Jason Tolley - Atlanta Area Realtor

My First E-mail Newsletter

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:21:54 -0500

My first email newsletter is complete. I'm pretty happy with it. There are a few things I will change for next month but I wanted to get the September issue out. Please feel free to look around on it and leave any pointers or comments on what you think. You can also subscribe to it if you would like. I look forward to reading your feedback on it!

Have a great weekend everyone!

"When I started out in business, I spent a great deal of time researching every detail that might be pertinent to the deal I was interested in making. I still do the same today. People often comment on how quickly I operate, but the reason I can move quickly is that I've done the background work first, which no one usually sees. I prepare myself thoroughly, and then when it is time to move ahead, I am ready to sprint."
~ Donald Trump

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Banking on Curb Appeal, You Just Need It!

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:02:02 -0500

Does Your Home Have Pizzazz?

Preparing Your Home to Sell for the Best Value

Prepared by: Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Of course you want to sell your home quickly and for the best value, but have you taken a look at your curb appeal? Have you stood on your curb and looked at your home to see how it appears to potential buyers? Have you de-personalized your space? After all, remember sometime soon you will be handing over the keys to the new owner. Your home is personal to you and your family but the new potential owner wants to envision their family living in your home. It is time to look at your home through the eyes of the buyer!

Stand on the curb or across the street and take a good look at your home. Does the paint look dingy or dirty? Are there cobwebs on the porch? Is the landscaping colorful and inviting? Can you see your home completely or are there tree branches hanging too low? Can you see your house number completely from the street? These are things you want to consider when looking at your home.

According to Tom Silva, a general contractor on the PBS series This Old House, many people "won't go into a house if it looks bad from the outside. Curb appeal is the beginning of getting people to look at the inside." If the outside of your home looks well maintained, buyers can make the impression that the inside is cared for as well.

Here are some quick and easy tips for improving the exterior of your home:

Keep the lawn mowed and watered. Makes sure plant beds are edged. Re-seed bare areas if needed. Remove weeds.
Add mulch or pine straw to flower or plant beds and around trees. This is very effective and inexpensive.
Clean the windows (the more light entering your home the better)
Shine all metal
Change light bulbs and ensure outdoor lighting is functioning properly
Plant flowers where applicable. Also putting a few pots of brightly colored plants near your entry way can give immediate curb appeal.
Pressure clean your house (depending on the construction of your home), the driveway and the deck to give it a cleaner appearance. If the driveway has a lot of cracks consider re-sealing it.
If it is needed paint the outside of your home (remember to use warm and inviting colors). A new fresh coat of paint is the easiest way to get curb appeal.
Paint the front door if it remotely needs it.
Remove branches especially those hanging too close to the house. (Talk to your realtor - we can always get a few professional estimates for you)
Clean gutters and downspouts and make sure they are functioning properly
Inspect and clean the chimney.
Repair or replace loose or damaged roof shingles, loose siding or caulking
Sweep the porch and stairs and put down a new welcome mat.

Next we move to the inside of the home. When you stand at your front door and look in do you feel welcomed? Do you feel like you want to enter the house? Is the house cluttered and hard to move around? Always keep these questions in mind. Remember, "The way you live in your home is not the way to sell your home," says interior designer Timothy Badgley. A house that is properly staged is more likely to sell faster than a home that is not. You do not need to spend a lot of money or hire a professional. Keep these things in mind and do it yourself:

If the interior paint is dingy consider repainting the walls. Painting gives you the best return for the money spent. Try to stick to neutral colors.
Steam clean the carpet. Any worn, stained or badly smelling carpet should be replaced.
Clean up the clutter: if it is not essential to your everyday life box it up and store it away (after all you are moving you will be one step ahead). If it is something you no longer need consider donating it to Goodwill or another non-profit organization.
Closets: make sure they are clean and organized. You wouldn't want a potential buyer to open a closet and have items fall out on them!
Give the entire home a thorough cleaning: dusting, washing and waxing everything,
Keep furniture to a bare minimum - this will make the traffic flow easier and it also makes the room appear to be larger
If shelves are overcrowded with knick-knacks consider boxing some of them up.
Try to de-personalize as much as possible. I know you love the family pictures but buyers want to envision their pictures, not yours. Take down any religious or political paraphernalia.
Make sure the house smells good by using scents that match the season. Try candles, plug-ins, fresh flowers or other air fresheners. According to Jim Adair in his article in Realty Times, "53% of buyers said strong odors such as a pet and cigarette smells had a stronger impact on their impression of a home than overall tidiness and cleanliness, strong wall colors or an outdated facade and landscaping."
Repair cracks, holes or damages to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint and tiles.

When making minor changes to your home keep your budget as small as possible. A buyer may be pleased about a new roof or a new kitchen; however they are unlikely to pay more for this. "There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room than doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen," says Realtor.com.

Kitchen:

Clean exterior of all appliances. Clean the inside of the oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. (Yes they will look inside!)
Clean or replace the stove hood filter.
Clean cabinet faces and remove all clutter and unnecessary items from the countertops
Clean the backsplashes thoroughly. If you have ceramic tile make sure the grout is clean; if it is discolored there are grout whitening products available.
Put new knobs on the cabinets for a quick and easy face-lift.

Bathroom:

Make sure all bulbs are working (the brighter the better!)
Clean all ceramic tile and grout
If the faucet drips - fix it!
Thoroughly clean sinks and tubs (if there are rust spots try to remove them)
Place fresh towels in the bathroom (especially right before a showing)

Misc Ideas:

If the basement smells musty consider a dehumidifier
Clean the stains on the garage floor and remove the clutter
Replace the furnace filter
Talk to your friends - get their honest opinions about your home

If your home is already vacant consider leaving some furniture behind. According to interior designer Timothy Badgley, "people often mistakenly think that viewing empty properties will give them an accurate sense of the space available, but in fact, it's hard to really understand the size of a room without furniture and other objects as reference points. An empty room allows buyers to focus on negative details instead of getting a sense of the overall space and the flow of each room to the next."

And last but not least consult your Real Estate Agent. They will always be willing to give you advice, help plan changes or get estimates for you!

"A house that sparkles on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally maintained!" (realtor.com)

Resources:

Adair, Jim (March 9, 2006): Appealing to Eyes and Ears of Buyers

Dratch, Dana (April 4, 2007): 14 Ways to Make the Most of Your Curb Appeal

Our Family Place: Preparing Your House

Realtor.com: Get the House Ready

Roberts, Ralph (August 11, 2006): Don't be a Staging Stooge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To view properties for sale visit Backyard Realty Homes for Sale. You can search for listings as well as view our listings. We know the Atlanta Area and will help you with your real estate needs.

Jason Tolley - Real Estate Agent, Property Manager, Community Manager

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Office for Rent in Marietta near the Square

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:48:34 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

707 Whitlock Ave NW C27, Marietta, GA

Beautiful Office for Rent Near Marietta Square

Office

$1,350/month

Sq Footage	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful office for rent in prestigious Whitlock Park Office Park near downtown historic Marietta Square.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Several private offices

Enclosed conference room

Waiting area

Break room

Bathroom

Security system

LOCATION FEATURES

Building management

LEASE TERMS

Monthly rent is $1350. Deposit is $1350 and first and last months rent. Application fee is $50.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

Posted: Oct 13, 2008, 8:54am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Current Listings

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:58:53 -0500

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

3 bedroom 2.5 bath home for Rent near Lake Allatoona in Acworth

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:54:09 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

3982 Abernathy Farm Way, Acworth, GA

Beautiful home in a great neighborhood!

3BR/2.5BA Single Family House

$1,195/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Parking	Unspecified
Pet Policy	Cats, Small dogs (< 25lbs), Dogs (any)
Deposit	$950

DESCRIPTION

This is a renter's dream! The home is located near Lake Allatoona, highway 75 and highway 92. This home features a large kitchen, formal dining area with crown molding and chair railing and a fireplace surrounded by marble. The loft area could be a 4th bedroom or a study/office. The master bathroom has a huge garden tub with separate shower, double vanity and a his/her closet.

Other features: hardwood floors, walk in closets, garden area, irrigation system, professional landscaping and a laundry room.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Air conditioning	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Family room	Office/Den	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard
Cable-ready

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

Playground

Gated property

LEASE TERMS

The home is available November 15th for move-in. Monthly rent is $1295 and the lease is for 1 year. The deposit is $950 and pets are welcome. Tenant pays all utilities except for the Homeowner's Association dues.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

Posted: Sep 18, 2008, 10:15am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Townhome for rent in Dunwoody

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:52:26 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

8550 Hope Mews, Dunwoody, GA

Beautiful Dunwoody Townhome for Rent

2BR/2.5BA Townhouse

$1,350/month

Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	No pets
Deposit	$1,100

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful 2 bedroom 2.5 bath townhome for rent located in the Highlands of Dunwoody. The home features hardwoods throughout the main, a security system, beautiful fireplace, 2 car garage and a low HOA that covers front and rear landscaping.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Air conditioning	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Family room	Living room	Dining room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Basement	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard
Jacuzzi/Whirlpool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

LEASE TERMS

Monthly rent is $1350. Deposit is $1100 and the application fee is $50. Pets are not allowed. Lease must be for a minimum of 12 months.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

Posted: Oct 13, 2008, 8:51am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com

Use me as your FSBO resource!

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:00:36 -0500

If you are selling your home for sale by owner then do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I am here as a resource if you need me!

Have you decided to sell your home on your own, For Sale by Owner (FSBO)? The process of selling your home FSBO can be very empowering and rewarding when resulting in a sale. However it can also be very confusing, time-consuming and stress-inducing. You have to prepare the home to sell, market the home, effectively price the home, negotiate the sale and make sure you are filling out the proper paperwork. It is also important that you hire a real estate attorney, title insurance company, inspector, etc to help with the process. Unfortunately there are drawbacks to selling FSBO such as: incurring legal liability due to paperwork being filled out improperly, receiving a lower sale price due to lack of negotiation or improper pricing or having a hard time finding a buyer. Buyer's agents may not show a home that is not paying full commission.

How can I help?

•If you are up to the task of selling FSBO and need help...please contact me.

•I can help you price your home by providing you with a free Community Market Analysis to help you decide the correct price for your home. (Your home should be priced according to the SOLD price of the homes around you in the last 6 months)

•I can recommend various professionals to help with the process such as real estate attorneys, inspectors, etc.

•I can also give suggestions on how to prepare your home to sell, how to stay within the time restraints after a contract has been expected and how to utilize and fill out essential paperwork.

If you are selling FSBO and have any questions please feel free to use me as a resource!

Jason Tolley
Backyard Realty Group, LLC

www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Beautiful Townhome for sale in Dunwoody, GA

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:33:29 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

8550 Hope Mews, Dunwoody, GA

Dunwoody Townhome with hardwoods and beautiful fireplace. Great location!

2BR/2.5BA Townhouse

offered at $249,900

Year Built	1998
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.25 acres
HOA/Maint	$144 per month

DESCRIPTION

Beautiful Dunwoody Townhome in a great location! Features hardwoods throughout the main, beautiful fireplace and a low HOA that covers front & rear landscaping. Oversized master bedroom with master bedroom (double vanity, whirlpool tub and separate shower).

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Family room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Basement	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Alarm system

Professional Landscaping

Homeowners Association - low HOA

Ceiling Fans

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

For sale by agent/broker

Posted: Aug 7, 2008, 7:40am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

3 bedroom 2 bath home for sale in Kennesaw, GA

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:29:50 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

2030 Smith Drive, Kennesaw, GA

3 bedroom 2 bath Kennesaw Home with large private backyard

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $134,900

Year Built	1986
Sq Footage	1,248
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	Unspecified
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	.75 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

This home has only had one owner who has taken great care of the home as well as added many upgrades. This home is located in the Tara Subdivision in Kennesaw, GA.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Living room	Dishwasher	Stove/Oven
Basement	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard
Swimming pool

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Beautiful sun room with sitting area

New wall to wall carpet

New water heater

Large fenced backyard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

For sale by agent/broker

Posted: Aug 14, 2008, 2:25pm PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Beautiful Office for Sale Near Historic Marietta Square!

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:25:21 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

707 Whitlock Ave NW C27, Marietta, GA

Nice office located in prestigious business park near downtown
Marietta Square!

Office

offered at $219,500

Year Built	1997
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Floors	1
Parking	Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

Great office location. This property features: several private offices, enclosed conference room, waiting area, bathrooms, break room, security system, management and more...

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Several Private Offices

Enclosed Conference Room

Waiting Area

Bathroom

Break Area

LOCATION FEATURES

Located near Marietta Square

Located in Large Business Park

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

For sale by agent/broker

Posted: Aug 7, 2008, 7:40am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

3 acre lot for sale in Canton, GA

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:21:45 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789 , 770-974-7084

495 Ficklen Church Way, Canton, GA

Beautiful 3 acre lot is perfect for your custom built home!

3 acres Vacant Land

offered at $115,500

Lot Size

3 acres

DESCRIPTION

This lot is perfect for your custom built home with a beautiful flowing creek and nice trees!

The land is located in Cherokee county.

see additional photos below

LOCATION FEATURES

Flowing creek

Nice hardwood trees

Partially wooded

Level

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789 , 770-974-7084

For sale by agent/broker

Posted: Aug 7, 2008, 7:40am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Beautiful 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home for Rent in Dallas, GA

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:18:16 -0500

Jason Tolley | Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com | jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com | 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

153 Crescent Woode Way, Dalls, GA

Beautiful 4 bedroom 3.5 bath home for rent in Dallas, GA in a great
neighborhood!

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

$1,295/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Parking	3+ dedicated
Pet Policy	Cats, Small dogs (< 25lbs)
Deposit	$950

DESCRIPTION

A LOT of house for the price! Huge family, dining and living rooms as well as the bedrooms. The master suite is amazing with a his/her walk-in closet, double vanity, garden tub and separate shower. Large indoor laundry room.

This home is located in the Barrett Chase Subdivision in Dallas. The community features a Homeowners Association, club house, swimming pool and large playground.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

Air conditioning	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Family room
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Basement	Washer
Dryer	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio
Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse

Swimming pool(s)

Playground

LEASE TERMS

The tenant pays the gas, electric, garbage, cable, telephone and water. The owner will take care of the association fee. The lease is for 1 year and the home is move-in ready. Deposit is $950. Pets are allowed.

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Renter contact info:

Jason Tolley

Backyard Realty Group, LLC - www.backyardrealty.com

770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

Posted: Aug 7, 2008, 7:37am PDT

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Don't want to sell right now? That's alright, how about renting?

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:02:47 -0500

Right now the market is a Buyers and Renters market. So what if you want to sell your home or what if you need to relocate ASAP for a new job? Sellers are reluctant to put their house on the market right now because statistically homes are selling for far less than in previous years. It's a great advantage for the buyer at the cost of the seller. Many people are giving out good prices just to sell fast because they need to move.

Why give away such a deal when you can financially benefit from renting out your home? The reality of having 2 mortgage payments may seem unreal however it generally gives you more of a financial advantage as opposed to renting somewhere while waiting for your home to sell.

Imagine this:

You have someone renting your original home and their rent covers the mortgage while you are enjoying your new home
You are able to get a tax deduction on the interest payments of your original home that you are renting as well as your new home
You are able to write-off valid and necessary expenses for your rental property such as: property taxes, insurance, maintenance, the management fee, advertising, cleaning, landscaping maintenance...just to name a few.

Of course you should talk to your accountant to make sure the tax breaks will work out best for you, but in most situations the home owner saves more money renting out their original home and living in a new home than they would if they rented a new place while waiting for their old home to sell. Plus with this option you can choose to sell your home when the market is more favorable in a year or two and I can help you determine when the time is right.

Here is an article from the AJC for more information

With your rental property make sure you have a property manager after all, the management fee can be considered a tax write-off. I will help prevent the headaches associated with renting your property. I will find you a tenant and screen that tenant per your instruction, I am on call 24/7 to care for any emergencies that may arise, I will look out for your best interest and treat the home as if it were my own investment and I can help find contractors for a good rate for any services that be needed for your home. Please contact me with any questions you may have and I look forward to managing your property for you!

Jason Tolley - Agent/Property Manager - Backyard Realty Group, LLC - jason_tolley@backyardrealty.com 770-315-0789, 770-974-7084

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC

Virtual Tours: Pictures can make or break a sale!

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck (Backyard Realty Group) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:15:30 -0500

I was playing a bit on MLS looking through various expired listings and I found myself "judging many books by their covers". If I thought the first picture looked pretty bad I clicked on to the next listing. So if our buyers are thinking the same thing...who is going to look at the listing? They say that you get 4 seconds to capture someone's attention before they will move on to something different... which also applies to our listings. If our listing is not appealing then potential buyers are not going to give it the time of day. If our first picture looks bad then they are not going to waste their time reading about the home or looking at the rest of the pictures. It is all about those 4 seconds! We stress to our homeowners that they need to have curb appeal to make sure their home looks appealing when we put it on the market. As a realtor it is our job to then do the same with the listing.

Generally when I have a higher selling house, I hire someone to come in and make a nice video virtual tour to add to the listing. However, I noticed that a lot of agents had virtual tours on houses that were in the 100's - 200's range. So I decided to look into other virtual tour programs that are a little less costly (its not cheap to have someone make you a video!). I found that there are some good sites that allow you to make your own virtual tour for FREE! All you do is upload your photos, write the descriptions and pick your settings. I found a few sites that I like but I have not picked one yet. Has anyone ever used: Property Previews, Virtuallyshow.com, Mapwing, Realtour, or Flyinside? So far these were the sites that I found that looked pretty good. If you have used them, what do you like or dislike about them? If you don't use them, what do you use?

"It's tangible, it's solid, it's beautiful, it's artistic from my standpoint, and I just love real estate."
~ Donald Trump

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To view properties for sale visit Backyard Realty Homes for Sale. You can search for listings as well as view our listings. We know the Atlanta Area and will help you with your real estate needs.

Jason Tolley - Real Estate Agent, Property Manager, Community Manager

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Closers Real Estate Team

Jason Tolley & Jen Schingeck

Backyard Realty Group, LLC