Gary Duda's Real Estate Blog

  Buyers have two major tools when finding a home – Realtors and the Internet.  The National Association of Realtors 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows that 90% of all home buyers use the Internet in their home search and 87% use a Realtor.   If you are looking to sell, find a Realtor ...

Whether it's from hard work, luck or your Great Aunt Edna - you have gotten a listing.  Congratulations!Please do some basic things.  Fill out all the fields completely in MLS.  Upload as many pictures as you can of the house.  Do a nice fact sheet on the house.  Return calls from agents and the ...

In the hurry to get things done quickly, buyers' agents often will have clients fill out blank disclaimers and blank lead based paint disclosures for the listing agent to have the sellers sign.   For agents who do this:  DON'T!!The law in most states (my guess is all states) is that sellers have ...

Low on cash?Have very few prospects?Feeling really low?Don't let fear paralyze your business.  I'm going to give you a simple, inexpensive marketing plan.  It's going to mean that you actually have to get out and work - so be prepared.Step 1:  Choose a 100-home farm area.  Make sure the price ran...

Here is a helpful matrix I give my agents regarding marketing.  This shows the per piece price of marketing materials and how much it actually costs to market based on increasing sizes of market areas.  Money is tight for new agents (all agents) so using marketing money wisely is very important. ...

If you are an agent in the Central Virginia Region mark your calendar for November 13th from 7-9 p.m.  We will be hosting a "carreer night" for agents who want to know more about  RE/MAX Action.  The event will be held at 11551 Nuckols Road, Suite D., Glen Allen, VA 23059.  RSVP to Gary Duda @ 80...

If you plan on making direct mail a part of your Real Estate marketing plan  -  start small.Realtors new to direct mail often take on too large a market area only to find they lack the funds and time to keep up with their program.  The end result is that after a couple mailings the agent does not...

 If you are getting ready to sell, here is an easy check list of what to do. Make Repairs:If there is wood rot, broken windows, damaged shingles or other visible damage, then have it repaired.  It's a lot easier to sell a home that is mechanically and physically in shape.  Fixing items before a h...

Once the contract is written, the job of a good Realtor has really just begun.  So has the job of a host of people including lenders, attorneys, title companies, insurance agents, home warranty companies and so on.  The beginning:  Writing the contract.Once the contract is written, the closing pr...

In a free-market economy such as ours, the willingness to make money spurs on many things, including the housing and mortgage market.Much of our recent real estate explosion was fueled by lenders lowering the bar on what it took to get a loan.  The reason they lowered the bar was there were inves...