It was easy. I priced the home properly, promoted it and marketed it where it would be seen by not only local agents but by millions of potential home buyers world wide.

That’s how you sell a home in less than 5 days – and not only get multiple offers but also a higher than asking price!

Best of all… It wasn’t a foreclosure or a short sale.

Now that’s how you sell real estate in Panama City, Florida!

If you are trying to sell your home in the Panama City/Panama City Beach, Florida area, ask yourself these questions:

• Has your home been sitting on the market awhile?
• Is your home being marketed properly?
• Is it sitting in the MLS gathering dust waiting for an agent to get a buyer interested?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, than you need to contact me today and I will sell it quickly and for the highest price possible.

This is not rocket science, it is simple marketing and pricing and having the most prolific and full featured website in the area which is visited by thousands of potential buyers.

Panama City Beach homes for sale

Owners, put my technology to work for you. If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City Beach Gulf or Bay front condo for your vacation home, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City Beach condos for sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Homes for sale | Panama City, Florida

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In helping other home sellers understand the marketing methods of real estate agents, I’ve written a new article: Is your home being marketed to sell?

Here is a short excerpt from this latest article for home sellers:

Many agents rely on traditional methods of marketing their listings which no longer have the ” marketing reach” needed to reach buyers who are seriously looking for a new home or condo.

Let’s take a look at some of the traditional marketing methods and discuss the flaws of each…

Traditional selling methods include:

Placing the listing in the local MLS - While still a viable method of marketing a listing, it is by no means the only one that should be employed.

…

If the website of the agent listing your  home is not on page 1, then it is very likely the only way your listing will be seen by potential buyers is through the marketing efforts of one of the sites listed.

Placing an add in the newspaper – The time honored method of listing a home for sale in the newspaper does still reach local potential buyers.

…

In contrast, the number of potential buyers on the internet far exceeds that number because it includes not only local searchers but also international searchers as well such as  relocating buyers (both military and civilian), second home buyers (vacationers), investors (internationally) etc.

Offering open houses - Another honored tradition in real estate is having an open house.  Open houses can and do sometimes sell homes, but usually not your home.

…

The most successful method of marketing homes in today’s real estate market and economy may or may not employ these methods.  However, it does utilize internet marketing techniques as the primary means for marketing.

…

As a home seller, it is vital to the success of selling your home that research not only what the agent “says” they will do, but also how capable their marketing methods are to delivering on the promise to sell your home.

The days of placing a listing in the local MLS as the primary marketing technique is a thing of the past.  Open houses and newspaper advertising are of limited marketing value.

Read the full Is your home being marketed to sell? article and let me know your thoughts.

Sellers, contact me today for my exclusive list: “Seven Mistakes you can’t afford to make when selling your home!”

Panama City Homes for sale

Owners, put my technology to work for you. If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City home or condo, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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Is your piece of real estate a true reflection of you?

If not, consider hiring a gardener or getting help from family and friends to make the changes that are required. A gardener can transform the most jungle-like backyard into a peacefully manicured area of peace and tranquility, sometimes in just a day!

Before hiring a gardener, ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations or contact us at The Panama City Real Estate Team for a referral.

Be prepared to ask the gardener any questions or concerns you may have. You’ll need to decide what you how often you would like service and what you would like included in each visit. Would you like simple weekly mowing and tidiness or are you interested in complete care, with reseeding and fertilizing options? Ask if the gardener has specific ideas for your home and possible improvements.

You’ll also need to alert your gardener as to the property status. Rentals can differ in maintenance fees from other real estate in Panama City, Florida.

Keep in mind that basic maintenance is much different from tending a specialty garden. If you have special needs or desires, make sure you communicate them to your gardener. You should also ask about maintenance costs, special fees or extra yearly or seasonal costs, liability insurance and worker’s compensation coverage.

Pay attention to the work that is done initially and take time to notice periodically the changes occurring in your landscaping. Continue to offer feedback to your gardener and be a part of the process. As the outside of your real estate evolves into a well-kept, beautifully groomed masterpiece, you can be sure it will create the best impression possible, and be an accurate reflection of you. In the end, your home or rental will not only look well-maintained, it will be well-maintained.

About the author: Real Estate Journalist Jennifer M. Miller writes on housing, home organization, and finances. Her upcoming article series explores Real Estate NYC – including NY rentals and NYC real estate.

One of these dangers that recently claimed the life of our own Brenda Rutherford’s beloved dog, Rip, was a nut from a Sago Palm, while the Rutherfords’ were out with Rip.

These ornamental shrub/palms look beautiful alongside drive ways and in potted plants, but pose a serious poison hazard to pets and children.

According to the ASPCA website, symptoms of Sego Palm Nut poisoning include: Vomiting, melena, icterus, increased thirst, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bruising, coagulopathy, liver damage, liver failure, and even death.

These bright red nuts look like a tasty chew toy, and it only takes a minute for a pet to ingest, or a child to put one in their mouth.

If you think your pet has gotten a hold of one of these nuts, please contact the ASPCA’s poison control at (888) 426-4435 (there is a $65 consultation fee) or contact your vet if during regular business hours.

Also pick up whatever it is that your pet was chewing on to bring to the vet’s office with you.

Please keep an eye on your four legged friends and children when out in your yard or visiting at a neighbors, and don’t let them fall victim to these plants, or any other toxins.

Thank you!

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Florida Real Estate | Panama City

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Unless you are an experienced real estate sales person or a licensed real estate agent, selling your home by yourself can be one of the most troublesome experiences you can have.

While I can certainly appreciate the desire to do things on your own, your home is often the most valuable asset you have and the sale of which should not be under taken as if it were a car, stereo or other item.

Here are quick 10 reasons you should use a professional to sell your home and not do it yourself…

1. Experience in the local Market – While the media is full of information which often times is not accurate as it pertains to local market conditions, a local real estate professional knows what sells and what doesn’t.
   • Knowing local market conditions enables professionals to price properties accurately based on comparable sales in the immediate area of your home.
   • Relying on information that may not be accurate or no longer applicable may in fact hurt your ability to sell your home for a very long time.
2. Knowing when to sell – Did you know there are seasonal times of the year that it is best to put your home on the market?  Don’t worry, unless you’re a real estate professional most owners are not aware of this either.
3. Sales Resources - It takes a lot of help to sell a home: Title agents, Financial lenders,  home inspectors, land surveyors and so forth.
   • Real estate professionals work with these other professionals on a daily basis and often times we have them standing by ready to help and get that home sold quickly.
   • Do you also have these resources available at your disposal?
4. Market value – One of the most often occurring mistakes when going it alone is incorrect pricing.
   • Do you know: If you price your home too high you won’t get any serious offers and it will take longer to sell then if you priced it correctly at the beginning?
   • Do you also know that if you price it too low, you may walk away with less money then you could have by using a professional?
   • Here’s an example:  If your neighbor sold their home 3 years ago for $250,000 are you using that as an estimate of value for your home?  3 years ago we had an entirely different market!
5. It’s your home not your house – Most home owners have an emotional attachment to their home.  Do you?
   • Selling any thing to which you have an emotional attachment can jeopardize your negotiation position.
   • Using a professional removes the emotional attachment from the negotiation process and places you in a stronger negotiating position.
6. Preparing the home – Since you have an emotional attachment to your home it is often unprepared for the local sales market.
   • Minor repairs such as painting, removing personal items from view etc. go along way to preparing a home for sale.
   • Do you know how to prepare your home for sale?
   • Is it the best valued home when compared to other comparable homes in the local market?
7. Advertising and marketing – This is one of the most important aspects of selling a home.
   • Simply placing a sign in the yard and periodically placing an ad in the local newspaper is simply not enough advertising.
   • Newspaper advertising and sign placement reaches a very few potential buyers.
   • My Panama City Real Estate website however, is visited by potential buyers world wide and is the most prolific source of advertising for your property.
   • Advertising and marketing a property can get very expensive.
   • If you go it alone, do you have the financial resources to market and advertise effectively?
   • Are you prepared to deduct the costs of the advertising from the profit you hope to gain on the sale of your home?
8. Savings over costs – People sell their homes for various reasons: relocating to another area for school or job etc. as well as other life changes.
   • If you have to sell your home and purchase another, are you prepared to pay for 2 mortgages while you wait to sell your existing home?
   • Can you delay your move while you wait for your home to sell?
   • Using my team of experts to sell your home not only permits a higher priced sale, but also a more expedient sale to get you started on your new life.
9. Qualifying buyers - when showing your home to potential buyers, are you certain they are qualified to purchase your home or are they just “Lookie loos”?
   • When my Panama City real estate team and I bring a buyer to view a home, you can be certain that buyer is not only capable of buying the home financially, but also is ready, able and willing to buy today!
10. Don’t want to pay the agents commission – This one item is often the most stated reason for wanting to sell your home by yourself.
    • Most interesting is that using a real estate professional will often net you more than selling it yourself which often more than covers the agents commission.
    • Can you really afford to go it alone in what you believe will save you a few dollars?

When potential buyers notice a “For sale by Owner” sign at a house, they often view the house as an opportunity to make low offers to purchase just as they would at a garage sale or flea market.

Do you want your home to be thought of as a “garage sale” special?

Why go it alone when you have a professional team of real estate agents right here to work for you?

Using my team of professionals to sell your home will:

• Net you the highest amount possible for your home
• Sell your home in the shortest amount of time possible
• Provide marketing and advertising exposure to potential buyers world wide
• Provide you access to all the qualified professionals needed to make your home sale an easy, cost effective transaction.

So, what are you waiting for?

Owners, put my team to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report.

Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a Panama City Beach Gulf or Bay front condo for your vacation home, contact me directly (850) 774-6582 for the latest information and pricing on any of the Panama City homes sale.

Jennifer Mackay
850-774-6582
Panama City Real Estate | Florida

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As I posted recently, and many of you have requested… The newest and most advanced property management service is now live: Panama City Rentals.

This new website and service will provide area residents with the finest most advanced property management services available.

Complete with free online rental searches, online tenant application and screening, 24 hour owner report access andmuch more, Best Panama City Rentals is now live and open for business.

For renters:

Sign up for the new and exclusive service: “Find me a home“.  This unique service saves you time and money when searching for a new home.  Simply sign up and one of our property managers will contact you with full details regarding this exciting new program.  Only view rentals that match your criteria and in your price range!

For owners:

Our pre-qualified tenants are ready to move in to your property.  Sign up now for our full service Panama City property management program or our tenant placement program and get your property rented now!

For Agents:

Our unique Broker/Agent service guarantees your customers remain your customers.  We offer competitive commissions on all owner and tenant referrals and you get to keep your customer.

Find out more about Best Panama City Rentals, LLC services and quality programs by contacting Barbrann Conley directly (850) 532-7799 today.