Here is a direct link

I didn't find problems with it. Although I think it would be good if you had some teaser rates in there or paymnt calc.

I think you should reshoot on a sunny day. In your dining room have the lights on when taking pictures

How close is the property to a military base? My impression from the ad is that its in a very rural area, so the most important thing is how close it would be to a military base since that's who you're advertising to. There must be a reason why you chose this military site instead of a FSBO site targeted towards a more general audience. If its not close to a military base, I don't know if I would have chosen this as a tool to sell my house. When my friends were army brats, their families tended to rent instead of buy homes because they kept on moving every two years.

Also, since your house is so dependent on internet traffic because the home doesn't seem like it will get a lot of drive by traffic, that makes it all that more important you have a really good ad with great pictures. Maybe, hire a pro to take the pictures because in all honestly, the pics didn't do anything for me. The word 'charming' is usually a redflag to mean that the house is small, and the first picture serves to emphasize how small it seems. It made look like its a one story, small cottage. I'd get rid of that pic, esp. when you have two pics that are basically showing the same thing. I'd reshoot the dining room pic as well, since its too dark. Maybe, ditch this photo or combine it with the kitchen photo since there's no pic of the bathroom. And, you really need an aerial photo.

Another thing is that its a custom home, but I don't know if I would recognized that if you hadn't mentioned it. You need to show, not tell, that its a custom home w/o making it seem too idiosyncratic.

Yes its near a military base - 13 miles door to door, 10 miles highway.
It looks like a small one story because it is a small one story, walkout.
What other word besides charming can I use? Its not elegant or anything.
I can get a picture of one of the bathrooms.
Google earth doesn't have updated imagery of my place and I doubt they'll be getting new imagery of my area any time soon.

Custom home - I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Do you think it looks like a modular? How exactly do I do what your saying?

Thanks,

In some places, "custom" implies high-end finishes and extra features, such as media rooms, large jacuzzi tubs, etc.

I would change the paragraph you have under DESCRIPTION - break it up into smaller paragraphs. My eyes glazed over just looking at the solid block of text.

Since you have 8 acres of crops, are there some feed stores or farm/ranch stores where you can also advertise, with a flier pinned up?

How are people going to find your house? There are dozens of FSBO sites on the internet. I don't believe that most home buyers would know to search for the site that you are listed on.

Terriks - I know I'm worried about that too - but with dozens of FSBO sites all of which seem to be 500.00 for 6 months I have been reluctant to choose one. I am a slow decision maker which is hurting me.
For 80.00 there isn't anything to lose with this one and at least its a start.

Minet - in Michigan I used to hear the term "stick-built" to denote just that vs. modular. Here in Nebraska I don't hear that so much - my house is not upgrade "custom" heaven but its the term I hear all the time that seems to be the catch all for all not modular. I think the new home market here is so overbearing that it has changed the terms.
Obviously I have some thinking and tweaking to do.
Will try to break out the paragraph a little more.
There are a couple of places to put fliers up - thanks for the reminder.

I am with the others that mentioned retaking the dining room. Try turning on the light in the kitchen or that lamp, that might avoid any glare you get from turning the dining room light on. I think you might want to plant some colorful flowers or get some potted to put outside. It looks kinda plain. The picture of the rear of the home, what is that spot in the middle of all the green grass? Was it explained in the description? The description runs all together and is hard to read. I'd take out charming as well. I think your kitchen picture and living room are nice.

Oh I knew that was going to come up! Its a large mulched area that doesn't have plants in it yet. :)
No sun for the next few days - but when there is some I will try for a new dining room picture. Ironically I had to put up solar shades since to the right is a slider that faces west and in the middle of summer its blinding.
So....just "House on 9 acres"?

You are 20 miles south of Omaha according to google. You could list it for free on the Omaha craigslist.

Here is a link that might be useful: Omaha craigslist.

Mary - I would suggest that you edit the text. There seems to be some duplication there - you mention twice that it was built in 2005, and there is no need to mention when you moved in.

Your house is lovely, you need to talk it up: vaulted ceilings, light filled family room, gleaming hardwood floors in the kitchen and dining areas, custom paint selections, maple cabinetry, views for miles. I would mention what your highest heating bill has ever been.

I really like your home and if I was looking in that area, I'd definitely want to see it.

You have nice, neutral colours, it looks clean and spacious. However, the first outside photo makes the house look smaller than it is. I would show the back walkout, remove the front and take a photo of the masterbedroom or bath.

I agree the dining room photo is too dark.

Are you limited on the number of photos you can post on this site?

I was wondering what that was. I agree with graywings, some things are mentioned twice and the description area seems crowded. I also agree that you need to play up the features more. I don't like House on 9 acres. It needs something more. How about private home on 9 acres.....beautiful home nestled in 9 acres.....lol

Ok, I took some things out of the paragraph and tried to reformat it but it won't let me. No matter how many spaces or paragraph returns it puts it up in one block paragraph. Still its quite a bit shorter now. "Charming" is now "Ranch" I put in "stick-built"
The DR photo I'll do later when the sun comes out - except I'll use my last pic for a bathroom?
I did not put in anything about the mulch spot LOL. It seemed to break up the description quite a bit.
Graywings - I've had it on Craigslist - one email from Arkansas but no return email. I'm not postive but I don't think Omaha is a big Craigslist town. Paypal is HQ'ed here, not that that necessarily has anything to do with it.

Terriks - I know I'm worried about that too - but with dozens of FSBO sites all of which seem to be 500.00 for 6 months I have been reluctant to choose one.

Do those FSBO sites list you on the MLS? If so, it would be money well spent, since that is where buyers are looking for homes. A MLS listing will also get you on Realtor.com, which is the number one searched website for real estate. Otherwise finding your house will be like finding a needle in a haystack. I don't know anyone who says "I'm looking for a home, I think that I'll check out militarybyowner.com". Hopefully you are also advertising in your local newspaper and/or your local paper's website.

(There seems to be alot of confusion about the MLS system. The public MLS systems are not the same as the realtor MLS systems. You must be a paid member of that site. Yes, a MLS listing will get you on REALTOR.COM, but you also have to be a realtor or real estate agent to get it on there.

As far as your write up goes Mary; Most buyers (and I say MOST) choose homes to look at that appeal to their senses. This is why so many agents in the business use, sun filled, gleaming, bright, spacious open, etc. Your ad lacks that.

I would take out the stuff about the septic and heating system etc. Those questions can be asked later. You need to get them interested enough to want to ask. Your ad really says nothing about its features. Im guessing at some, but you can change what needs to be changed. Try something like:

Nearly new ranch style home on 9 rolling acres of meadows and woods. (whatever it is)3 oversized bedrooms, 2 full baths with ceramic tile and jacuzzi tub. Sun filled livingroom features cathedral ceilings,gleaming hardwood floors and beautiful marble and oak fireplace. Kitchen offers ample oak cabinetry (or whatever they are)hardwood floors and crown molding. This beauty also offers a full unfinished walk out basement with 9 ft ceilings and the potential for a 3rd bathroom. 10 miles to whatever, close to.....

Obviously, I dont know if the livingroom is sunfilled, so if its the dininroom or whatever, just change it. My point is to make the house seem interesting enough to want to get more information or take a look. Good Luck

linda -- that actually sounds like a house I wouldn't mind seeing.....good suggestions.

Cordovamom... then I've done at least part of my job :)

I liked that description as well.

"Custom" to me means that it was not built as a tract home or from stock plans.

I know many of you are not familiar with militarybyowner.com but we folks in the military are, and that is probably going to be the target market for this house. Offut AFB is probably the biggest employer around.

pilot....not everyone in the military knows about it...my hubby is military....he just heard about it from me last year....
However, I was told about from a friend who's husband was in the military....so may be we were just out of the loop.

In defense of militarybyowner.com I have gottem most of my interested persons from that website. But it shouldn't be your only online ad. You can list on several free FSBO sites, one being freeFSBO.com. Just Google Free FSBO and you will find several you can list on for little to no cost.

I need to use other websites no doubt. Militarybyowner is good but the reality is that my property is not usually what a military person buys.

I think you need to add a photo of a bathroom, no matter how limited the view may be.

How about something like this for the text:

Acreage! Sparking clean ranch home on 9 acres with 3 bedrooms and two baths. Built in 2005. Spacious kitchen and dining room with gleaming hardwood floors and tons of cabinet and counter space. Semi-open floor plan with vaulted ceilings bring the outside in and give a light and airy feel to the living room. Ceramic tile surrounds the gas fireplace. Screened porch and patio off the ? room are perfect for outdoor entertaining. [Insert something about the bathrooms  corian counters, separate tub and shower?]

Potential mother-in-law suite or home-based business office in the lower level, which is ready for finishing with walk-out doors and patio, 9Â ceilings and bathroom rough-in.

Geo-thermal heating and cooling means minimal energy bills. 2 car oversized garage. Rural water, septic. Located on a paved road just outside Plattsmouth proper. Yard hydrant. Zoned agricultural. DSL Internet, satellite TV.

Wishing you a couple of sunny days to retake photos. Get closer to the house for the first shot. Later shots can show the acreage. The distance shot dwarfs the house.
Second shot should show the rear -- again, get closer to the house.

Buyers want to see kitchens, master BRs, baths, LRs, outdoor terraces or whatever. Pretty up your exterior with some flowering plants around the door. Dress up the interior with some color (flowers, fruit, shawls).

You are under-selling your lovely home with only drab facts. This house is no "pig", and it does need some "lipstick".

"the reality is that my property is not usually what a military person buys."

I suspect you're right for the simple reason that the last thing most militray families would want to worry about is what will happen to the nine acres (eight in crops) if one or both of the parents gets deployed overseas.

I think your target market should be hobby farmers, horse enthusiatics, wannabe kennel owners, young retireees, etc. That nice new house and acrerage for under 300K should be very appealing to that group.

So maybe you need to rethink your market strategy.

I wouldn't want 9 acres right now....my husband just left this past monday for another tour in the middle east.....with 4 kids and a dog....nine acres would kill me

cpowers, maybe the 9 acres could be a place to SEND the 4 kids and dog,heck they could get lost out there for a day or 2... :)

haha....I might think about it from time to time....but overall, they make my life great and I love spending every second I can with them....they grow up sooooo fast.

Mary,

I know I've said it before, don't be pennywise but pound foolish. Don't use a FSBO site because it happened to be the cheapest you could find. You still need to relocate in a month or two, right? I hate to say this, but so far, I have a bad feeling.

Take your photos closer to the house. Your picture of the outside makes the house look 'lost and lonely.' It's a nice house, follow the advice given.

Good luck,

I tried to link to the picture of your dining room that I redid. I think it looks better.....any ideas on how to get it on here???

Sorry to disappear. I modified the text using most of Graywings writing. Added a bathroom photo. Haven't retaken the others yet.
The 8 acres the house isn't on (yard, windbreak) take care of themselves since its leased to a farmer. I had a guy lined up to put it in native grasses this year which would have been some maintenance till it got going but cx'ed that. Easier to take it out of crop and put it in pasture or whatever the new owners want to do with it than change it from native grasses.
cpowers21 - did you photoshop the DR photo or something? You can email it me if you want. Or put it on one of the free websites for linking here - photobucket is used a lot.

Feedingfrenzy said "I think your target market should be hobby farmers, horse enthusiatics, wannabe kennel owners, young retireees, etc."

I think she's onto something. I don't know if I'd go with FSBO if I was appealing to a very specialized market. But then again, I don't know your area at all, or your contact network. Definitely get the word out to everyone and their brother. The property looks very good. Good luck.

I liked everything but the price. $296,999.00! Just because we put up with odd prices established by conniving marketers for other products doesn't mean you or I have to go along with that in our personal businessto control it. Come on...you want $297,000 for your house, so why not just list that simpler number up front? Prospective buyers may think you're going to be difficult to deal with if you've got your house priced to the dollar.

I never thought about photobucket. I'll get to work.

Let me know if this works and if it looks better to you.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I think the house has many things going for it. Newer home, geothermal heat, low utilities, oversized garage, lots of acreage, and space between the neighbors.

Here are my thoughts on what might help. The outside needs bushes or plants. There isn't a path to the front door. I'd position a couple of large planters on each side of the front door to direct people's attention to the entrance. Plant some flowers along the front of the house so you will have bright spring flowers blooming once the weather warms up a little more.

The inside looks alright but it needs a little warmth as well.

I'd re-arrange the living room. The TV looks off balance sharing the table with the lamp. I'd move the table lamp next to the couch and put the floor lamp on the other side of the TV, next to the fireplace. Put the chair on the other side.

I would definitely put something on the dining room table. Flowers or a bowl of fruit? How about a slightly larger rug under the table? Something that matches the chairs. Same with the kitchen counter.

Home buyer's look for the most bang for their buck in the kitchen and bath. Make these look expensive and you will be more likely to get your asking price.

I can't tell what is along the tops of the kitchen cabinets, but it looks like some type of autumn colored fake foliage. Can you replace this with something more alive and vibrant? Perhaps dark green colored foliage or large, attractive wooden bowls, etc. No patterns or anything too busy.

You might consider getting some matching towels to go with the shower curtain in the bathroom. Dressier shower curtain hooks (silver) would make that grey/green counter pop. Replace that green soap dispenser with something that isn't plastic. A dish of decorative soaps and some nice hand towels neatly stacked next to the sink? I don't care for the flowers(?) hanging from the shower curtain above the toilet. Once again, the plastic.

There is one way to brighten up the pics without waiting for a sunny day. Have someone stand behind you with a spotlight (buy at an auto parts store) and point it in the direction where you are taking pics.

I agree with Feedingfrenzy: "I think your target market should be hobby farmers, horse enthusiatics, wannabe kennel owners, young retireees, etc."

I would be inclined to try and target this market as well as those who work from home. Artists, writers, computer programmers.

Is there a Penny Saver publication in your area? I'd put ads in newspapers in neighboring states as well. Especially Colorado.

A link that might be useful: horseseller.com