Posted via email from JuliGrace

Nevertheless, it’s very true, in my case

For a long time, I have been marketing all of the homes I have for sale in Fayetteville, NC on the internet, in a variety of different places–the MLS, Realtor.com, KW.com, my blog, Viddler, etc. Each time I would add a new home for sale, I would try to write a description of the home that would appeal to buyers, and would highlight some of the better features of the home. I was very good at making a home sound appealing!

Makes sense, right? Still, in those days, I did not have a well-proven method for getting my listings to rank favorably in Google. All of the homes I had for sale in Fayetteville were pretty much categorized as “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” or “Homes for Sale in Fayetteville NC.” So, despite the great descriptions, the homes I had for sale didn’t always rise to the top of Google. The keyword “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” usually returned a bunch of mega-real estate portals, real estate company sites or newspaper websites on Google. Very generic results for a very generic search term.

Active Rain Real Estate Network

Then I attended an Active Rain Rain Camp session (in Washington, DC) and learned how to do better.  While it is true that a large number of internet searchers will type “Fayetteville NC real estate” (or any other generic search term, depending on the topic) into Google, many more will type in a more specific search term, like “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg.”  That phenomenon is called “The Long Tail,” and the theory is that about 80% of searchers will type a more specific term while searching.  The welcome benefit to me and my sellers is that those buyers tend to be more serious or further along in the home search process. The internet users who are “just looking”  are the ones who use the more generic (about 20%) search terms.

Since I first learned about “The Long Tail” and how I could choose keywords that people use when they search Google for information, I’ve written all of my marketing descriptions to reach buyers who are looking for more specific features; such as, “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg,” or “homes for sale in the Terry Sanford School District,” or “homes for sale in Country Club North” (or other popular neighborhoods) here in Fayetteville, NC. Since I’ve done that, the homes I have for sale always rank at, or near, the top of Google when searching by those more specific keywords.

Ah, but it is important to be consistent with the keywords.

"3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg"

This morning, I did a search in Google for “3 bedroom homes close to Fort Bragg.” I wanted to see how my latest listing, a gorgeous 3 bedroom home that is close to Fort Bragg,  was performing in the search engines. My results showed that my listing was not on the first page! Although I had other homes for sale close to Fort Bragg that ranked on page 1, this newest listing did not. I had checked only yesterday, and it WAS on page 1, so what gives?

"3 br home close to Fort Bragg"

Keyword consistency is what gives. I re-entered my search as “3 br home close to Fort Bragg” and the results showed my latest listing at the top of Google; in fact, 4 out of 10 results were homes I had for sale.

That little change, “3 bedroom” vs “3 br” made all the difference, and I learned a valuable lesson.

Choose your keywords deliberately and then use them consistently. It makes a difference, and it can be quite dramatic.

In this case, I’ve decided that internet searchers are more likely to use the term “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg” instead of the abbreviation “3 br” and so I’ve corrected my posts and descriptions to match the keyword.

It seems that such a little thing shouldn’t make such a big difference, but it does.

And the lesson was amplified to me when I entered “3 bedroom homeS close to Fort Bragg” and got a totally different result!

But that’s a post for another day!

Front View

This very clean and well maintained home is in Middle Creek subdivision. Here is a Google Map of the location. Middle Creek is an established neighborhood of single family homes and it is only a few minutes drive to post or to the mall. It is a very green subdivision; lots of trees and yards. Additionally, for anyone who has school-aged children, the elementary school is located right in the neighborhood.

Here is a video tour of the home:

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

This home is very well cared for by the owners and they have done significant upgrades in the last few years. New heat and a/c unit in 2005; new roof, new windows, new water heater, kitchen re-model and new carpets in 2006; tile installed and bathroom remodeled in 2008; and master bath remodeled in 2010. The dishwasher, refrigerator and stove with microwave have all been replaced within the last 4 years.

Greatroom

The home features a very open floor plan. Enter into the foyer which opens into the greatroom. It is a very large room, fully tiled, with a fireplace and doors to the backyard. It is also open to the dining area and the kitchen–a huge gathering place for friends and family. In addition to the newer appliances, the kitchen also has a very large pantry, ample cabinet space for storage and is very clean.

The master bedroom is large enough for a king-sized bed and furniture. It has a bath with two vanities, huge shower, his-and-hers walk-in closets and plenty of storage for linens.The other two bedrooms are full sized with plenty of closet space. They share the second bath which is located between the two on the opposing wall. It is a full bath, including tub with shower.

This great home also has a two-car garage and the backyard is fenced.

To see more photos of the home, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this Featured Home™ on Realtor.com®.

I never get tired of being a Realtor! Although some days are long and hard and I’m dragging when I get home, there are so often days like today, when my afternoon lights up with multiple agents giving me offers on one of my listings.

It’s no surprise, really, I kind of expected a lot of interest in this particular listing. I put it on the market on Monday, posted a lot of pictures and a video, and got 4 showing notifications yesterday.  It’s a great home, and it’s in a very desirable location–good school district, central location, easy commute times to anywhere–and it has so many great upgrades and features.

My sellers were very willing to listen to me and they did everything my home stager recommended.  When we went to shoot photos on Sunday, my husband and I thought we might like to buy it!

Of course, I say that about so many houses I list or sell. I guess I just love beautiful houses.

And even more, I love when I go see my sellers like I will this evening, and I get to help them sell a home they’ve put so much time, money and love into.  I just always am struck that my clients have so many memories in the homes that they’re selling.

Knowing that they have buyers who love this home as much as they do will make it a lot easier for them to move on to new memories.

Posted via web from JuliGrace

Front

I am so excited about my newest listing! It has so many features that buyers are looking for, including a glamorous kitchen, a comfortable sunroom and a large in-law suite!

What a wonderful home in the Terry Sanford School District. It has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, and it is in one of the most desired areas of town. It is centrally located, with short commuting times to anywhere you want to go. Here is a Google map of the location.

This beautifully updated home is located in Murray Hill, an established neighborhood close to Fort Bragg, downtown, and the mall area. Murray Hill and Terry Sanford district are very desirable locations with strong property values.  Check out the video tour of this great home.

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

The upgrades in this home are very well done. The home features a formal living room, kitchen with separate eat-in area and pantry, master bedroom with full bath, in-law suite with all appliances and full bath, sunroom, deck, and above ground pool with deck. It also features hardwood floors throughout the main rooms, tile in the sunroom, and carpet in the in-law suite.
The formal living room is located on the front of the home, and features hardwood floors, crown molding, and double windows for pleasing natural light. An eye-catching feature is the wide door openings from the living room to the kitchen and then into the sunroom; very well designed.

Kitchen

The kitchen was fully remodeled in 2008 and features new KraftMaid maple cabinets, an island, quartz counter tops, GE Profile series double oven and cooktop, Bosch dishwasher and Maytag refrigerator w/French doors and bottom drawer. It includes a pantry with even more cabinets for storage and space for a desk or other furniture.

The master bedroom has space for queen-sized furniture and includes a full bath. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are ample sized and share a full bath located just outside in the hallway.

The in-law suite was added in 2004. It is handicap-compliant. The large space is comfortable and private and ideal for a parent, a long-term guest, or a college student. It has an entrance from the back, and it includes a full kitchen area with appliances, an eat-in area, sitting room, space for full or queen bed, and a full bath with shower and walk-in closet.

Sunroom

The sunroom was completed in 2007. What a great room! Off the dining area, it features French doors, full windows, access to the deck and a beautiful tile floor. It is one of the favorite rooms of the house.

The backyard has privacy fencing. It is a large yard, with room to play or just gather on the deck or the 28’ above ground pool. The pool was added in 2006 and is in excellent condition.

Finally, the hardwood floors were re-done in 2008. New heat pack was added in 2006.

Click here to visit the photo gallery for this home.  Here is a link to more information on Realtor.com.

This home is a great choice for anyone who needs an in-law suite and wants to be in a very desirable neighborhood.  Call your agent to schedule a showing or call or text Julissa @ (910) 644-0303.

Here is a video tour of the home:

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

It is located in Shadowwood, a small subdivision away from the hustle, but still only 20 minutes to post, and close to shopping.The home sits on a large corner lot, and is very pretty, especially when the plants and shrubs are blooming.

A covered porch leads to the entrance, with room enough for chairs and a swing. The foyer is inviting, and opens to the formal living room which features a large wood burning fireplace. The dining room is next, and has double doors with blinds in glass that lead to the patio. The kitchen is very clean, with lots of cabinets for storage and an eat-in area. Appliance are stainless steel.

In addition to the formal rooms, this home also has a very large family room with space for entertaining or playing. Off the family room is an extra room with a bay window and small closet that could be a small bedroom, an office, or a library.

The master suite is large enough for queen sized furniture and includes a full bath with separate vanity area outside the water closet. It includes a full tub with shower. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are roomy and have full sized closets.

The outside of this home is a great space. Nicely landscaped, the front of the home is very pretty and inviting. The backyard is huge, and is enclosed in a full privacy fence. The home has a double carport with room for the largest of cars or minivans, and there is a very large storage shed with shelving, nicely maintained, in the backyard.

Click here to see more photos of this home. For even more information, view the listing on Realtor.com.

This home is a great choice for anyone who needs a lot of space for a little price. Call your agent for a showing or call or text Julissa at (910) 644-0303.

Here is a video tour of the home:

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

This wonderful 4 bedroom home fits well in Country Club North. The precision & attention to detail of the owners is evident in the gorgeous green landscaping, edging, mature shrubs & bushes, brick walkways & clean, well maintained vinyl siding and roofing.

Enter into a rather dramatic foyer with staircase & it is evident this is a very well cared for home. It features a formal living room & formal dining room with plenty of natural light. Additionally, it includes a greatroom with gas fireplace and access to the deck. The fireplace has a blower and is a wonderful way to heat these rooms on cool mornings. The greatroom is open to the kitchen, so people can gather, talk, cook, or relax but still be together.

The kitchen is very large, and often becomes the room everyone like to gather in. It includes tons of cabinet space, a full bar/island that seats 4, & a breakfast/eat-in area that overlooks the backyard. The kitchen is very clean; the appliances were replaced in 2005.

The first floor also includes a full sized laundry room & a half-bath. Laminate flooring is throughout the first floor.

The four bedrooms are all located upstairs, & feature Berber carpet. The master suite is huge! It includes a separate sitting room, space for any sized bedroom furniture, “his-and-hers” walk-in closets (or “hers-and-hers” walk-in closets!), an extra 6 foot closet (for him, no doubt) & a full bath that includes double vanity, jetted garden tub, shower, separate water closet, linen closet & another walk-in closet.

Bedrooms 2 & 3 are on the front side of the house. They include walk-in closets. Bedroom 4 is just as large, & includes a full-sized closet for storage. These 3 bedrooms share a full bath with tub/shower.

The double garage in this home was built with additional space at the front so that it is 5 feet deeper than normal garages. It has 2 garage doors with automatic garage door openers.

The backyard is ideal for relaxing & gathering. The deck is very large & in excellent condition. The yard is well tended, with thick green grass, mature plants, & red brick pavers for walkways. The yard is fully fenced & the fencing is in excellent condition.

Extra features: full sprinkler system; double pane windows with extra tinting and tilt features; landscape lighting, security system with sensors on all doors and windows; heat pump & gas pack replaced in 2005; attic with full flooring for easier storage; & so much more!

Click here to see more photos of this home. For even more information, view the listing on Realtor.com.

This 4 bedroom home is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to be close to post, without long commute times, in an established, but well-tended neighborhood.

This home is located in Harris Place, an established community of single family homes that is just minutes away from post or from major shopping areas. It is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, very well maintained, and is nicely landscaped. It includes enough space for anyone looking for a place to share with friends or family. It has an attractive floor plan that offers the best of quiet and gathering space.

The home features a formal living room with a large widow overlooking the front yard, and a raised dining room with wrought iron railings. The rooms are large, and located on the front side of the house, and because all the other rooms are behind or on the second floor, these rooms offer a quiet setting.

The kitchen is very large and includes an eat-in area with bay window overlooking the backyard. It also includes plenty of cabinet space for storage. Just off the kitchen is a huge family room or greatroom with gas fireplace–large enough for entertaining or playing.   The master bedroom is located upstairs and includes a large closet and full bath with vanity and separate water closet that holds the toilet and tub w/shower. It is large enough for a full suite of bedroom furniture. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are also very large and can accommodate full sized furniture.

The backyard is huge, includes a detached deck and is enclosed in a privacy fence. Finally, the home also features a large 2 car garage with automatic garage door openers.

Click here to see more photos of this home.  For even more information, view the listing on Realtor.com.

This home is an ideal choice for anyone who wants a lot of space. Call your agent to schedule a showing, or call Julissa at (910) 644-0303.

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

This 4 bedroom/ 2.5 bath home is located in Lake Shores, a very popular community located just minutes from post and major shopping areas.

The front of the home is lovely, with nice landscaping, shade trees and a quaint porch that offers a great spot to relax and enjoy the neighborhood. Inside, the home is spacious and very well laid out. The front of the home features the formal living room and the formal dining room. They overlook the front porch, and offer a traditional place for entertaining and relaxing.

The home also has a greatroom, with a fireplace, wainscoting and stained wood chair rail and crown molding. The greatroom also opens to the deck and the kitchen.

The kitchen is large and very clean, and includes ample cabinet space, modern appliances and a great eat-in area with large bay window. A laundry room and half-bath complete the first floor.

Upstairs, the home features a master bedroom suite that is large enough for a full suite of queen-sized furniture. The bath includes a vanity area and a separate water closet, as well as a walk-in closet. The other bedrooms are large and the fourth bedroom can also be used as a bonus room, office, or an entertainment room.

The backyard invites, and features a full deck that is its own living space! It is large enough for 2 or even 3 separate entertaining areas. The backyard offers plenty of room to garden and play and is enclosed by a full privacy fence.

Click here to see more photos of this home.  For even more information, view the listing on Realtor.com.

This is a lovely home, and a place where memories are made. Please call your agent to schedule a showing, or call Julissa Jumper at (910) 644-0303.

Better Than New

This better-than-new home is located in the Ravenwood subdivision in Fayetteville, NC. Ravenwood is a small community of single family homes situated on large lots. It is in Hoke County, and enjoys the lower tax rates, and is away from the hustle and clutter of the city. Convenient to post, the neighborhood is also close to major shopping areas.

This well-designed home was built in 2007.  It features 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths; upgraded paint, carpet, vinyl and tile; and professional landscaping that just can’t be found in any new construction home. It is in excellent condition and has been artfully finished by an interior designer. Click here to see the photo gallery.

There are so many impressive features in this home–huge greatroom with fireplace and vaulted ceiling; formal dining room with gleaming wood floors and arched window; roomy kitchen with eat in space; gorgeous master suite with trey ceiling, bath with double vanity and jetted tub, and full sized walk-in closet; split floor plan with large second, third and fourth bedrooms; plantation-style blinds throughout; screened porch with granite pebble floor; garage with warehouse epoxy floor; and beautiful landscaping including a stone walkway and patio, well tended and unique trees, shrubs and flowers, certified centipede sod, and strawberries and blackberry bushes already planted and established. The house is situated on a large corner lot. There are no homes built behind this one. The backyard is fully fenced.This home has been lovingly furnished and cared for. It is very clean and well-maintained and is a large step up from the builders grade construction and materials of newly constructed homes. Call your agent to schedule a showing!

118 Afton Lane – Home For Sale in Fayetteville (Hoke County), NC

» Powered by XHTML Video Embed

This is a great home for anyone looking for a new home that has more to offer than new construction, and that has the landscaping and improvements already completed. Call me for an appointment to see this home or for more information. (910) 644-0303.