Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate for Sale - Bill Duffey

Remax Excalibur Scottsdale, Arizona 480-585-2904

Google Voice Virtual Office (480) 818-5101

Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate for Sale - Bill Duffey

Remax Excalibur Scottsdale, Arizona 480-585-2904

Google Voice Virtual Office (480) 818-5101

Scottsdale Arizona Real Estate for Sale - Bill Duffey

Remax Excalibur Scottsdale, Arizona 480-585-2904

Google Voice Virtual Office (480) 818-5101

SELLING YOUR HOME

I have several plans to choose from!

The Residential Purchase Contract explained in detail:

click here> http://www.aaronline.com/News/ARDonline/RPC_ARD_Insert.pdf

By Arizona law, your Arizona Realtor writes the sales and listing contracts!

The only other licensed professional in Arizona that is allowed to do so, is an attorney.

SEE MY "Moving Coach" Program - below.

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This is how "you" see your home.

This is how the "Appraiser" sees your home! In the end, no matter what the contract price - the Appraiser will set the "sales" price!

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Simple - Just "click here" and I will tell you what your home is worth!

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I have over 20 years of business experience and I use all of them to ensure that your home sale moves along smoothly.

For more general information, click on the link below:

click here> (the buying and selling processes)

I operate several web pages and do my own web advertisements. I also advertise, weekly, in the Arizona Republic. Why? Because those forms of advertising work! See Graph.

Phoenix, Arizona

***************The facts************** Why use a Realtor?

First, the real estate industry adapted to the Information Age and changed the way we work to meet consumers� needs. That�s why studies have consistently shown that home buyers who use the Internet to search for a home are more likely to work with a professional than those who don�t. The industry also spawned new business models and gave consumers more choices in how they work with professionals.

Second, what real estate agents do is very different from travel agents or securities brokers. Every piece of real estate is unique, the transaction process is complex and, if you will excuse me for pointing out the obvious, real estate is the original bricks and mortar business.

Finally, the plain fact is that hiring a professional pays off. The typical home represented by a professional last year sold for 16 percent more than those sold without a professional�s help. That profit more than pays for the agent�s commission. Millions of homeowners know it, and that�s why they will continue to call on experienced real estate professionals.

Thomas M. Stevens CRB CRS GRI
2006 President,
National Association of REALTORS�

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Who sells your home?

REALTOR� Contact 40%

nFor Sale Sign 20%

nResponded to Ad 18%

nResponded to Open House 8%

nReferral by Relocation Service 7%

nBought Advertised Property 3%

nBought for Combination of Reasons 3%

nBought Open House They Saw 1%

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Top 10 Ways Sellers can guarantee that their home will not sell:

1. Be casual, not really serious about selling your home.
A sage once quipped, "Money is only important when you don't want something enough." Real estate expert R.L. Brown said that if half of the 58,000 Sellers in Maricopa County removed their for-sale signs we'd be at normal inventory levels. Actions speak louder than words in this market. Discretionary Sellers should wait for a less competitive market environment.

2. Price it wrong.
A home properly priced is half sold. No amount of full-color ads, glossy fliers, multiple photos, virtual tours, Agent luncheons, Goodyear blimps or pom-pom girls will compensate for a wrong, timid retail price. The �wrong� price, in any market, is still the wrong price! Don�t get greedy! Take a �fair� profit and move on!

3. Ignore your Agent.
Attorneys believe if you represent yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don't self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Even though many people believe they're experts on raising kids and real estate, full-time, career pros usually know what's best. Listen to your Agent very carefully.

4. Micro-manage the marketing.
If you sold cookware in college, carts in California, or carpeting in Cranston, it does not qualify you to second-guess your Agent. If you ever had a real estate license, years ago, save your stories about the "good old days" for your children. You can share your concerns and timelines, but leave the details to your Realtor!

5. Reject staging suggestions.
Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will come back. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, lots of personal photos, trinkets and Elvis paintings on black velvet need to go. Listen to your Agent!

6. Let Fido (your animals/pets) loose.
I recently entered a house and had two frisky, friendly black Labs run up to sniff me. Unfortunately, I had light-gray dress slacks on that day. Both wet stains lasted for hours. Until that day I didn't realize dogs enjoyed chewing the tassels on expensive loafers. Hide or properly secure your pets! Out-of-sight is out-of-mind, including pet accessories!

7. Talk to the Buyers � never!
Life gets lonely at times. Why not ask the buyers where they grew up? Or, how much they will qualify for? Tell them about the vacant rental next door. Maybe they could babysit next weekend! Why not share war stories, horror movies or meatloaf recipes? Never chat with prospective Buyers! You will always share too much information. Buyers are not looking for new friends; they are looking for a home. They have zero interest in you or your family!

8. Sell personal items.
Wow, maybe the buyers want to buy the patio furniture or rotary lawnmower. You have only four more boxes of Girl Scout cookies to sell. Why not ask for a donation for the March of Dimes, the Humane Society or the local PBS station? Remember the saying, "loose lips sink ships."

9. Discount that smell.
My house doesn't smell of pets, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, coconut incense, cigars, manure, mulch, dairy farms or low tide. The buyer must be confusing �my castle� with that tract home. If your Agents smell something � others will, as well. You are used to your odors � others are not. Tip: Place some vanilla extract in a dish and place it in the kitchen � hidden. Folks love the smell or the smell of a new home! Use an odor eliminator (unscented).

10. Dismiss feedback.
What do buyers know anyway? They can't possibly mind my barbed wire fence, heavy-duty rebar, backyard bomb shelter, airport runway views, lights from the power plant, hum from the high-voltage lines, railroad tremors, scorpion skeletons, termite mud tubes and pet snakes. What are they thinking? Pay special attention to all feedback! Remember, Buyers have seen more homes on the market than you have and know your competition. The Buyer is always right!

PS: Remember � 9 times out of 10, the first offer will be your �best� offer! The longer you hold your property, the more you will be paying for it! You do have �carrying costs�!

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Arizona Law

In Arizona, your Realtor writes the sales and listing contracts... this is no time for mistakes. My business experience and contact writing ability assures you of the best representation. I know how to market your home locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. I have a proven record.

These services are above, and beyond, anything that RE/MAX does. The RE/MAX programs, alone, reach over 120,000 agents throughout the world (in 65 countries).

Several Marketing Plans to choose from! Contact me today for complete plan details!

MARKETING Plans to choose from
MLS beveled system marketing
Re/Max Agent home tour
Realtor Area MLS Tours
Zip code Agents Tour
Professionally photographed literature and brochures
Marketing to the other Real Estate offices throughout the Valley!
Direct Marketing to all of the Realtors in the area!

I advertise in the following periodicals (depends on the PLAN):

Homes and Land (seasonal)
Phoenix Homes & Garden (>$2m)
Arizona Republic Re/Max Large Display Ads
Arizona Republic Hot Properties
Desert Vista's
Sonoran News & Desert Advocate (location dependant)
MLS - Multiple Listing Service
All professionally printed brochures with professional photography
Professional videography - virtual tours
Agent created digital photo archive of every room in your home

I also advertise using the following:

RE/MAX national
Re/Max International web sites
My website at www. billduffey. com
MSN Home Advisor web site
Google Real Estate
Yahoo Real Estate
Property signage (where allowed) with brochure box
Internet Virtual Tours
Digital still photos of every room
Classified Ads .com
MSN Home Advisor homes for sale
Arizona Republic web site
Mailings to all other area Real Estate agents
Mailing to property owners in the area
Mailings to other Real Estate companies
Craig's list
Numerous other web sites

Several of my own web sites

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Why use a Realtor? 76 Things that can go wrong in a real estate transaction and counting..

There is almost an endless list of problems that must be navigated in a real estate transaction.

1-      The loan is denied
2-  The appraisal is too low.
3-  The Seller changes their mind to sell.
4-  The Buyer changes their mind to buy.
5-  The Buyer's employment changes.
6-  The Buyer's credit changes.
7-  Property cannot be conveyed by Seller.
8-  There are mechanics liens on the property.
9-  There are property encroachments.
10-  New easements are discovered.
11-  The CC& R's are not agreeable.
12-  The Home Owner�s Association documents are not acceptable.
13-  The Buyer�s renting history is not long enough to qualify for a loan.
14-  The down payment amount cannot be reached.
15-  The Seller cannot find a new property.
16-  The Mortgage company �Underwriter� pulls the loan.
17-  Final loan contingencies cannot be met.
18-  The Seller dies.
19-  The Buyer dies.
20-  Probate has not cleared.
21-  The money wire fails to arrive.
22-  Social Security numbers don't match and clear.
23-  'Notice of Interest' found on the title.
24-  Seller can't be found or the Buyer can not be found. It happens.
25-  Home has sold once before, in past 90 days (FHA properties).
26-  Property Tax ID is incorrect. Tax info is not correct.
27-  Buyer cannot obtain insurance for the property.
28-  RADON gas is found.
29-  Toxins found on the property.
30-  Corrections to the SPDS must be made.
31-  Seller concession is disallowed.
32-  Principal broker dies.
33-  Seller has tenants.
34-  Conflict in Buyer's current lease.
35-  Loan program changes in mid-contract.
36-  Water soluble soils found.
37-  Spring found on property.
38-  Property is below flood level.
39-  Property description is not valid.
40-  Unrecorded easement dispute.
41-  Property line dispute.
42-  Possession dispute.
43-  The Buyer declared incompetent.
44-  The Seller declared incompetent.
45-  Buyer is not going to occupy the property and the loan fails.
46-  Capital Gains tax changes sale contingencies.
47-  Government condemns or seizes the property.
48-  Buyers must sell their home before purchasing.
49-  Seller owes more than purchase price and a very lengthy �short sale� process ensues.
50-  Buyer's down payment is garnished.
51-  The property inspection uncovers problems.
52-  Seller takes out bankruptcy during the contract.
53-  Compactable soils found. Contamination found.
54-  Loan is late.
55-  Appraisal is late.
56-  Money for down payment is outside the country.
57-  The Lender demands repairs to the property.
58-  Buyer's 'proof of funds' do not clear.
59-  Buyer's employment verification does not clear.
60-  Tax lien encumbers the title.
61-  Water rights are in dispute.
62-  Seller removes 'real property' from the site.
63-  Seller's employment transfer to another state, reverses.
64-  FHA requires repairs (FHA only).
65-  Underwriter leaves on vacation. Mortgage person quits or leaves.
66-  The home is damaged, while under contract.
67-  Buyer changes employers and affects the �qualification�.
68-  Buyer increases debt while under contract and is disqualified.
69-  Buyer's cash funds are not 'seasoned'.
70-  Sale fails on 'chain reaction' of sales.
71-  A person or family member on title cannot be found.
72-  Title must reflect divorce decree.
73-  Buyer 'credit lines' are too short.
74-  Adverse possession rights are found.
75-  Subsurface fissures are found.
76-  No agent on other side.

JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG!

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HOME STAGING - DO IT! I have the consultants and vendors to do it right!

STAGING Q&As

1. What�s the value of staging?

A well-staged room invites buyers in and helps them see past the sellers� possessions to the layout and square footage. Staging also helps draw buyers� eyes to the best feature of the room, such as French doors or a fireplace.

Staged homes sell faster and for more money, says professional stager Kala Callahan of Addressed to Sell in Wilmette, Ill. A 2003 Home survey of 2,000 practitioners found that staging could increase the sales price by $2,275 to $2,841; cleaning and de-cluttering could add $2,093 to $2,378 to the final price. And a 2004�2005 survey of home owners by training company StagedHomes.com found that staged homes sold for 6.9 percent more than homes that were not staged.

2. What does it cost to stage a house?

Staging an average-sized home can be accomplished for about $500 to $1,000 or more, depending on the extent of the work (painting, carpeting, accessories, labor) involved, say staging pros and practitioners...Furniture rental could add more to the bottom line. Some items, like re-carpeting, etc. can be deferred until Closing.

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1-800-GOT-JUNK? Will Stash Your Trash in a Flash

Clutter can get in the way of a transaction.

It's hard to stage a listing if there's junk - affectionately known as clutter - piled floor to ceiling, filling up a yard or gagging an otherwise wide-open basement.

Or maybe you're looking for a way to give your sellers a continued level of service after a sale. Helping them clean up and remove all the leftovers before they hand over the keys just might bring you referrals for years to come.

But what to do with the junk?

This is where 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a RE/MAX Approved Supplier, can help.

Since its founding in 1989, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has grown to more than 300 franchises and 800 trucks in four countries.

Franchises strive to employ drivers who maintain a high level of service by calling customers in advance of a pickup, arriving on schedule and cleaning a site once the trash is removed.

Approximately 60 percent of all junk removed is either recycled or donated to thrift stores, nonprofit housing or educational programs.

For more information:
1-800-Got-Junk
www.1800gotjunk.com

< store your trinkets....etc. Click here for a special deal!

PS> I never accept any kickbacks from any vendor....period.

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RESPA - Real Estate
Settlement Procedures Act <click here

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Betty Beard
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 12, 2006

Real estate agents say sellers need all the help they can get in a competitive market where the average time to sell a home is now 90 days. In a standard transaction, full service costs 6 percent.

The National Association of Realtors says that regardless of whether it's a sellers' market or a buyers' market, about 85 percent of sellers use real estate agents. A survey of 7,800 buyers and sellers taken last year found that only 13 percent did not use an agent, said Walter Molony, a spokesman for the NAR. That percentage has held up for years, varying only a few percentage points every year.

"We think the reason is the increasing complexity of the transactions and the time involved," Molony said. Real estate has become more complex because sellers have to disclose more, such as environmental conditions.

Sellers also worry about having strangers come to their homes. "If you use an agent, they (potential buyers) are prescreened," Molony said.

Sellers acting on their own also may be uncomfortable negotiating, said Ron LaMee, vice president of information services for the Arizona Association of Realtors.

"Do you want to mess with it? Do you have the expertise? Do you have the ability to negotiate hard bargains?" he asked.

They also said experienced real estate agents can give sellers tips that will help them sell their homes faster and for more money. "You need an objective eye to look through the house and recommend cosmetic changes," Molony said.

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Daily Real Estate News | January 8, 2007

Empty Houses Lead to Lower Prices
With spring right around the corner, many housing industry experts are hoping the real estate market will see some noticeable improvements.

However, there is one snag that can potentially keep prices down � the large number of vacant homes for sale and rent.

In the third quarter of 2006, there were 5.7 million vacant housing units, accounting for a record 4.6 percent of all U.S. homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The average in the 1990s was about 3.5 percent. To get this ratio back to normal, 1.3 million vacant homes would need to be occupied.

Lots of empty homes push home prices downward, says analyst Ivy Zelman of Credit Suisse. Owners of unrented, unsold homes must pay for insurance, lawn service, taxes and, often, a mortgage.

Seeing those costs pile up can motivate an owner to sell or rent at much lower prices. When a house sells at a lower price, other would-be buyers expect lower prices as well.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Justin Lahart (01/08/07)

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RE/MAX Moving Coach Program

THE MOVING COACH� for My Clients (free)

The Moving Coach� is the premier destination for RE/MAX customers who are moving their household goods. This unique program is designed to help make your move a great success!

Moving can be complicated and time consuming. The Moving Coach helps solve this dilemma by providing them with a free, innovative, reliable, one-stop solution around making a move.

By harnessing strategic relationships with the nation's leading van lines, the Moving Coach helps them identify, communicate, and contract with the top moving companies. This service saves time and money through volume-based contracts with rates and services not typically available to the general public. Best of all, they will be assigned their own moving coach. The Moving Coach will act as their advocate throughout the entire process!

I do not receive any compensation from them.

Benefits include:

Free multiple estimates

Personalized review of estimates

Guidance throughout the entire moving process.

Automatic VIP Status

Discounted tariff rates more than 50%

FREE valuation (protection) up to $75,000

No peak season rate increase

And much more!

Tips on selling your home: For Sale by Owner?

This can be a very dangerous business!

Roughly One Realtor, per month, is killed on the job!

The Real Estate Safety Council, a nonprofit dedicated to improving safety in the workplace, reported that nationally 21 real estate agents were murdered while on the job in 2000.

A total of 206 agents died as a result of violent assaults from 1982 through 2000.

NORTHEAST FLORIDA -- Realtor Carney Kirtley knows what it's like to worry about safety when showing an empty house to a potential buyer.

Several years ago, a man locked the door behind them as they entered alone. Kirtley left. Another time, the sellers returned home to discover a visitor had stolen drugs from the medicine cabinet during an open house.

TWO HUNDRED ESTATE AGENTS MURDERED IN US IN THE PAST DECADE <link
Firstrung - London,UK

***************local **********

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is looking for a man who attacked and sexually assaulted a real estate agent last month while she was showing a home on the Northeast Side.

The assault occurred Dec. 26, 2006 at about 4 p.m. when a man who had made an appointment to see the residence showed up and attacked the woman, said Deputy Dawn Barkman, a sheriff's spokeswoman.

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Area Convicted Murder Loses Appeal

Posted: 3:08 PM Jun 28, 2007
Last Updated: 3:13 PM Jun 28, 2007

Florida's Supreme Court says Walton County killer Jesse Gaurdado should stay on death row.

Needing money to continue his cocaine binge and repair his truck, the career criminal murdered and robbed 75-year-old Jackie Malone in South Walton.

The murder happened at Malones home in September of 2004 as Hurricane Ivan was approaching northwest Florida.

Malone, a popular realtor and community activist, had befriended Guardado and helped him get a job after he was released from prison.

Guardado pleaded guilty to the murder, admitting he beat Malone on the head with a steel breaker bar. He then stabbed her several times, including once in the heart and cut her throat.

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Daily Real Estate News | May 29, 2007

Practitioner Found Dead at House Trying to Sell
The body of a real estate practitioner was found shot to death in the basement of a Bowie, Md., home he was trying to sell, the Prince George County Police reported.

A builder who came to the house to inspect remodeling work found Samuel D�Costa in the basement with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. D�Costa was an associate with RE/MAX Sails Inc., in Berwyn Heights, Md.

Family members said his wife last saw him on Wednesday when he rushed out the door, saying he had a lead on an interested buyer for the home.

"He usually tells [his wife] exactly where he's going, when he's going to be back, but he was in such a hurry that day, he didn't tell her much about where he was going to be," his sister-in-law Anna Quiah said.

Police say they have no suspects at this point. Police also found the charred remains of D'Costa's car less than four miles away from the home.

Source: Baltimore Sun, Madison Park and Ruma Kumar (05/27/07)

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****** If you thought selling real estate was without risk ***********

Realtor Murder Case Goes to Trial

Reported By: Jon Shirek

Last Modified: 9/17/2007 11:32:15 PM

A jury of nine women and three men was chosen Monday, and testimony will begin Tuesday, in the trial of the suspect in the so-called model home murders that occurred nearly four years ago in Powder Springs.

Stacey Ian Humphreys faces the death penalty if convicted of killing real estate agents Lori Brown, 21, and Cynthia Williams, 33, on November 3, 2003.

Judge Robinson moved the trial far from Cobb County, to the town of Brunswick in Glynn County, in southeast Georgia, at the request of the defense, in order to have a better chance of finding jurors who have never heard about the case.

The women's violent deaths, and the search for Humphreys, frightened residents of the subdivision and nearby neighborhoods, and frightened real estate agents across the state.

*************** Also *********************

Victim of alleged rape helps police arrest attacker
San Jose Mercury News - CA, USA
By Rachel Cohen A 47-year-old real estate agent's quick thinking saved her life and led to an arrest soon after she was allegedly raped by a prospective ...
See all stories on this topic

Realtor Helps Cops Catch Rape Suspect
San Leandro Times - CA, United States
By : Amy Sylvestri : 8/29/07 The woman, a 47-year-old realtor, was showing a house in unincorporated Alameda County on August 16 when Howard Moore, 24, ...
See all stories on this topic

Victim has alleged rapist arrested in coffee-shop sting
San Diego Union Tribune - United States
Howard Moore, 24, of San Leandro allegedly choked, robbed and raped a 47-year-old real estate agent in suburban San Francisco on Aug. ...
See all stories on this topic

Man found guilty of raping real estate agent
9NEWS.com - Denver,CO,USA
When she arrived, prosecutors say Bradshaw robbed her, raped her and held her against her will. The Weld County District Attorney's office has also filed ...
See all stories on this topic

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Over 10% of ALL properties put for sale are "For Sale By Owner" or FSBO's as we call them!

BUT fewer than 13% of those FSBO's will actually sell "by the owner"!

Over 87% of all FSBO's will end up selling through Realtors�

80% of all Buyers are searching the Internet and Realtor� sites.

Source: NAR's Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report

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CLOSING COSTS - Watch this one.

For example purposes only:

On roughly a $1m home it could be about 1/2 of 1 percent.

It is subject to a whole list of items that can dramatically

increase this rough "rule of thumb"! Always ask for the preliminary

closing statement, as soon as you can, to determine your net. Your home,

Homeowner's Association, prorated taxes, golf memberships, etc. can dramatically

affect this closing costs.

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Short Sales - If you owe more than your home will likely sell for - CALL ME!

There are a number of things you will have to do with your lender to sell your home.

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This article was published on: 09/01/2006

Show off the details
Spruce Up an Open House

Use these quick and easy tips to ensure that potential buyers appreciate a home's finer details from the moment they walk through the door.

BY LESLIE BANKER

When potential buyers look at a property, their eyes should be glued to the architectural highlights that lend to the home�s character: the crown molding, the built-in cabinets, the lavish fireplace, the open floor plan.

But if your sellers didn�t get a head start on cleaning and packing, there�s a chance buyers will instead focus on the cluttered shelves, the old family photos, or the less-than-sparkling windows.

When a listing needs some sprucing up, it takes diplomacy and a delicate touch to make suggestions to sellers and to provide solutions. It might seem awkward to ask clients to tidy up their house, yet some simple improvements might be the difference between a home that sells quickly and one that languishes on the market.

Here are few key points for making a home�s finest details stand out:

Start with the entryway. What is your first impression as you approach the house and open the front door? The lawn should look well tended and the landscaping cared for. Exterior architectural features, such as columns or a front porch, should be on display � not hidden behind overgrown shrubs. Garden tools and lawn ornaments should be tidied up or removed altogether.

Tackle the clutter issue. You�ve undoubtedly heard this advice before, but that�s because it�s so important: Sellers will have to deal with clutter sooner or later, so they ought to do it sooner, before potential buyers have already come and gone. Clutter detracts from the home and should be packed up or thrown away. Pay special attention to the kitchen, where prospective buyers are sure to spend much of their time.

Shine doorknobs, handrails, and more. Add a layer of sparkle in each room and the hallways by polishing the doorknobs, handrails, hinges, vents, and lighting fixtures � especially if you want to draw attention to vintage features or unique details that make the home stand out from the rest. Clean the molding and baseboards, too.

Show off the windows. Those bay windows can be a major selling point � if they�re clean, that is. A good cleaning (don't forget the screens!) will help to highlight the style of the windows, bring in natural light, and draw attention to great views. Pull the curtains back so potential buyers can appreciate the full shape of each window.

Accentuate closet space. In older homes, small closets are a common challenge. They�ll look bigger if they�re organized and not stuffed to the gills. A buyer should be able to look into a closet and be able to visualize placing his or her belongings into it. Box up non-essential items and store them in a rented storage space, an attic, a basement or a garage. A closet will look much more organized if, instead of a tangle of wire hangers, you use matching plastic or wooden hangers.

Pack the personal items. Family photographs, children's artwork, and religious or ethnic decorations make it difficult for potential buyers to see the space as their own. Ask the sellers to move their personal items out of sight. Potential buyers also don�t need to see the seller�s prescription medications, toothbrush, or socks hanging out to dry.

Conquer stale smells. While a seller might not think twice about, or even notice, the smell of cigarette smoke, a kitty litter box, or dogs, a potential buyer is sure to be turned off. This can be a delicate issue, but it�s necessary to address. Ask the seller to keep odors to a minimum by smoking outside, paying more attention to the kitty litter, or generally being aware of the issue.

Beyond these tips, there are some other things that you can do to enhance home showings. Place a vase of fresh-cut flowers in rooms that you want buyers to linger longer. On the kitchen table, a big bowl of fresh fruit such as apples, lemons, and limes makes a wonderful centerpiece. And use lighting to enhance special details, such as the marble kitchen counters or high ceilings.

If you feel that you need extra help to prepare a home for sale, you can contact professional stagers in your area, who can provide a range of services to home owners. Some real estate practitioners offer staging as part of their commission, while others refer sellers to a few stagers they�ve met and feel comfortable working with.

As you know, first impressions are a big deal in real estate. A home with great architectural details should be able to sell itself. Make sure that distractions that could deter buyer interest are eliminated so that it�s easy for potential buyers to say, �This is the one for me.�

****************************** Pet and Smoke Smells **************

Odor buster at www.odor-buster.com can be used. Also a product called 'Zero Odor' is another product that is often used.

Change the furnace filter, have the duct work cleaned, clean the carpets & drapes, wash and/or paint the ceilings & walls, use Febreeze etc? One professional home stager recommends that you purchase charcoal and leave several pieces in each room as it's an odor absorber. So is baking soda and vinegar. But, cleaning will by far eliminate the majority of the odor.

There is a machine out there called an "o-zone machine". You may be able to rent it from a local rental store. It is not expensive to rent and is truly AMAZING!! It takes out odors of everything from smoke to pets.

Ground Coffee beans will absorb odor too. (Its a temporary fix, otherwise painting will fix the problem.)

ClenAir odor neutralizer. They sell gel tubs and liquid sprays. The gel tubs are best. You just strategically place them around the house and they draw the odor out of the air. They are fragrance free. They do not mask or deodorize the air. They actually neutralize it.

Change all of the light bulbs because they are covered in smoke/tar that when turned on, will heat up and cause the smell to emit.

One technique that I have used - with great success - I will share with you when you list with me.......

Remember, if you smoke in your home, you have just eliminated 75% of the Buyers in the market - quit, live a healthy life and prosper!

****************************** Don't get Zillow-ized

Realtors (agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors) list and sell homes within 99 percent accuracy, according to a recent report by the NAR. While that may seem a self-serving statistic, it's easy enough to check in your local MLS. Even if homes sell within 95 percent of listing price, that's still pretty good compared to zillow's zestimates. Zillow.com admitted to BusinessWeek in February 2006 during its much-publicized launch that its "estimates are typically on target, falling within 10 percent of the actual home-sale prices 62 percent of the time."

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GET A CLUE REPORT

CLUE Report Can Alert Buyers to Damages
You can avoid nasty surprises after the deal closes by encouraging buyers to review a home's CLUE report.

That�s what ChoicePoint Asset Co. calls its Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange history.

Based on claims information submitted by insurers to the CLUE database, the report includes dates, types of claims, and the amount paid for each claim. If the report shows no losses, a home buyer can feel confident that no one has filed a fire, flood, windstorm or other claim against an insurer.

However, if a claim has been filed, the buyer will know to take an extra-hard look at the area that was damaged. Also if the report shows that someone has filed a water-based insurance claim for mold, that might be reason enough to move on. A mold claim often makes it difficult for subsequent owners to obtain homeowners insurance. And if they can obtain insurance, it might be extremely expensive.

Only the home owner can obtain these reports, so the buyer will have to ask the seller to purchase one. The report costs $19.50 and can be obtained from the ChoicePoint Web site.

Source: United Feature Syndicate, Lew Sichelman __________________________________

CLUE, an acronym for Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, is a national database that tracks insurance claims on properties. By looking at a home's CLUE report, you can see claims on the property for the past five years, which may reveal hidden problems such as mold or water damage that a buyer would want to know about. Buyer's will request this report, so talk to your insurance agent and have it in hand when you list your home. A Statement from your insurance agent is also sufficient.

Other tips.

Choosing a Realtor to Sell
Your Home

Can a real estate agent really help me in buying and selling property? The answer is YES! Answers the most commonly asked questions about selecting the right Realtor to help you sell your home.

Setting Your List Price

Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating various market conditions and financial factors. Learn the methods professional REALTORS� use to help determine a home's list price.

Avoid the Urgent Sale

To sell your home at the best possible price, avoid urgency whenever possible. Your home is a valuable and quite marketable asset. You can depend on receiving a "fair market value" price for it if you allow enough time for a sale to occur.

What is Market Value?

The meaning of "market value" confuses many people. Noted real estate investor and author J.P. Vaughan�s clear and informative article does a good job of defining this often misinterpreted term and the many factors that ultimately determine a homes sale price.

Improving Your Selling Time

How soon will it sell? Ten days? Eighty-six days? Three hundred thirty days? What factors can influence the time it takes to produce a serious buyer? It depends on the Market and your marketing plan.

Preparing Your Home
For Sale

The process of readying your house for sale requires a critical eye, an impersonal attitude, and in some cases nominal money. Do it right, and you will be rewarded by a timely sale!

Common Q&A About Selling
Your Home

What are home sellers obligated to disclose? What is the best time to sell a house? Who determines what furnishings of a house stay with the home when it is sold? These are just a sampling of the many questions answered in this resource presented by Inman News Features.

A Pre-Inspection Guide For
the Home Seller

A normal part of the home sale process involves the inspection of a home by an inspection professional. Such inspections are routinely performed on homes of all ages and quality. Here is the information every home seller needs to know about home inspectors and their services.

MLS Lockbox System and Agent Availability

In the Listing Contract, there is a provision to allow a Lockbox to be placed on your home for the use of MLS Realtors to gain access to the property. You have a choice as to whether or not to allow the use of a Lockbox. Generally, if you utilize a Lockbox, Realtors have a greater ability to show your home to more prospective buyers. You are advised that you can restrict access to your home during certain hours and provide detailed showing instructions in the listing (in the MLS). Agents are to follow those MLS instructions, but errors have occurred and an agent may enter your premises, contrary to your instructions.

If you elect to use a Lockbox, you are advised to remove all of your valuables from the home and place them in a safe deposit box or another secure location, elsewhere. On occasion, electronic Lockbox keys have been misplaced, or stolen, and it takes approximately 30 days to re-key all of the remaining Lockbox keys. Realtors are then notified by the MLS system and upon such notification I will remove the Lockbox.

If you elect not to use a Lockbox, you agree to make every effort to allow Buyer�s agents and their clients to access the property, in the event I am unable to meet them at the property. I will notify you as soon as I receive a request to view your property and we will determine, together, the best time to view the property. Only licensed Realtors are allowed to view your home and you must get a card from them proving that they are a licensed Realtor. If anyone else comes to the door, do not let them in! Have them call me at 480-585-2904 for a viewing appointment.

The Buyer Inspection and Seller�s Response Process

After the Buyer and Seller have signed a contract, the Buyer can request to have the Seller repair items, based on an inspection of the property, pursuant to the provisions contained in the Contract (usually within a 10 day inspection period). The Buyers may submit a list of repair items and each time this occurs, both parties have 5 days to respond (from the day each party receives the response). As you can see, this process will continue until there is an agreement and can extend right up to the day of Closing. If the Buyer and Seller do not come to an agreement on the repairs, the Buyer may decline to purchase the property. This process and your specific performance may last until the day of the Close of Escrow. Unless both Buyer and Seller come to an agreement, the Buyer can decide, even at Closing, not to purchase the property. This creates an untenable situation and the Seller is well advised to settle the issues as soon as possible, after receiving the Inspection Report. I strongly urge Sellers to make their decision as soon as possible. You can choose not to make any repairs. If you do so, the Buyer can decide not to proceed with the purchase. If you decide to make the repairs, send the receipts for those repairs to me, as soon as possible.

Home Owner Associations

Your Home Owners Association (HOA) will be asked by the Title Company to provide a compliance letter to the Title Company prior to Closing. Without this letter, the Closing can not proceed without the Seller agreeing to either fix all of the HOA concerns prior to Closing, or the Seller must agree to place in a fund with the Title Company a sum of money that, the HOA agrees, is appropriate to remedy the situation. All parties must sign this agreement prior to Closing. Sometimes money alone will not satisfy the conditions the HOA has set for compliance and you will be on a legally defined deadline, the Close of Escrow. At any rate, the HOA requirements must be met prior to Closing. Most HOA�s will require a pre-closing and final inspection of the property before they provide a letter to the Title Company. The Owner is responsible for arranging any pre-closing inspections and to remedy any and all non-compliance issues with the Home Owners Association, prior to the Close of Escrow. The Seller is advised that some HOA�s are not professionally managed and may not be as responsive as a full-time, professionally staffed, Home Owners Association.

Seller�s Property Disclosure Form

You must fill out this form in its entirety. I cannot fill in any item on that form, as you are legally required to fill it out. I will need this document within days of the listing. It is required and must be given to the new Buyer within 5 days of signing the contract. It can be revised later in the process, but only before I give it to a Buyer.

Buyer�s Remorse

Buyer�s Remorse usually sets in after an offer has been made and accepted on the property. Buyers begin to worry about whether or not to purchase the property. On occasion, Buyer family or economic situations arise that causes them re-think their decision to purchase the property. The inspection repair request can offer the Buyer a reason not to purchase the property. Caution is advised when responding to the inspection repair requests, as sometimes the Buyers may be hoping you will not agree to the requested repairs.

Seller�s Remorse

Seller�s Remorse usually occurs after you have signed the contract! Generally, Sellers start to second-guess the process. My advice is to start packing and move on with your life. You would have not signed the contract if you did not want to sell your property for the amount in the contract plus repairs and closing costs.

The Contract Process and Closing Costs

Remember, at the time you receive a contract you may have to pay more funds to repair the property after the inspection process. Further, you will pay around 1% of the purchase price in closing costs at the Close of Escrow. You should also plan to move the day before the Close of Escrow as in Arizona, Closing occurs at Recordation at the County offices, not at the time you sign documents at the Title Company. If there is a Buyer loan involved, the lender will decide when to fund on the day of Closing and the Title company will then record. At that point in time, you no longer own the property and have to be off of the premises. No keys may be delivered to a Buyer until the time of Recordation with the County.

Listing Process and Advertising Plan

I will go over with you a general discussion of the listing process and the advertising plan I will use to market and sell your property.

Home Staging for Buyers

I will discuss with you a number of things that you can do to enhance the appearance of your home.

TIPS FOR STAGING YOUR OWN HOME

Want to stage your own home? The experts offer tips.

Home managers bring their own furniture and decorations into a vacant home on the market and keep it in ready-to-show condition. Learn about the perks, the drawbacks and how you can become one.

� Use soft lighting. Lamps are kinder than overhead lights. Keep blinds open.
� Place furniture so there are clear pathways through the house.
� Thin your furniture collection to make the room appear larger.
� Avoid placing sofas or big chairs so that you see their backs.
� De-clutter. Pack up framed pictures, odd artwork, crafts. Clear stuff off tables.
� Clear magnets, notes, artwork, etc., from front of refrigerator.
� Make sure toilet seats are down and personal bathroom items stowed. Put out fresh towels. Limit your colors to one or two.
� Clean out your closets. Buyers want to believe they'll have plenty of storage space.
� Right before a showing, light a scented candle and turn on quiet music (easy listening or jazz).
� Hide pet boxes.
� Keep indoor plants and flowers looking fresh.
� Buy new doormats.
� The front of the house is a potential buyer's first impression. Keep shrubs and trees trimmed, grass mowed, walkways cleared; lay fresh mulch. If you can afford a landscaper, hire one.
� Put all outdoor toys away.
� Place flowers on the porch or front stoop.
� Wash the house.
� Keep the front door freshly painted. Replace any fixtures on the door, such as brass plates at the bottom.
� Make sure light bulbs outside work.

1031 Exchanges

If you are considering a 1031 exchange, after the sale of your home, you must let me know after the contract is signed and before the Close of Escrow. You will need to have a 1031 exchange intermediary talk to the Title company at least a week before the Close of Escrow.

Inconvenience

Finally, please understand that selling your property is an inconvenience, but I will make it as easy as possible for you!

I hope this informational brochure answers some of the problematic situations that you may encounter in the listing and sale of your property. If you have any questions, please call me, anytime.

Thank you, in advance, for listing your property with me.

Bill Duffey, billduffey@remax.net

RE/MAX Excalibur 480-585-2904

*******************************************************************************************************

FOR SALE BY OWNER?

This can be risky. Be very careful.

According to the US Labor Department:

How many REALTORS� have been killed on the job?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 25 real estate agents and brokers died as a result of "assaults and violent acts" between 2001 and 2004.

(5 in 2001; 6 in 2002; 9 in 2003; and 5 in 2004).

Source: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm <click here for the full report

So, if you want to try to sell your home, yourself, please read this page carefully. You can always call me and I will provide you with some tips, if you like. I do have some marketing documents that you may be interested in using. They are free.

*********************These are real alerts************

Read this! If you thought selling real estate was easy!

Last month (August 2004), Realtor Garland Taylor was shot in the back of the head and left in a closet as he was showing a $1 million home to a prospect. Mario Lucas Chavez was arrested for the murder of the 74-year-old real estate veteran just a few days after the victim was discovered in the displayed home.

Mario Chavez, originally from Albuquerque, who more recently was living in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Chavez allegedly pretended to Taylor and others that he was a corporate attorney from Arizona. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chavez was charged with murder and tampering with evidence. He is also being investigated for other violent acts toward realtors. He is also being investigated for fraud involving the business community in Arizona, police said. He was being held in lieu of $2 million bond.

Garland Taylor was also a church deacon, and had worked for many years in real estate, and had opened his own agency. He was highly regarded among his peers, and was well-known and respected in the community.

According to information provided by the National Association of Realtors' Realtor Safety Council, more than 200 real estate agents have been killed on the job from 1982-2000 as they showed homes to strangers. An increase against stranger violence against real estate professionals in recent years has prompted the National Association of Realtors to create and distribute safety educational materials to all Realtors and to draw attention to the topic with an annual Realtor Safety Week.

______________________________

Arizona among top 10 states for mortgage fraud

Catherine Reagor
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 20, 2007 12:00 AM

Arizona has shot up to No. 7 in a ranking of states with the greatest amount of mortgage fraud, blowing past the 23rd spot it held the previous year.

This is the highest Arizona has placed on the Mortgage Asset Research Institute's annual fraud survey, which is based on the number of mortgage fraud cases per total of state home loans. Data from the nation's biggest lenders are used to compile the survey.

____________________________________

3 posing as salesmen rob Scottsdale home

Joseph W. Cox
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 20, 2007 10:46 AM

Three men posing as salesmen broke into a Scottsdale home and stole an undisclosed amount of valuables.

The men knocked on the door of a residence Monday morning in the 7800 block of East Via Del Futuro, near the McCormick Ranch Golf Club, and attempted to sell something to the woman who answered the door, police said.

When the woman refused, the men waved a gun at the woman and pushed their way into the house.

When the woman's husband tried to confront the men, they hit him and tied him up, police said.

No one was hurt, but the robbers stole jewelry and other valuables.

The woman said she had never seen the men before

______________________________

Woman raped while showing a home

08:41 PM EDT on Monday, May 14, 2007

By WCNC Staff
E-mail Us: 6NEWS@WCNC.com

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- A real estate agent said she was raped while showing a home in Rock Hill.

The house has all the signs of a house for sale: signs in the front yard and a lockbox on the door. The only difference is the black fingerprint dust the police left behind.

"When I looked out the window there was a forensic truck and the police cars all parked in front of my driveway," said neighbor Valerie Bullard.

The realtor showing the Rock Hill house said she had been raped.

Detectives said the woman got a call to meet a client at 9:30 Saturday morning.

When she got to the house, her attacker came at her from behind, forcing her inside the house to the floor and then raped her, according to police.

People who live near the house said they were shocked.

"It's pretty bad cause I'm here all day by myself all the time," said neighbor Shannon Garcia.

She said she thinks she saw the victim minutes after it happened.

"She had on a white skirt and what we could see from here the skirt looked messed up," said Garcia.

Police said the realtor was terrified and couldn't tell them if her rapist was outside the house waiting for her, or inside when she arrived to show the house.

"(I feel) scared, 'cause you know, if they could do that to her they could do that to anybody," said Garcia.

"I've always felt safe, but not now," said Bullard.

________________________________

Woman Speaks Out On 1995 Rape

POSTED: 5:56 pm EDT July 18, 2006

UPDATED: 7:25 pm EDT July 18, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A rapist who preyed on Northern Virginia women could spend the rest of his life in prison after a hit on the DNA database last November.

A realtor said she was held at gunpoint and raped as she worked at a Woodbridge open house in 1995.

Kenneth Bedard, 42, of Spotsylvania County was found guilty Monday in Prince William County, and his victim spoke to News4's Julie Carey Tuesday about finally seeing her attacker brought to justice.

"They caught the rapist, and I immediately started crying," the victim said.

The call from a Prince William County cold case detective came 10 years and one month after the 37-year-old was terrorized and raped as she worked inside a model home sales office. The attacker posed as a customer.

Kenneth Bedard has been sentenced to 50 years. Courtesy of News4

______________________________ unsolved

Wisconsin's Unsolved Murders: Realtor Richard Scott

Reporter: Mark Povolny

In 1980, Wisconsin Eau Claire Realtor Richard Scott was murdered while showing a house in Chippewa County. The killer pulled out a handgun and shot Scott once in the back of the head. He was 41.

__________________________________

July 18, 2006 It�s all real estate agents in the Dallas area are talking about. Who murdered fellow realtor Sarah Anne Walker?

Known for her high-spirited and vivacious personality, by all accounts, Sarah Anne never met a stranger. One recent Saturday afternoon, on a steamy Texas summer day, unfortunately, Sarah Anne Walker met her killer.

Actually police believe Ms. Walker knew the person who so violently attacked her. Capt. Randy Roland of the McKinney Police Department says while they don�t have any specific leads on suspects at this point, investigators are not ruling out anyone.

article below.

The brutal murder of Sarah Ann Walker in McKinney, Texas early this month has again spotlighted a perennial topic - violence against real estate agents and real estate safety tips.

Ms. Walker was presiding over an open house at a new housing development when she was stabbed 27 times. A house hunting couple found her body on the kitchen floor.

Conducting a real estate practice almost by definition puts agents in potentially hazardous situations. An agent conducting an open house is often alone and knows nothing about the person walking in the door. Agents often meet customers for the first time in front of a vacant house, or drive or ride with them to an appointment. It is not uncommon for an agent to be alone in the office late at night, finalizing an offer or catching up on paperwork, and some agents still go door to door looking for listings.

There don't appear to be any real solid statistics on the number of agents who fall victim to murder, rape, assault, or robbery. One source states that 206 agents were murdered on the job between 1982 and 2000. This does not even touch on the number of agents who were the victims of sexual assault, non-fatal shootings, beatings, and stabbings; robbery, and car jacking. Misiu Systems, Ltd which provides security products to the industry lists news articles about 74 incidents including murders, police alerts to agents, sexual assaults, and robberies since February, 1997, ten since the first of this year. Many of the accounts concerned multiple victims.

Among the stories:

St. Petersburg, FL, March 2006. A neatly dressed young man posing as a relocated Drug Enforcement Administration agent spent over four hours looking at houses with a real estate agent before asking to return to one of the first homes he had seen. There he attacked her, took her car keys and purse while threatening to kill her with the gun and the 12-inch hunting knife he had concealed on his person. The agent was hurt but not seriously.

DeKalb County, GA, May 2006. Within 11 days, three female real estate agents in DeKalb County reported being robbed at gunpoint by a man and woman. Police said the incidents appeared similar because each happened in the evening hours, involved a female real estate agent and was allegedly committed by an armed man and woman fitting similar descriptions.

"The perpetrators would contact the realtor, usually by phone. In one incident, the realtor actually went to the MARTA station and picked them up, took them to the location, showed them the home, and as they were concluding their walk-through, they were robbed," said Officer Davis. In each case the agent was tied up and her vehicle was stolen.

A month earlier another DeKalb County agent was abducted and forced to withdraw $1,500 from an ATM machine then taken to a jewelry store where she used credit cards to purchase a $7,500 Rolex watch for the robber. During the incident he frequently threatened to shoot her or "dismember" her if she did not cooperate.

Diamond Bar, CA, November 2005. A newly licensed real estate agent was shot and critically wounded while canvassing a neighborhood for clients. The victim had apparently appeared to be acting suspiciously and a homeowner shot him after he knocked on his door. Police thought the agent may have been mistaken for someone the homeowner had had an altercation with earlier in the week.

Baltimore, MD, July 2004. Maryland State Police warned realtors about a man who allegedly injured one agent and could be stalking others.

In the first incident a female agent was assaulted during an open house by a visitor who looked around the house then picked up an object and struck the agent on the back of the head. Police had first viewed it as an isolated incident but other agents reported a man matching the description had attended open houses in the area and in one case tried to lure the host agent into an isolated part of the house.

The agent who was hit was able to fend off her attacker but police believe it was intended as a sexual assault.

Many real estate office managers routinely discuss safety practices with their agents but few have any hard and fast rules and agents themselves say that they often knowingly take risks because it is the only way they can conduct business. Local real estate boards conduct occasional safety courses and some, such as the Kentucky Board of Realtors, have published booklets on crime prevention for their membership. The National Board of Realtors� (NAR) has designated the week of September 10-16, 2006 as the fourth annual REALTOR� Safety Week, stating that more than 54 percent of all respondents to a recent survey reported that they had experienced safety concerns, incidents, or harassing situations on the job.

Law enforcement officials, real estate boards, real estate trainers, and others routinely advise agents to observe some common sense safety precautions.

Realtor Safety Tips:

Always meet a client for the first time in the office. Introduce him or her to coworkers and make it clear that they know you are taking him out of the office. Try to take separate cars but if that is not possible you will have slightly more control if you drive. Do not meet a client at the property, particularly if he is calling on a yard sign. He will already have had a chance to note if the property is vacant.
Get a license plate number and leave it at the front desk. Just explain that it is office policy; a customer who means no harm won't mind. You might also leave an itinerary for your house tour.
Don't identify a property as vacant to a caller on an ad or sign.
When showing property to a stranger, follow rather than lead him through the house. Don't let him get between you and the door. At an open house, take up a position as close to the door as practical.
Always carry a cell phone where it is easily accessible (not in the purse you left in the car or stowed in a kitchen cabinet.) Make sure emergency numbers are programmed into the speed dial.
Ask the office manager to control keys to the office and to place deadbolts on the doors. If you are alone in the office at night draw the shades and do not admit anyone you do not know well and trust.
Go with your gut. If something doesn't feel right, if anything raises the hair on the back of your neck escape the situation immediately. You might feel like an idiot but don't worry about it.

Police have also noted an increase in crimes where a woman sets up the victim, even for sexual assault. Women agents tend to be much more trusting of another female and let down their guard. Until you really know a customer, remain vigilant regardless of the gender, appearance, dress, or charm. It could save your life.

_______________________________

Advice on what Realtors can do to protect themselves against physical violence, identity theft, stalkers, and more:

Google yourself. Personal, identifying information such as your home phone number or home address may be available online for all to see. Look into having the information removed.

Use an untraceable 800-number. Your phone number can provide a trail to your personal information. Services available for reasonable rates (such as MyPrivateLine.com) will allow you to use an 800-number in place of your cell. Callers will be automatically routed to you, but will never know your cell number.

Always let colleagues know, on a regular basis, where you are. Better yet, get a cell phone with GPS, which lets friends, family, and coworkers-not to mention law enforcement officials-track your whereabouts.

Have your cell phone readily available to make an emergency. Never bury it deep inside a purse or duffel bag. Include important numbers in the speed dial rotation.

Be careful with your personal e-mail address. Unless it is a free address (e.g., hotmail or yahoo), crooks might be able to learn more about you. Whenever possible, share only your employer-provided e-mail address.

Follow clients as you show property; never let them walk behind you.

Exercise caution when you must show a secluded or vacant property. If possible, work in pairs under such circumstances.

The possibility of physical violence is a major reality for Realtors. But it's not the only concern. Those in the real estate industry must also remain vigilant against identity thieves and petty stalkers. You want potential clients to find you, but you don't want nut cases finding where you live. A little carelessness can lead to a lot of frustration and, sometimes, tragedy.

_________________________

***A prospective client lured a Fayetteville, N.C., RE/MAX Sales Associate to a home, then shot her three times in the back when she tried to escape. 6/1/05

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MLS SAFETY ALERT 2/15/05

Over the weekend, there were two safety related incidents involving agents up in the Carefree area. Both incidents occurred during Open Houses, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. They seem to be completely unrelated. Below is the descriptions of the incidents, as well as the descriptions of the people involved.

***On Saturday, 2 agents were sitting an open house when a couple came in to view the property. They were acting very strange and displaying nervous behavior. After being there for over 40 minutes, the woman pulled a gun out of her purse and began to load it. Apparently, someone else drove up to view the house, and the couple then left. No one was hurt or injured.

Description of the couple: In their 60's, drove a new Mercedes coupe (silver/bronze).

He was completely bald/head shaven, tiny mustache below nose on upper lip

he was very thin and approx. 5' 9". He talked A LOT.

He stated that he was a Psychiatrist working for the Government.

***MLS SAFETY ALERT *** this is what Realtor�s receive.

***On Sunday, an agent was sitting an open house in Carefree. A man came to the open house and stayed for over 45 minutes. The entire time he was there, he kept acting strange. He also kept trying to lure the agent into secluded places in the house. There were other people there viewing the open house, and he seemed to be waiting for them to leave. However, the agent had brought her boyfriend along with her for security while at the open house (Good for her! This might be the factor that saved her life!) When the man realized that the boyfriend was there and wouldn't be leaving, he finally gave up and took off.

Description of the man:Tall, approximately 6' Brown hair Burly Intelligent Light blue eyes

Stood very close while talking to the agent. If you have any information that may be helpful regarding the 3 people listed above, please contact Carefree authorities.

****New Mexico 2004 Realtor shot to death while showing a home (story above). MLS SAFETY ALERT**************************

Criminals Target Open Houses for Theft, Drugs MLS SAFETY ALERT

( February 10, 2005) -- Property showings can provide an opportunity for criminals to steal from the homeowner�during the actual open house and possibly even later�law enforcement authorities warn.

A thief can use the crowd of legitimate visitors to a home for sale as camouflage for his or her crimes, which often are not realized until much later. Some pocket easily concealed items such as jewelry, handheld electronics; while others slip away with personal checks and other information that will facilitate identity theft and financial crimes.

In some states, meanwhile, drug addicts reportedly are targeting open houses as a way to obtain prescription medicines. Sometimes claiming to need a bathroom, they raid medicine chests, drawers, and closets in search of drugs. All small and potentially valuable items should be secured or removed before an open house event, say police.

Source: Kansas City Star (02/09/05)

***WOODINVILLE -- Nearly a year after a Bellevue real estate agent was stabbed repeatedly inside a Woodinville house he was showing, detectives are no closer to understanding why Mike Emert was murdered or by whom.

Sell it yourself? You can be taken in by con men/women! Realtors get this kind of message from law enforcement to help protect our clients.

MLS SAFETY ALERT

The following information was sent to the Department by K. Michelle Lind, Esq., General Counsel for AAR. We are sending this to all as an alert!

Officer Bob Cummins (5998) of the Phoenix Police Department contacted Ty Strout today about a real estate buyer scam on which they have had several complaints. We have sent the information to the local associations to warn members and I thought I would pass it along to you as well.

A group of people have hit several REALTORS(r) in Arizona as well as in New Mexico. The scam is that one of them come into a real estate office claiming to have a investor who is looking to buy houses, land or businesses in the area, most of the accounts have been for large sums of money and multiple properties. He says that he is on a tight time schedule and the deals must be completed quickly. When the REALTOR(r) does all the paperwork and wastes their time they later find out that the deals never go thru. They have done this to several large agencies in the state with the same results. In some instances they have requested hotel rooms and meals to be paid for by REALTORS(r).

They always claim to be related to the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Most of the time they have other land or business deals going on so a REALTOR(r) can call the other agencies and it appears as though they are legitimate. They also are able to have unknown persons fax over paperwork showing they have a LLC company and are shareholders in that company.

************************************************************************

Scottsdale Alert - "Scottsdale Pride" newsletter May 2006

"Beware: Criminals identifying themselves a City Water Employees

The Scottsdale police are investigating a series of incidents where people fraudulently identify themselves as "city water" employees to gain entry into a residence and take items of value.

Scottsdale city Water Department employees will never ask for entry into a private home for any reason."

*************************** This will cost you! ***************************************************

Owner Liable for Calling Property �Peaceful�

A North Carolina court has considered whether an owner could be liable for failing to inform the buyer that a property was not �peaceful� when the buyer made inquiries to the owner.

Susannah Hewson (�Owner�) listed for sale a 22-acre estate known as Deverill. The Owner had grown up on the grounds of Deverill, and had lived on a property adjacent to Deverill for more than 40 years. The Owner had only owned Deverill for two months when she put the property on the market, as she had recently purchased the property at a partition sale.

Stephan and Elizabeth Willen (�Buyers�) saw an advertisement for Deverill. The Buyers visited the property and told the Owner about their desire to find a �peaceful� and �serene� property to raise their four small children. The Owner told the Buyers that the property met their criteria, and told them stories about growing up on the property. Following this discussion, the Buyers entered into an agreement to purchase the property.

Following the execution of the purchase agreement, the Buyers conducted an inspection of the property. The Buyers encountered a cousin of the Owner during the inspection, and she told the Buyers that her family had problems with high school students coming onto the property. One of the Buyers called the Owner and asked her about this. The Owner denied that such a problem existed and said that her cousin had a tendency to exaggerate.

The Buyers closed on the property. Shortly after taking possession, the Buyers learned that the property had a long-term problem with trespass and vandalism. Over the course of the next two years, the Buyers had personal property stolen from them; were victims of a suspected arson at one of their buildings; were verbally accosted on their property; and had windows and lights shot out with guns. The Buyers claimed that they developed a �siege� mentality because of the trespasses and they were forced to install a security system on the property. The Buyers wrote to the Owner and asked her to help them find a solution to the trespass problem. The Owner continued to deny such a problem existed and cited the doctrine of caveat emptor.

The Buyers filed a lawsuit against the Owner. The lawsuit alleged that the Owner had misrepresented the extent of the trespass problems on the property and so she was liable for fraud and violations of the state�s unfair trade practices act. The trial court ruled in favor of the Buyers and awarded them $322,753.59 in damages and $55,000 in attorney�s fees.

See entire suit: Willen v. Hewson, 622 S.E.2d 187 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005). PS> It was appealed and upheld.

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WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL?

How Much House Can You Afford? What Is the Right Price for the Home You Want to Sell?

A Real Estate Professional can help you determine your buying power (if you are buying) or a reasonable asking price (if you are selling). If you don�t know how much money you can reasonably expect to borrow, you won�t know how much you can offer. Real Estate Professionals understand the financial markets and lenders and can help you to realistically determine how much house you can afford. Conversely, based on their detailed knowledge of various neighborhoods and the housing market, they can help you establish a reasonable asking price for the home you wish to sell. There are thousands of cases where an uninformed seller turned down an offer for a $1000 price differential and then paid a $1500 house payment for many months before lowering the price.

Find a New Home or a Buyer for the One You Have

Once you have determined what you can afford to pay or reasonably ask for your house, a Real Estate Professional can help locate your new home or a buyer for the one you have. They are involved in multiple information streams to speed the process. On the buy-side a Real Estate Professional can save you countless wasted trips and gas money by previewing and qualifying potential houses, and then arranging for you to view them. On the sell-side they can help you find qualified buyers and arrange for showings. They can suggest the most effective methods and means to advertise and market your house or find properties that have not yet made their way to the market.

Access to Information

The Real Estate Professional can provide you with a wealth of information on such topics as neighborhoods, financing, and property taxes. Is the home in a flood plain? Has it recently suffered major damage? Your Real Estate Professional can help you answer these and countless other questions.

Help You Close the Deal

A Real Estate Professional can not only help you negotiate the best price possible, they will also help you through the mountain of paper work required at closing to make sure you end up owning (or selling) your property in a legally sufficient manner and free of any encumbrances. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. The title may be clouded or the lender may wish certain tests or repairs to be made. This could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, etc. A Real Estate Professional can help you resolve these issues objectively and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

The Bottom Line

Yes, Real Estate Professionals cost money. But don�t you charge for your product or service and experience? We think a good Real Estate Professional can help you get to your bottom line faster and with a lot less hassle. Real Estate Professionals are a proven good value to help you maximize and protect your home investment.

Courtesy of Home Hints and Steve Fuller of Buyers 1st inspection service http://www.buyers1st-az.com/

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If someone mentions Feng Shui - should you start running? Here is what they are talking about. Got this from the internet and my not be accurate. Bottom line - make you home look as good and inviting as possible. That is my version of Feng Shui! It is called Duffey Shui!

WHAT ARE THE FENG SHUI ELEMENTS IN REAL ESTATE?

Everything in the Universe is ENERGY. According to the Chinese, energy expresses itself as one of five Feng Shui Elements, they are FIRE, EARTH, L, WATER and WOOD. These elements affect everything in our living, our listing and work environments.

The goal to marketing and selling "more property" using Feng Shui, is to balance the five elements in our listings. Each element has a specific color associated with it. Because color (light) vibrates and is such a high frequency, it immediately lifts the "energy vibration" in our listings. When this happens, our listings act like magnets and attract buyers, sellers and referral business, effortlessly. This is called the Productive Cycle of Elements...when Fire creates Earth, Earth creates l, l produces Water, Water feeds Wood, and when Wood fuels Fire. Learning the "proper placement'" of these elements in your listings... to lift Ch'i..ENERGY..will exponentially increase buyer activity.

Conversely, when one or more of the elements are out of balance in a listing... buyers do not stay long in a property and Realtors� do not write offers on them. For example..too much Fire in a listing burns l, too much l chops Wood, too much Wood sucks the nutrients from the Earth, too much Earth dams Water, and too much Water puts Fire out. We refer to this as the Destructive Cycle of Elements.

Realtors� around the world who Feng Shui for success are soaring in their real estate careers. Today they even Feng Shui listings that they know will sell quickly within a day or two, because they have learned how to create billboard advertisement to attract more listings, buyers and referral business, effortlessly. In addition, they are Feng Shui'n their offices and desks and are using the Five Element Business System to support higher volume sales. Many realtors� and lenders have tripled their business in record time by using this color code system, and by honoring their "personal" power directions for career success.

Every building in real estate is one of the Five Elements, as is every human being. Our bodies are comprised of all the elements; however, we are predominantly ONE. Listed below are some qualities of each element. See if you can guess which element you are!

Wood

Wood is creative and innovative. Wood can be pliant and bending (willow) or strong and unyielding (oak). Wood is sociable and community minded. Wood also represents the color green, the season spring, and the direction East. Wood also represents birth and early childhood.

Fire

Fire gives energy and enthusiasm, but can also be a sign of danger. When too much fire is present, it can be destructive. Fire warms and cheers, but it can also burn and destroy. Fire is the element of the natural leader. Fire represents red, Summer and South. Fire represents the growing years before puberty.

Earth

Earth gives stability and also relates to real estate and legacies. Earth is patient, just, honest and methodical. However, it can also be smothering and demanding. Earth represents the color yellow, the center and the teenage years and motherhood.

l indicates harvest, business and success. This is usually financial success. On the negative side, l can also indicate a sword or a knife and be destructive and violent. The color is usually white, but can also be gold. It is the season Autumn and the direction West. l represents youth.

Water

Water indicates travel, communication, and learning. It also relates to literature, the arts, and the media. Water can be both gentle (soft rainfall) and violent (a storm). Water nourishes all living things, but can also gradually wear away the hardest rock. It represents the color black, the season Winter, and the direction North. Water represents elders.

As an individual/realtor�, depending on your Personal Element at birth, you have specific compass directions that empower you when... writing a contract, negotiating a sale, talking to a first time buyer vs a high end client, as well as directions that help to improve your health, wealth, love and good fortune.

Feng Shui is not superstition, philosophy or a religion. It is the art and science of creating balance and harmony in our home, office and listing environments.

Feng Shui is no longer "exclusively" a Chinese art and science..all people and all cultures of the world are embracing Feng Shui principles to create more ... peace, prosperity and good fortune... in their lives and careers.

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Foreign Owners - what you need to know!

Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA)

Withholding Required on Certain U.S. Real Property Transactions Involving Foreign Persons, IRS Warns

FS-2005-16, September 2005

The IRS today reminds all real estate and tax professionals of the withholding tax and the filing obligations with respect to two transactions in which a foreign person disposes of a U.S. real property interest. The transactions involve the disposition by a foreign person of an option or contract to acquire a U.S. real property interest, and the disposition by a foreign corporation of a U.S. real property interest by way of a transfer to a shareholder.

Disposition of an Option or Contract to Acquire a United States Real Property Interest

Under U.S. tax law, a foreign person that sells or exchanges a U.S. real property interest must report the gain on a U.S. tax return, and the buyer of the U.S. real property interest must withhold and pay to the IRS 10 percent of the gross amount paid to the foreign person. A U.S. real property interest includes options or contracts to acquire land or land improvements and leaseholds of land or land improvements. The disposition of such an option or contract by a foreign seller is reportable on the foreign seller�s U.S. tax return and is subject to a 10 percent withholding tax payable by the buyer to the IRS. Under U.S. tax law, the buyer must determine if the seller is a foreign person. If the seller is a foreign person and the buyer fails to withhold, the buyer can be held liable for the withholding tax.

The IRS has become aware of instances in which foreign persons have acquired options or entered into contracts to purchase U.S. real property interests and sold the options or assigned the contracts before such instruments are exercised or executed and title to the underlying property is taken. Buyers of the options or contracts are failing to withhold and remit to the IRS the required 10 percent from the proceeds of the sale.

Transfer to a Shareholder

The IRS is also aware of potentially abusive transactions where a foreign corporation arranges a sale of its U.S. real property interest to a buyer and then transfers its U.S. real property interest to its foreign individual shareholder. The corporation often uses a quitclaim deed for the transfer, which conveys to the shareholder only the corporation�s interest in the property and does not warrant good title, but other deed transfers may present similar issues. The foreign shareholder then sells the U.S. real property interest to the buyer. The foreign shareholder takes the position that, because he or she, rather than the corporation, is selling the property, some or all of the gain inherent in the foreign corporation�s U.S. real property interest is subject to a maximum capital gains rate of 15 percent. That is, the foreign shareholder claims that the transfer of the U.S. real property interest by the foreign corporation to the shareholder does not result in a corporate level tax. If the foreign corporation had directly sold the U.S. real property interest, it could be subject to tax at a rate as high as 35 percent.

The shareholder�s position is incorrect. Generally, the foreign corporation (and not the foreign individual shareholder) is taxed on all of the gain inherent in the U.S. real property interest. The transaction is treated as a taxable sale of the U.S. real property interest by the corporation, either because the corporation is making a distribution to the foreign shareholder of the U.S. real property interest (which would constitute a deemed sale of such interest at the corporate level) or because the corporation is viewed as selling the entire U.S. real property interest directly to the buyer. In cases where the foreign corporation is treated as making a distribution of the U.S. real property interest, the foreign corporation is also subject to a withholding tax of 35 percent on the gain in the property, unless it qualifies for reduced withholding (see Publication 515).

Taxpayers may find the following publication, forms, IRS guidance and regulations helpful:

Publication 515

Form 8288

Form 8288-A

Form 8288-B

Form W-7

Form SS-4

Form 1099-S

Form 1120F

Rev. Proc. 2000-35

IRC � 1445(a) and (e)

Treasury Regulation � 1.1445-1(b)(3)

Daily Real Estate News | January 9, 2007

What's Hot and What's Not in Home Design

A nationwide survey of 923 real estate professionals by Mark Nash, real estate author of 1,001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home (Thomson/South-Western, 2004), includes a list of home features that are popular among buyers and those that are so 2006.

For example, practitioners surveyed reported that the inability to keep stainless steel appliances, glass-front cabinets, and vessel-style sinks clean has caused them to fall out of favor with buyers. Also, spiral staircases have become less popular, particularly among buyers with young children.

According to the survey, here are what home buyers want in 2007:

Glass tile. When retooling the bathroom or the kitchen, trendy remodelers choose glass tile over ceramic because of its reflective qualities.

Engineered stone compounds. Engineered stone compound is this year�s kitchen must-have and best of all it�s less expensive than granite.

Wrought iron. Make the back yard look classy with a wrought-iron fence.

Colorful trim. When repainting trim around shutters, doors, and window frames, go for bright and bold.

His-and-her home offices. Complete with fiber-optic cables for Internet connectivity.

Extra storage space. This extra space buyers prefer in the form of linen closets, pantries, and luggage rooms.

Home trends that were strictly 2006:

Bowl-shaped, above-the-counter sinks. Nobody can keep them clean.

Glass kitchen cabinet doors. They look great in magazines, but lousy in real life.

Bamboo wood. It dents and scratches easily and warps in humid weather.

Source: MarketWatch, Marshall Loeb (1/14/07) and Washington Post, Kirstin Downey (01/06/07)

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Associated Press
Feb. 22, 2007 01:30 PM

"...Hanni said her December trip was supposed to be a restorative vacation, after she was jumped and beaten in June by a man in a ski mask at a house she was trying to sell..."

Please note:

I make this general information available to my Clients in an effort to avoid confusion as they go through the process of selling their property. The information contained herein is for discussion purposes only and I, nor RE/MAX Excalibur, make any representations as to the accuracy of the information.