For Sale By Owner...Really?

A few years ago, a fellow Realtor® bought a new car and instead of trading in her old car, she decided she would sell it herself. After all, she was a professional salesperson, how hard could it be? And, she could make more money that way...

Well, she went to the hardware store and bought the little "red and black" signs that would tell the world that her car is "for sale". She called the newspaper and placed the ads - of course she paid extra for the heavy borders, "New Listing" headings, and bold type. She put her phone number on the signs and taped them to her car windows. In 2010, she would have surely put an ad on Craig's List.

She was ready to pocket her pending financial windfall. After all, why should the dealer make all that extra money anyway. Anyone can sell a car and she knew that car better than anyone. Right?

If you have ever tried to sell a used car, you know what followed. Her life became selling that car. She soon was talking to everyone who ever thought they might want a car like hers (and many who just needed to be entertained). Most of the calls were from nice folks. But, those little signs and those bold ads do produce, they are like magnets in the world of crazy. There really are "tire kickers" out there, people who will look at and test drive lots of cars but seldom buy.

Some of the "not so nice" folks felt it was their obligation to see the car, drive the car, point out every flaw, educate her on the "current market", and basically tell her that she was crazy (a point she soon began to agree was right.) For some reason a few felt that they needed to point out to her that they had CASH! Somehow they felt that their cash was better than the dollars another person could bring from their bank or credit union. Therefore, she should take less because they had CASH.

Soon, she began to hate that car and wished she had left it with the dealer when she had the chance. Then in reflection one day the Realtor® in her came out, and she asked, "Why would anyone ever try to sell their own home?"

Selling your own home is much like selling a car, but with a lot more at stake. You do open your life to the world. The process can consume your life, because your are emotionally invested in your home. And, you have basically taken on a new full-time job. The longer the process takes, the more desperation sets in and the less firm you become in your resolve. And you begin to wonder about the safety of your family and yourself as you continue to allow strangers into your home and your life. You also realize some of these "buyers" are almost professional at negotiating. Also, everyone wants a good deal for themselves - not you.

Good Realtors® know how to deal with the different aspects of society, that is what we do everyday. We work to know the people we bring into your home. If we are smart, we only bring you qualified buyers, we don't introduce "tire kickers" into your home and your life. We recognize these characters and we don't waste your time or ours.

Our goal should always be to serve you, allow you to continue to live your life, and help you achieve a happy sale of your home. We are the buffer between you and them. We negotiate for a living and we do it on your behalf. We know what your home is really worth and we tell you, plus we tell the buyer when he wants to "steal" your equity.

If you are considering selling your home as a do-it-yourself project, all I can say is "For Sale by Owner...Really?"

I am in the market full-time, everyday, if you want to talk further then just contact me. Or, just give me a call at (423) 847-8001, just ask for Raymond.

Raymond Warren named HUD Listing Broker for PEMCO

PEMCO, Ltd. a contractor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has named Raymond Warren, SFR of Upward Realty.com in Hixson, TN as a Local Listing Broker (LLB) for eleven counties in Southeast Tennessee.

Mr. Warren and UpwardRealty.com will be a listing agent for HUD acquired homes in the Counties of Van Buren, Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn, Bradley, Polk, Monroe, Roane, Hamilton, and Marion in Tennessee. As an approved listing broker for this region, UpwardRealty.com will be responsible for marketing HUD homes in this area. The local brokerage will also be a resource for buyers interested in purchasing one of these homes. Selling agents interested in selling HUD homes will also be able to use Mr. Warren and his office as a resource for questions about these homes as well as the purchase process.

"We are excited about this opportunity to be a local resource for homebuyers and selling agents in the Greater Chattanooga Area and throughout Southeast Tennessee." stated Mr. Warren. "Our commitment to PEMCO includes not only the marketing of HUD acquired properties, but also conducting training for both interested homebuyers and sales training for licensed real estate agents throughout the region." Classes are expected to begin in the last quarter of this year. Information about the classes will be regularly posted on the company website (

Hixson & Chattanooga, TN Real Estate For Sale - Tax Credit Reminder - April 30th is coming --- SOON!

If you are remotely considering buying a home in the next year, or even two years, can you use an extra $6,500 to $8,000 to sweeten the deal? If so, you need to revise your time table --- Say like RIGHT NOW!

At present our Federal government is making you a limited time offer. How's this? Agree to a binding home purchase by April 30, 2010 and then close the sale by June 30, 2010 and you might just get the money for asking.

Here is the deal, you can get up to 10% of the purchase price as a tax refund check from the IRS. For a first-time homebuyer the max is $8000 and for a move-up buyer the max is still a nice $6,500. What can you do with that?

We are now in the countdown to April 30th and it looks like this may not be extended again... so lets get busy. Take a few minutes now and read the limits and guidelines, I'll even link you to a good site with a click right here. Just promise to come back.

Are you now ready? We can help make it happen at UpwardRealty.com, give us a call now at 423-847-8001. Or pick an agent from our experienced sales team and contact them today.

Pat Branham Earns NAR Short Sales and Foreclosure Certification

Buyers and Sellers Benefit from REALTOR® Expertise in Distressed Sales

Chattanooga/Hixson, TN - Pat Branham with UpwardRealty.com has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.

For more information about Upward Realty.com, 6726 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, please call 423-847-8001. You can also contact Pat Branham by calling 423-304-5597.

Michael Bishop Earns SFR Designation

Short Sale and Foreclosure Specialist

Chattanooga/Hixson, Tennessee (Grassroots Newswire) April 4, 2010 -- Michael Bishop, an affiliate broker with Upward Realty.com, has earned the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification (SFR) from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). NAR’s SFR certification is the only one of its kind that focuses on both the buyer and seller sides of distressed property transactions.


Michael has completed both in-class and on-line training in serving the Short Sale and Foreclosure markets. His training included directing sellers to finance, tax, and legal professions, qualifying sellers for Short Sales, developing Short Sale packages. He received training in listing Short Sale and Foreclosure properties and negotiating with lenders. He also has received training in working with distressed property buyers.

For more information about UpwardRealty.com, 6726 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, please call 423-847-8001. You can also contact Michael Bishop by calling 423-991-9085.