Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

park square realty

What Does A High Tech Realtor Do?

A high tech realtor takes the marketing goodies that the internet has to offer and turns it into purposeful tools to get her listings in front of the most people possible. Exposure to a larger audience means a larger pool of potential buyers and potentially a faster sale for a higher price. I use the new media (internet marketing, social media sites, etc) to optimize the exposure for the homes I represent in Western Massachusetts. Using new media like customized web sites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and others, I reach out through my computer to get in touch with buyers.

Although you're far...

My New Media Marketing plan takes a traditional marketing plan that includes mailings, signage and print advertising and puts rocket boosters on it! ZOOM….your home is exposed to thousands of buyers!

For example my listings are marketed to a large arena of websites including:

Point2Homes.com Free Syndication
point2homes.com

GoogleBase Free Syndication (Beta)
maps.google.com

HotPads.com Free Syndication
hotpads.com

Yahoo! Classifieds Free Syndication (Beta)
realestate.yahoo.com

Cyberhomes.com Free Syndication (Beta)
cyberhomes.com

The Real Estate Book Free Syndication (Beta)
www.therealestatebook.com

SecondSpace Free Syndication
secondspace.com

FrontDoor Free Syndication (Beta)
www.frontdoor.com

Trulia Free Syndication (Beta)
trulia.com

Zillow Free Syndication (Beta)
www.zillow.com

Oodle Free Syndication (Beta)
oodle.com

Homescape Free Syndication (Beta)
www.homefinder.com

vast.com Free Syndication
www.vast.com

CLR Search Free Syndication
www.clrsearch.com

Clickable Directories, Inc. Free Syndication
clickablecitydirectory.com

HomeHippo Free Syndication

HouseLocator.com Free Syndication
www.houselocator.com

The Housing Pages Free Syndication
www.thehousingpages.com

Kazork Free Syndication
www.kazork.com

PropertyShark.com Free Syndication

HomesZ Free Syndication
www.homesz.com

Bilingual Marketing Group Free Syndication
www.vivareal.us

RepeatProperty.com Free Syndication
www.repeatproperty.com

campushomesonline.com Free Syndication (Beta)
www.campushomesonline.com

HomeAway Free Syndication (Beta)
HomeAwayRealEstate.com

kneedl Free Syndication
www.kneedl.com

Realty Showcase Free Syndication (Beta)
www.realtyshowcase.tv

Real Bird
www.realbird.com

Facebook
www.facebook.com/lesleylambert.realestate

You Tube
www.youtube.com/user/LesleyLambert

Park Square Realty
www.parksquarerealty.com

Masslive
www.masslive.com

Craigslist
www.craigslist.com

and this is just a partial list!

In addition my listings are featured with their own website. Visit the page for this listing to see for yourself. These sites feature video, lots of pictures, maps, flyers, open house information, contact information and details of the home. There is also a text code available for mobile phone users to obtain the information via text. Each home has a specialty sign rider with this information making it easy for buyers to view pictures, documents and other information on the property.

Another page that I host allows potential buyers to contact me by live chat! I take tons of pictures of my listings and every property has a video “virtual tour” posted so that buyers can preview the home before they make an appointment.

My listings are optimized for internet searches. Today’s buyers start at the internet. They may drive by a home and instead of calling the phone number on the sign, they will put the home’s address into Google. This is what they will see for one of my listings. Buyers from around the world can find listings this way, not just the local Western Massachusetts ones!

So, if you are considering listing your home in Western Massachusetts for sale, I hope you will let me visit to show you my plan in person. I enjoy being the High Tech Realtor with Old Fashioned Service for over 20 years in Westfield and surrounding Western MA towns!

Western MA: We Need Homes to Sell!

Here is a thing you don’t hear too much of lately: bid offs.

One of my first time buyers just lost a bid on a home.  He made a strong offer, but was beat out by someone with slightly more buying power.  Another listing of mine has had several offers in a very short time period.  Another listing is being shown almost twice a day!

It is my conjecture that the homebuyer tax credit has brought out some extra buyers.  The sellers are thinking they should wait for spring, but by then this ripe market will be gone.  I literally have buyers that I have been unable to find a property for because there is not enough inventory.

For Sale Sign - Panama
If you are considering selling your home in Westfield or the surrounding areas, NOW is the time!  We have the buyers…you may get the best price for your home by putting it on the market now!

Do You Care What Your Realtor Wears?

Yesterday we had our Park Square Realty company 2010 kick off meeting. We discussed many real estate trends in Western Massachusetts and other statistical information that I will be sharing with you along the way. Then we discussed, at length, the dress code at the office. Specifically that there should be no jeans in the office unless you are participating in the Friday Charity Dress Down Day.

Now, I tend to dress business casual, so the no jeans thing doesn’t really affect me too much, but I did get to wondering what the public expects of us.

My boss made an analogy about going to a doctor and having him do your consultation wearing jeans. First off, I personally wouldn’t care as long as he was still well kept and not wearing dirty or torn clothing, I would be ok with the jeans, but that may be just me. Secondly, while I WISH the public perceived real estate agents on the same level as doctors, I don’t believe that to be the case.

Personally, the only time I wear jeans is when I am showing land or bank owned properties in the winter. Then and only then I will show up to an appointment in my Ugg boots and jeans. I love real estate, but not enough to literally freeze my fanny off.

Typically this is how I look when I do business:

Lesley Lambert dressed for success
Lesley the Real Estate Agent

Dress For Success

That being said, I think more important that wearing fancy suits or expensive business attire, we should consider our clients when we dress. I work with clients from all professions. I have a pretty good feeling for those that are very formal and would expect and respect my wearing a suit on appointments vs. those that are very casual and a fancy suit would make them uncomfortable.

What do you think? How do you want your real estate agent to dress? What expectations do you have? I would love to hear your opinions!

When Foreclosure isn’t the Final Word

This week an article on foreclosures and short sales came out that even I found shocking. Walking away from your home and allowing foreclosure may not be the end of your mortgage obligation.

The article went on to caution that selling your home via short sale does not automatically absolve you of the debt, either. This I did know, but realized upon reading the article I have never shared this important fact with my readers.
short sale

Short sales go something like this (although each one is very unique):
#1- you go into a default position with your mortgage by missing at least one full payment cycle.
#2- you list your home aggressively for fair market value with an agent that understands the short sale process
#3- you contact your lender and stay in communication regarding the status of the listing
#4- you hire an attorney who specializes in short sales
#5- you present offers to the lender for their approval
#6- the lender approves (you hope) the short sale and the house is sold
#7- IMPORTANT: Your attorney should get a signed release of financial obligation from the lender
#8- you move on to rebuild your credit

Step seven, if missed, can mean that the lender will come after you at a later date for the shortfall between what you owed and what the property was sold for. Be sure to discuss this issue with your attorney BEFORE the closing happens!

If you need help with a distressed situation like foreclosure or short sales, I am here to help with empathy and knowledge to give you a helping hand.

The Home Buyer Tax Credit Expires April 30, 2010!

APRIL 30, 2010

That is when the home buyer tax credit expires. No kidding. No rumors of extensions.

GONE.

If you are a first time homebuyer, you must close on your new home by April 30, 2010 to collect up to $8,000 in tax benefits.

Other buyers who may qualify for the “Step Up” Home buyer credit must be in contract by April 30, 2010 with a closing no later than July 1, 2010 to collect up to $6,500. My blog post on the tax credit extension has a complete guideline for your review.


Flash-Toys

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