The signs in the driveway are cute, but let's get real here people: buyers simply won't take you seriously if you don't have an professional listing hosted on an online MLS, like The Resource Group, LLC.

Now that the entire world has seemingly been taken over by interconnectedness, technology and everything, you as a seller are really shooting yourself in the foot if you're not tapping into that valuable resource to reach people and create interest.

Released in the National Association of Realtors 2009 Statistics Sheet-where they compile endless amounts of data on everything involved in the real estate market-is some very demonstrative data showing that people are using the internet in greater numbers and with greater success.

According to last year's NAR Stat Sheet, more that 9 out 10 buyers (94%) used the Internet to find their homes. Likewise, 90% of sellers list their homes online. So if you are one of the few that aren't listing online, you're cutting yourself off from 94% (!!) of buyers and remaining within the 10% minority. Plus, since only 11% of the market is For Sale by Owner-driven, you'll do well to cater to buyers that have an agent working for them. They won't even glimpse your house if you don't have an honest-to-goodness MLS.

The stats are in and there's just no way to deny it anymore. An online presence when selling your home is becoming the norm-and fast. So stay up on your prowess. The Resource Group, LLC is a great place to start. Not only do you get a professional looking listing service, but you have plenty of help at your fingertips-from online video tutorials to forums and communities with countless resources.

Fixing a few simple things before you sell benefits everyone.  Sellers feel they put their best foot forward and buyers feel a home is ready to move into.  Take a week to take care of these 10 simple fixes.

10.  Be ruthless about odors.
Smells don't sell and buyers might think indicate real problems that need to be fixed. Remove odor from kitchens and carpets with a deep cleaning.  Any signs of mold or grime should be removed not just "de-oderized" with a scented candle or two.  A clean house is one of the most important things you can do to make your home feel ready to move in.  It helps buyers and helps you sell.

9. Open your doors.
Make sure that all doors, cabinets and drawers open all the way without bumping into anything or sticking. Clean out the entry closet and put only a few hangers so that the buyer can visualize winter coats. This is a simple way of forcing you to de-clutter rooms and allow buyers to check out everything they need to see.

8.  Clean and fix knobs and handles.
Nothing says "hello" like a shiny front door knob.  But buyers will see and value working clean door handles throughout the house.  Don't overlook sink, tub and shower faucets, expect buyers to test them.

7.  Let the view show through.
Make sure your windows are spotless and bushes are trimmed so viewer can see in and out.  If a window looks onto an unsightly yard or neighbor's home, place a screen in front of it or cover it with a opaque shade to let light in but hide the mess.

6. Hide unique decor.
Unique possessions and  personal color choices are what make a home your own.  But they can kill a sale.  Pick the pieces that are most neutral and create simple room designs.  Put away most of your art and photos (exceptions are listed number 5).  Keep telling yourself you are designing for The Pottery Barn and you'll get the right note.

5.  Personal photos - an exception.
Most advice says put away anything personal, but a few well chosen photos of you and your family enjoying the house and yard can convey the possibilities of living in the home.  If it is Winter a  make sure to have some pictures, in frames, of the yard and garden in Spring or Summer, maybe even a family barbecue in the summer.  A photo of a Christmas tree in the living room can set the stage for buyers new memories.

4.  Shine a light.
Increase the wattage of the light bulbs  all through your house, and while your at it make sure all the shades are washed inside and out.

3.  Counter space rules the kitchen.
Even a small kitchen looks better when all the counters are clear.  Put away all the appliances, bottles, jars and baskets.   One basket of colorful fruit should be enough.

2.  Steam clean carpets.
Few of us see the little paths and dirt that accumulate on carpets in daily life, except buyers, they see all!  When someone walks in a home for the first time they are looking at the floor to see where they are stepping and every stain will show.  Rent a steam cleaner for a weekend and go over every carpet a couple times.  You might even consider buying new carpet for the entry hall, it's a small space where a little expense can make a big impact.

1.  Have a garage sale!
The best tip is to start out your sale by getting rid of things you don't need.  A garage sale works on so many levels: you de-clutter your home, save on moving costs and put some cash in your pocket to make the small changes you need to make your house shine.

Yes, people do buy homes during the Winter.  December - January may not be the highest selling season but there are still buyers out there if you know how to entice them to view your home.

Here are a few ways for-sale-by-owner sellers can capitalize on the season.

1.  Focus on no children families.  "In mid-winter there are fewer buyers with kids. The reason is simple; the children are in school." according to Bob Irwin, Best -selling FSBO author  "Most buyers with families wait until late spring and summer when the kids are out of school to move. That means that your most likely good buyer is either going to be a mature couple - empty nesters looking to downsize or move sideways - OR, first time buyers - young couples without families."   Target your marketing toward these buyers

2.  Keep your driveway clear.  In snowy regions a packed driveway will make your home feel locked in and un inviting.

3.  Make sure the thermostat is on high when buyers visit, now is not the time to save on gas when you are showing people your cozy house.

4.  Point out winterized features.  Do you have new thermal windows?  Is it easy to get in and out of your local street even in heavy snow?   Every home has some winter advantages, take a minute to change your online listing to reflect these.

5.  Use comforting words.  Toasty, Warm and Cozy all sound great when it's cold out and will comfort buyers that your home will be a haven for them year round

6.  Update your photo with a few fun holiday decorations.  Do you put lights on your house?  We don't recommend over doing it, but a few lights will liven up your primary photo of you home in the period between now and New Years.  Just remember to change the photo back after the holiday season.

7.  First time buyer help.  As we mentioned first time buyers often are young couples with no children and they are still looking mid winter.   Consider offering to carry a second seller financed mortgage if you are able to.  If this works for you don't be shy about pointing this out in your listing - it can be a real advantage over other options for new buyers.

8.  Create holiday cards featuring your house to post in local grocery stores, bulletin boards and around town.  Buyers will feel you are a friendly seller and be comfortable calling directly.

9.  Ignore low-ball offers.  The truth is during winter you can also get a lot of bottom fishing buyers - the type who are looking for a deal and will make a super low-ball offer.   In the past we have suggested you not ignore any offer, but treat these offers with a heavy grain of salt.  We suggest that you reply in a friendly manner that the offer is well outside your range and with them very good luck finding a home.  They might come back with a better offer or just move on.

10.  Keep the Christmas clutter and entry area mess to a minimum.   It is easy to leave coats, boots and scarves all around the entry area, but this still is the most important place for a first impression.   Keep it clear when showing a home so that it is easy to hang your buyers' coats up without blocking the view.  Same advice for holiday decorations; by all means decorate, but consider a few touches in specific areas.  This will leave most rooms open to your buyers imaginations.

11.  It sounds corny but be sure to offer buyers a warm drink of cider and a treat.  It breaks the ice and gives you a good chance to describe your home. Then be sure to leave them on their own to wander around with their mug in hand.  They will feel more at home right away

12.  Finally don't panic.  This is an unusual year for sales and with spring just around the corner your buyers could be coming your way sooner than you think.

The Federal Trade Commission once again has shown how important a low cost MLS listing is for consumers with their recent decision on November 2nd.

Internet listings have become "vital" to real-estate sales, the FTC said maintaining their long-term position that consumers must have access to the MLS to be able to sell efficiently. Over the last 18 months the FTC has supported the rights of home sellers to be able to list their homes on the MLS using discount listing services such as Owners.com and not pay full-service brokerage commissions. 

In a case regarding the Detroit area MLS Realcomp II, the largest real-estate listing group in Michigan, the FTC's opinion stated that the group had violated federal law by restricting some discount real-estate listings from its own and other publicly available websites.  

"Given the market structure and competitive dynamics of the residential real estate industry, we find that Realcomp's policies harmed competition and created a likelihood that valuable rivalry among real estate service providers would be suppressed", Commissioner William Kovacic wrote in the opinion.

Because 90% of homes for sale are listed on the MLS we firmly believe at Owners.com that it is critical for consumers to have access to listings without having to pay a full 3% selling agent's commission. The fact that the US Federal Government agrees with us feels pretty good about helping our customers and home sellers nationwide!

Opinions about whether to hold an open house vary greatly across the country. You'll hear  real estate agnets flatly refuse to hold open listings because they view them as a wasted marketing effort, or they'll say open houses are just a tool to find the agent new clients.

There is some truth to those resons, however, open houses also sell houses. Consider also that many listing agents don't want to give up their Sunday afternoons to sit an open house and talk to strangers.

Although not all homes are candidates for an open house due to location, condition or competition in the marketplace, you won't know how much buyer traffic you will draw until you try. Exposure to potential buyers and to individuals who will talk about your home to others is almost always worthwhile.

Best Time for an Open House

• In many communities, Sunday afternoon is best.
• Two hours is typically the minimum, but some are held open four hours, for example, from 1 to 5 PM.
• Some agents do "blitzes," and trade off shifts, holding homes open from early morning until late evening.
• Schedule your open house to avoid conflicts with holidays, community celebrations or special events such as the Super Bowl.
• Check the weather forecast, too, because cold or rainy days tend to make people stay home.

At Least 7 Days Before Your First Open House

Your home needs to be in prime condition before you hold your first open house. Here are few things I suggest doing:

• Host a broker preview. Even if your home is not listed with a brokerage, if you are willing to pay a selling agent a commission, you can invite agents and brokers to preview your home. Agents can give you valuable feedback about how your home shows and whether your price will meet buyer expectations.

• Move some furniture into storage. Sometimes sellers don't want to cooperate with saging their home. Smart sellers prepare a home for sale and move at least one piece of furniture out of every room. It makes the space look larger and more inviting to buyers -- to the people whose opinion matters.

• Remove items not included in the sale. Telling a buyer she cannot have your dishwasher because it's too expensive to leave behind or that the dining room chandelier does not stay with the house because your father gave it to you serves only to make the buyer demand it. If buyers don't see it, they won't want it.

• Make arrangements for your pets to leave the house.  Call a family member or friend and ask if they could take care of your pets for a few hours. Pets are also a distraction during an open house, and you want buyers to admire your home, not your cockatoo.

• Part of your marketing strategy should include printing four-color flyers or brochures promoting your home. I use card stock coated in gloss. It makes them hard to fold, and they stand out among the other flyers buyers pick up. But make sure you include photographs, specs and pertinent information such as the price on your flyer, because it's easy for buyers to forget particulars.

48 to 72 Hours Before Your First Open House

Clean and scour the house from top to bottom. Vacuum cobwebs from corners, wipe windowsills and wash the windows, inside and out. Forget preconceived notions about cleanliness -- pay attention to small details and concentrate on making the home appear sterile.

• Buff surfaces, appliances and floors to a gleaming shine.
• Launder and fluff bedding, towels and rugs.
• Touch up spots on the walls.
• Sweep out the garage.
• Prune bushes, deadhead flowers, clean the sidewalks and mow the lawn.

24 Hours Before Your First Open House

Most of your work should be completed by now, and any anxiety that is sometimes caused by last-minute chores should dissipate. At this point, your home sparkles and glitters. In fact, you may be thinking to yourself that the house looks too nice to sell!

• Open all the windows to air out the house.
• Bake or pick-up treats for your open house guests.
• Give every room the "once over," by standing in the doorways and scrutinizing the view.
• Set out cards that house hunters can fill out to give you feedback from buyers buyers.
• Arrange flowers in attractive vases and place in appropriate places throughout your home to add color and floral fragrance.

When you're finished, go out to dinner and reward yourself. Dining out has an added benefit too; at least you won't be temped to mess up the house