full-time experts whose economic lives depend on delivering satisfactory service to buyers and sellers on a daily basis.

There's no law against being your own doctor or lawyer, or hiring a partially qualified person in either profession, but it is foolish to do so.

A bargain, either in goods or services, is measured not so much by what you pay as what you get in return.

In real estate, if you pay less, you settle for inferior marketing. If you settle for inferior marketing, the cost in net proceeds will far exceed the commission dollars you thought you were saving. Only exposing your home to the best market, in terms of quantity and quality, coupled with proficient marketing services, can put that highest obtainable price in your pocket or purse.

Bottom line: One way or another, when a home is sold, someone ALWAYS pays a commission!

(parts of this post were taken from an article writted by Joe Clock who is a syndicated columnist and freelance writer in Key Largo, Florida)

1. How long have you been a licensed Realtor?

2. Are you full-time?

3. What advanced designations have you obtained?

4. How many homes did you sell last year?

5. What is your list to sales price ratio?

6. What percentage of your listings sell?

7. What was the average days on market for your listings?

8. How many listings do you have right now?

9. How many Buyers are you working with right now?

10. Do you have a written marketing plan?

11. What is your internet strategy?

12. How many websites do you have?

13. What makes you unique?

14. Why should I hire you?

One of the 4 pillars to my exclusive W.I.S.E. (warranty, inspection, staging & evaluation) is an appraisal. It may be the most important part of the program. Price is part of marketing. It’s estimated that price is 70-80% of the overall reason a home sells. Getting the price right from the beginning is paramount. So why do I recommend a professional appraisal? Why can’t the Realtor just give me their opinion of price using a CMA-comparative market analysis?

A professional appraisal for the purpose of marketing your home can be a valuable tool in several ways.

Number one, it will help you as the homeowner set a realistic price. The appraiser is an unbiased third party. They have nothing to gain or lose in the sale of your home. A Realtor on the other hand does have something to gain by telling you what you want to hear. This is called "buying the listing". A less than professional Realtor will tell you a price in order to gain the listing and then later push you for numerous price reductions. Ultimately your home will sell for less than it would have if it were priced correctly from the beginning.

Number two, the appraisal can help you defend your price. For example, lets say your home appraises for $350,000 and you list it for $349,900. A buyer has interest and makes an offer of $320,000. The appraisal can then be used in the counter offer phase to compel the Buyer to be realistic. You will also have confidence in your price position, instead of questioning yourself or your Realtor.

An appraisal will be an investment of about $300. It’s a marketing cost and well worth the expense. If you are reluctant to get an appraisal, my guess is that you are fearful of the result. The appraisal is not public knowledge, nor does it have to be. You can keep the appraisal to yourself.

What is required to get pre-approved? The lender will look at 4 areas to determine what you can afford. 1. Yearly income 2. Long term debt, including credit cards, car loans, student loans, etc. 3. Savings for down payment.  4. Your credit score.

I have a mortgage calculator at http://www.rickwright1.com/r_mortgage-calculator_qualifier.asp

If you need a referral to a good local lender just give me a call. 614-766-5330 x191

The class covered a wide range of topics from internet marketing, farming, data base basics, expired listings, pricing, absorption rates, servicing past customers/clients and the role of women in the real estate decision making process just to mention a few.

It was a fun and informative class. I probably learned as much, if not more than the attendees. Many thanks to Mike Parker for the invitation and for presenting a great class!

I put together the following handout for the class:

The Market Value of Your home is NOT:

1. What you have in it

2. What you need out of it

3. What you want

4. What it appraised for

5. What you heard the neighbor's house sold for

6. What the tax office says it is worth

7. How much it is insured for

8. Based on memories and treasures

9. Based on prices of the homes where you are moving

The True Market Value of Your Home is What a Buyer is Willing to Pay:

1. Based on today's market

2. Based on today's competition

3. Based on today's financing

4. Based on today's economic conditions

5. Based on the buyer's perception of the condition

6. Based on location

7. Based on normal marketing time

8. Based on showing accessibility

Properties That Sell in Today's Market: On a Scale of 1-10, the "10's" are the ones that are Selling. How Can Your Property be a "10"?

1. By improving the condition dramatically

2. By offering good terms

3. By improving the way the home shows

4. By adjusting the price

As a Seller You Control:

1. The price you ask

2. The condition of the property

3. Access to the property

4. the Realtor you select to market your property

As a Seller You Do Not Control:

1. Market conditions

2. The motivation of your competition

3. Value

A homeowner is "short" when:

When a borrower owes an amount on his property that when combined with closing costs and commission is higher than current market value/

A Short Sale occurs when:

A negotiation is entered into with the homeowner's mortgage company or companies to accept less than the full balance of the loan at closing. A buyer closes on the property and the property is "sold short".

I have done several of the short sales over the past few years, however with the market trends pointing in the direction of more and more of these situations, I am in the process of obtaining  the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation. I will have the CDPE by the end of October. You can visit tham at http://www.distressedpropertyinstitute.com/

The process sounds easy enough however this is an involved process that takes time, patience, good communication skills, organization and professionalism.

If you, or someone you know may be in the position of having to sell "short" please consider using a real estate professional who has the expertise to handle the situation. The CDPE would be a great start.

*Some of this information was taken from the CDPE field manual.