Michelle Obama with Home Energy Solutions Home Craftsman windows

Home Energy Solutions energy efficient windows by Home Craftsman took center stage at the YouthBuild AmeriCorps Green Homebuilding Service Day anniversary celebration. The windows, supplied by BMC West and Home Energy Solutions were specifically designed for the hot southern climate; the final destination of the charitable home.

First lady, Michelle Obama, addressed YouthBuild, a non-profit community development program that teaches low-income youth housing construction skills while they work toward their GED or high school diploma.

Students and graduates from around the country were on the National Mall in Washinton, D. C., to demonstrate the important role we can play in rebuilding our communities and our lives, greening America and protecting our planet, and supporting our President in his quest to make service opportunities available to all Americans, including low-income young adults.

The event celebrated YouthBuild’s 30th anniversary and featured more than 100 students from over 250 chapters across the country.

“Its your core principle that I am so impressed with, providing opportunities for amazing young people, said Mrs. Obama to rousing applause. “Giving folks a second and third and fourth, chance particularly to low-income youth, that we sometimes overlook.”

YouthBuild students demonstrated the advanced technology windows to the first lady, and explained why the top-rated windows were selected for this special home. Home Energy Solutions and BMC West advise YouthBuild about the latest technology products that make YouthBuild’s affordable green homes the most efficient.

Topics: In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

The Save Housing Express took off to showcase best-in-class home energy solutions for energy efficient homes.  Follow the progress on the energy efficient homes blitz blog, get rated now Facebook page and get rated now Twitter page.

Topics: Blogging, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

Here’s some great news:

Jim Remley, who just released his latest book, “Sell Your Home In Any Market” will be our guest on Thursday’s Teleseminar. I’ve been reading the book and am very impressed with his great tips… Of course you know that my favorite chapter is the one about web marketing!

Don’t miss this one.  Jim is a Real Estate Veteran, and author of 3 books on the subject.  We’re going to hear some great stuff!

Topics: Creative Real Estate, Home Selling Tips, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

There was post on Zillow that really tugged at my hearstrings today.  Somebody wrote: 

“Just curious to know if anyone else out there is in a similar boat…  My husband is in sales and is now in a new territory.  Its a great opportunity for us, but like a lot of people, we have to sell before we can all move…”

Boy, we’ve been to this movie! I really wanted to give some good advice to help these people sell their home, so I spent almost an hour putting together this post.  I want to share it with you because I know there is so much pain out there with people needing to sell their homes fast.

 (My Response)

TJ, I know exactly how you feel. We wanted to avoid this situation when I got relocated which was the impetus for us creating our home sale system.

First of all, I want to commend you for a great website, then I’d like to make a few suggestions that I feel will help you make it more effective. Is that OK?

Here’s what I like about what you are doing:

• You do a great job showing why your home is unique (great pictures, descriptions, etc.)
• You are open and transparent (Disclosure Statement prominently displayed)
• You are a very articulate communicator… even a great storyteller (for instance, your Zillow post about your giant pine tree is fantastic!)
• You have your own descriptive web domain http://1212brownstreet.com… Excellent! Read the rest of this entry »

  Topics: Creative Real Estate, Home Selling Tips, Housing Market News, In The News | 1 Comment »

Once again, our Big, Bad Home Sale was featured in a prominent business publication.  The Austin Business Journal featured a very nice story about us today.  You can read about it at:

http://bigbadhomesale.com/abj

Topics: Big Bad Home Sale Publicity, Creative Real Estate, Home Selling Tips, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

It’s quite a thrill to have a newspaper of the stature of The Wall Street Journal pick up on our success!  Please read the WSJ blog post about the Big Bad Home Sale creative real estate sales techniques and comment on the WSJ site!

Topics: Big Bad Home Sale Publicity, Creative Real Estate, Home Selling Tips, In The News, Internet Marketing Secrets | Give Your Two Cents »

This is a great question that we get asked a lot.  It’s especially relevant today as home values plunge to record lows.

Picture this: Remember when Apple launched the new iPhones this summer and thousands of people waited in line to pay TOP DOLLAR?

Why did they do it?

One of the biggest reasons is because Apple’s marketing is ingenious… 2nd to none.  People were dying to be the first to have an iPhone.

Have you ever seen anybody stand in line for the newest Nokia or LG phone?

Would you rather market your home like Apple or Nokia?  The key to getting TOP DOLLAR for your home is driving lot’s of traffic (i.e. interested buyers) to your home.  If you do it right, you just might start a bidding war!

Now don’t misunderstand us.  We can not and will not promise to get you more money than your home is worth.  Do your job.  Create a BUZZ and attract LOTS of traffic.  The market will tell you how much your home is worth.

Topics: Creative Real Estate, Home Selling Tips, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

Anti-Realtor sentiment is getting high. Many agents who have made a fortune during the real estate bull market just don’t know how to sell your home in this tough market. That’s why creative real estate marketing programs like the Big, Bad Home Sale are so hugely popular right now. Take control of your home sale and make your home stand out from the crowd.

The following article from the LA Times shows how bad it has gotten for Realtors. Even the experts they look up to are telling them to throw in the towel. Here is the article in it’s entirety:

Mogul’s advice to Realtors: Don’t keep your day job

By Peter Y. Hong, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

November 3, 2007

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Creative Real Estate, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

Really folks, there is a better way!  We’ve all heard the crazy superstitions that people use to try to get their home sold.  But doesn’t make more sense to take control of your home sale instead of leaving it to a buried piece of plastic?

Just for kicks, here is the full story from the Wall Street Journal.  You can try the statue, if you like.  But you owe it to yourself to first learn about the “7 Mistakes Most Home Sellers Make”.  (I might need to update the video to 8 mistakes after reading this article!)

When It Takes a Miracle To Sell Your House Owners, Realtors Bury Statues Of St. Joseph to Attract Buyers; Don’t Forget to Dig Him Up
By SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ
October 30, 2007; Page D1

Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Creative Real Estate, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »

Sure the numbers are down.  All the way down to 2005 levels… Yeah, but 2005 was a great year at the time.  The bottom line is: there are some homes selling.

But there are more homes on the market than at any time since 1999.  That means your competition is tough.  You don’t want to have to compete on price.

The trick is making your home stand out from the competition.  Our new FREE video series “7 Mistakes Most Home Sellers Make” teaches you how to put home in a position to sell.

You CAN attract hungry buyers to your home and sell it.  We can show you how.

Now just in case you are one of those people that like to read all the stats, we’ve included the whole article from Yahoo News below:

No end in sight for housing slump
By Ron Scherer
Fri Oct 26, 4:00 AM ET

New York - Home prices are now at 2005 levels.
Read the rest of this entry »

Topics: Creative Real Estate, Housing Market News, In The News | Give Your Two Cents »