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What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? : ENERGY STAR What is ENERGY STAR? | Newsroom Search What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Benefits of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Homebuyer Resources New Homes Partner Locator For Residential Building Professionals PRODUCTS HOME IMPROVEMENT NEW HOMES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PARTNER RESOURCES -- Home > New Homes > What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? -- -- What are ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes? ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 national Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through a combination of: building envelope upgrades, high performance windows, controlled air infiltration, upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, tight duct systems and upgraded water-heating equipment. These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution. ENERGY STAR also encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, as well as features designed to improve indoor air quality. Here are some questions commonly asked about ENERGY STAR qualified homes: Look for this label when buying your next home. How does a home earn the ENERGY STAR label? The ENERGY STAR label is earned only after the home's energy efficiency is verified, either by an independent third-party such as an accredited home energy rater or Builder Option Package (BOP) verifier , or by adhering to the quality control procedures established for HUD-code manufactured homes . What types of homes can earn the ENERGY STAR label? Any single-family or multi-family residential home that is three stories or less in height can qualify to receive the ENERGY STAR label. This includes traditional site-constructed homes as well as modular, systems-built (e.g., insulated concrete forms, structurally insulated panels), and HUD-code manufactured homes. Can existing homes earn the ENERGY STAR? Yes. Existing homes can be qualified for the ENERGY STAR label if they meet ENERGY STAR's performance guidelines. However, it is not always practical or cost-effective to bring an existing home to this level of efficiency. Nevertheless, the energy efficiency of existing homes can often be greatly improved using cost-effective retrofit techniques. Visit Home Improvement to learn how. Do energy-efficient homes look different? No, builders and developers constructing ENERGY STAR qualified new homes do not have to alter their architectural designs. An ENERGY STAR qualified new home can be built in whatever style the consumer prefers or is most popular in a particular geographic region. Does an energy-efficient home cost more? No. An ENERGY STAR qualified new home actually costs less because you will spend less on your new home's utility bill each month. These energy savings can more than offset any increase in mortgage payments needed for the improved energy features and can result in a positive monthly cash flow. Further, ENERGY STAR financing partners offer special mortgage packages for buyers of ENERGY STAR qualified new homes. How will I know if a home is labeled ENERGY STAR? Look for the ENERGY STAR label, which should be prominently displayed on the circuit breaker box. You can also ask your builder for the home's ENERGY STAR certificate. This optional certificate indicates that the home has been verified to meet EPA's ENERGY STAR qualified new homes performance guidelines. How can I participate in ENERGY STAR as a home industry professional? ENERGY STAR currently partners with four main types of home industryprofessionals: homebuilders, home energy raters, utilities and other sponsoring organizations, and home lenders . After completing and signing a partnership agreement, partners can take advantage of the widely recognized ENERGY STAR name, logos, and a variety of other marketing resources. Other home industry professionals can promote ENERGY STAR as well. Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes > Products | Home Improvement | New Homes | Business Improvement | Partner Resources Newsroom | Privacy | Contact Us | Site Index EPA Home EPA Search DOE Home DOE Search

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Breckenridge and Summit County Colorado Real Estate Brian Donovan 970-390-9775 "Your Professional Breckenridge and Summit County Area Real Estate Guide" The primary goal of this web site is to make your search for Breckenridge and Summit County real estate as easy as possible. You have the freedom on this site to search the entire Breckenridge and Summit County real estate database of available properties for sale on your own. If your not sure where to start or would like some input from me, you can contact me by email or telephone at anytime and I'll be happy to help you as much as you'd like. Summit County encompasses Breckenridge, Blue River, Keystone, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne and Copper Mountain. One stop shopping for real estate in Breckenridge and all Summit County real estate! Brian Donovan Colorado West Real Estate Keeping it Simple! PO Box 3595 Breckenridge, CO 80424 Office: 970-547-1800 ext. 305 Toll Free 866-221-9506 ext. 305 Cell 970-390-9775 Fax 970-547-1801 Email: bdonovan4@cs.com GET OUT AND PLAY! SELLERS! If you currently own property (residential or land) somewhere in Summit County and plan on selling sometime in the next few months, this FREE service is designed to help establish your property's current market value. Simply choose Market Analysis and fill out the requested information. I will use comparable sold listings to help you calculate the fair market value of your property. BUYERS! There are all kinds of great local links over on the left side of this home page. You could spend hours there, (you might want to book mark this home page!) , but if you want to dive in and start looking at what's for sale around Summit County then simply choose Search All Property and search the entire Summit County database of property for sale. If you are not sure what you are looking for or want me to search for you, please contact me. You can also automatically receive personalized MLS listings by e-mail. Early each morning, (after a coffee or two from Clint's Bakery) I will search the local MLS and find the homes that match your criteria and notify you immediately with the latest listing information!! Simply choose Dream Home Finder and fill in the requested information. So please, enjoy your visit to this web site, and contact me with any questions. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you! KEEPING IT SIMPLE! Contact Brian | Search ALL Property Website design and hosting by iHOUSE ®

Property Listings Accepts a

Canada Real Estate for Sale. Canadian property listing classifieds. Internet Property Listings Real Estate For Sale Throughout Canada Search for available FSBO Private Sales and MLS Realtor Listings or List your property for sale on our Classifieds Web Site. | Home | Search / Add Listings | Selling Through a Realtor | Selling Privately | Buying Tips | Selling Tips | Moving Tips | | Business Opportunity | Pricing / Special Promotion | Listing Benefits | Payment Options | Payment Procedures | Pay for Listing | | Franchise Opportunity | Teen / Child Safety Tips | FAQ's | Links | Terms of Use / Disclaimer | Contact Us | Refund Policy | Decided To Sell Your Real Estate On Your Own Through Private Sale? List your " For Sale By Owner " home or property with us and maximize its exposure to thousands of potential buyers from Canada and around the World! Selling Your Property Through A Realtor Or Real Estate Agent? Advertise your property through us as well and expose it to thousands of potential buyers who find our site when searching the Internet for realestate! For Only $49.00 your property is listed on our web site until it is sold! This is a ONE-TIME only fee, no commissions, no contracts, no hassles and no headaches...............Ever! ( See our Special Promotion ) Welcome to Canada's Fastest Growing Real Estate For Sale Resource! Click on Canadian map to view available properties for sale If you are in the market to buy or sell a single family home, house, cabin, condo / condominium, mobile trailer homes, land, cottage, chalet, recreational or vacation land, fly-in-fishing or hunt camp, acreage, farm house, lake front, lot, resort, log home, ranch, modular home, vacation properties, apartment building, duplex, triplex, fourplex, horse ranch, barn, investment property, townhouse, house boat, lodge, bed and breakfast / B & B, time share, lake, sublet, ski resort, franchise, commercial building, restaurant, hotel, motel, inn, trailer park, business, warehouse and office warehouses, shopping centers, office buildings etc..... You've come to the right place! We list a wide variety of residential, recreational, seasonal, retirement, commercial and industrial real-estate properties, including for sale by owner through " Your Realtor " and for sale by owner ( fsbo ) through " Private Sale ". Here you will find every form of real-estate from tree houses to sky scrapers! Search for available properties in Canadian towns and cities including Victoria British Columbia, Edmonton Alberta, Regina Saskatchewan, Winnipeg Manitoba, Toronto and Ottawa Ontario, Quebec City and Montreal Quebec, Fredericton New Brunswick, St. John's Newfoundland, Halifax Nova Scotia, Iqaluit Nunavut, Charlottetown PEI, Yellowknife North West Territories etc...... Feel free to tour our site and view available listings for sale. Search through our many resources including a convenient mortgage calculator and detailed maps by MapQuest located on most listings. Also our moving and relocation tips, links and resources. MapQuest lets you see exactly where the property you are interested in viewing is located and also provides detailed driving directions to the driveway of your new home or land from any location. View All Properties For Sale! Special Promotion! Reg. $99.00 ........ Pay only $49.00 * $49.00 is a One Time Only fee for Advertising your home, condominium, cottage, farm, land, acreage, apartment, business etc. for sale on our Classifieds Web Site until it is sold. We will donate half of all income generated from this web site to help fund my cross Canada skate for MS. (Multiple Sclerosis) Click here for complete details. Our Company's Goal Our goal is to connect Realestate buyers with sellers, making our site "the place" people turn to first when buying or selling realestate across Canada, USA, UK, Asia, and Internationally! We help provide prospective realestate buyers from all provinces and states with a wide variety of properties to choose from. How? 1) By offering agents and private sellers affordable listing rates, special promotions and resources such as: House Hunter and Comparison Shopper . 2) By filling our classifieds database with as many private and MLS Realtor properties from every town, city, province and state across Canada, USA and the World! 3) By effectively promoting and marketing our web site locally, nationally and internationally so Canadian properties for sale will be seen by prospective buyers. 4) And by filling our web pages with helpful tips, links and resources for anyone buying or selling their home or land. New Realestate Listings Added Daily! Our rapidly growing realestate for sale classifieds database is being updated daily. Search for sales in rural areas, small towns and cities located in all Canadian Provinces and Territories . Please visit our realestate classifieds web site often to locate newly listed properties for sale by owner, through Realtors, agents and realestate professionals in your desired area. Since July 2003 Thank you for visiting Please come again! Click on the photos below to view our Feature Properties and to see how your listing will appear when viewed by prospective buyers. Feature Property # 1 Parrsboro Nova Scotia ( Realtor ) Feature Property # 2 Sudbury Ontario ( FSBO ) Feature Property # 3 North Bay Ontario ( FSBO ) Feature Property # 4 SOLD Manitouwadge Ontario ( FSBO ) Feature Property # 5 Lac du Bonnet Manitoba ( FSBO ) View All Properties For Sale! Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland - Northwest Territories - Nova Scotia Nunavut - Ontario - Prince Edward Island - Quebec - Saskatchewan - Yukon - Alaska - USA - International Payment Options Internet Property Listings Accepts a wide variety of secure payment options including major Credit Cards, PayPal ®, Interac Direct Deposit ®, cheques and money orders. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you. Weather you are interested in buying or selling Real-estate, think of Internet Prop. Listings first. Internet Property Listings Built, owned and operated by J-R Daoust Member of the Kirkland Lake, Ontario Chamber of Commerce We service all Canadian provinces, the United States ( USA ), UK, Asia and International Countries. Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland - Northwest Territories - Nova Scotia Nunavut - Ontario - Prince Edward Island - Quebec - Saskatchewan Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America Billions and Billions Served: Monthly Traffic to WSI Franchise Corporate Web Site Hits Record High By utilizing the same technologies that helped to establish online success for their clients, WSI Franchise own corporate Web Site now receives more traffic than any other franchise Web Site in the world. | Home | Search / Add Listings | Selling Through a Realtor | Selling Privately | Buying Tips | Selling Tips | Moving Tips | | Business Opportunity | Pricing / Special Promotion | Listing Benefits | Payment Options | Payment Procedures | Pay for Listing | | Franchise Opportunity | Teen / Child Safety Tips | FAQ's | Links | Terms of Use / Disclaimer | Contact Us | Refund Policy | Warning Beware of calls or e-mails from Africa regarding the purchase of your property. Click Here for "419 Africa Fraud Scam" information! Awards Alberta - British Columbia - Manitoba - New Brunswick - Newfoundland - Northwest Territories - Nova Scotia Nunavut - Ontario - Prince Edward Island - Quebec - Saskatchewan Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America

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Virginia Real Estate: Charlottesville, Richmond, Northern Va Virginia Real Estate, Homes, Farms and Land, Charlottesville, Richmond, Northern VA WELCOME to the leading online Virginia real estate site for property listings and some of the finest luxury homes, land and farms for sale in the state, including equestrian acreage, beautiful country estates, condominiums and residential properties. The glorious landscape, radiant skyline and rolling hills that cascade along the country side of stately manor homes and luxurious estates that comprise our Northern Va, Richmond and Charlottesville real estate listings offer a peaceful and enlightening backdrop for raising a family and living life to its fullest. When you are ready to search for and/or sell your home and need an experienced Virginia real estate agent , consider the realtors that who strive to provide the best personalized and professional service for each and every client. We feature some of the finest Virginia MLS properties and offer experienced relocation services for Charlottesvi l le real estate , Albemarle County, Scottsville, Va., Madison, Greene, Scottsville, Augusta County, Richmond MLS, Central Va., Northern Va. and beyond... See our Statewide Exceptional Properties See our Middleburg Exceptional Properties FEATURED VIRGINIA HOMES FOR SALE Virginia Real Estate in Charlottesville, Scottsville, Augusta County, Staunton, Northern VA We maintain strategic partnerships in order to provide additional Virginia realtor and home buying , sales, services and resources in Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William County, Middleburg and Rappahannock, including homes, estates, farms and land for sale. Listing some of the most beautiful estates properties and residential real estate in Virginiahomes in the Old Dominion , o ur professional realtors, agents and luxury realty brokers are ready to find the right home for you. If you are searching for a home neighboring the nicest folk in the country, look no further than the Old Dominion, where peace of mind comes naturally. We are the Virginia realtors with residential homes for sale and luxury real estate from in and around town and across the state, not only Central Va and Richmond , but also Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Wintergreen, Staunton VA real estate , Nelson County, Greene County, Madison County, Scottsville , Augusta County, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William County. Among our Virginia real estate listings and properties, you will find a balanced climate, and a venerable tradition of social and economic stability that have combined to create what Thomas Jefferson called "the Eden of the United States." Perhaps that is why Jefferson chose the Charlottesville country side, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, to build his home, Monticello, and to found the University of Va. Charlottesville is a cultural hub permeating with a laid-back, enjoy-life attitude, and one of the best places to experience this first-hand is on the Historic Downtown Mall. Closed to vehicles, the Downtown Mall is a brick-paved, pedestrian-friendly row of lively restaurants, cafés, and bars—most with outdoor seating under the tall, shady oak tress, and many amplified in the evening with live local jazz, rock, funk, and more. If you decide to choose a life amidst the beauty, peace, serenity and security of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find that at any one time, the market offers a broad selection of properties and Va homes for sale, from Colonial farm houses to Jefferson-type estates in a wide range of prices. In addition, the market for attractive and luxurious Virginia homes for sale extends up and down the valley, from Northern to Central Va. stretching beyond the mountains to the eastern shore beaches. Take a tour in whatever location you choose with one of our qualified relocation agents or find your perfect luxury home within our pages and pages of featured property listings drawn from area association MLS multiple listing services. We offer a wide range of properties, land, houses, luxury real estate and homes for sale by owner - whether it is a country cottage or an elegant estate with farm land in Albemarle County, Va., or a condominium in Northern Virginia, we specialize in representing your interests in all aspects of the contractual process and promise to find the best available property at the best price. Our Virginia realtors and agents list some the most beautiful properties and homes and land for sale in the Charlottesville MLS/IDX, Richmond area real estate, the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Va, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, and Middleburg. Our selected luxury estates, residential homes, Virginia horse farms, land and equestrian real estate property range from any where around $250,000 to well over $1 million. With a plethora of beautiful estates, manor homes, luxury real estate, Virginia farms and down-home country estates, the great countryside of Virginia is a sanctuary for those looking to escape "the big-city life". Please make sure that you look through all of our estates, land and farm listings from Charlottesville, Richmond and Northern Virginia. Quick Site Map Welcome to Virginia | Virginia Home | Our Realtors & Agents | State Photo Tour | Va Realtor Services | Real Estate Services Statewide Exceptional Homes | Charlottesville, Albemarle Co. Homes | Charlottesville MLS Search | Richmond Va Real Estate Scottsville Homes for Sale in Albemarle Co. | Lynchburg, Va, Amherst County Homes | Staunton Va, Augusta Co. Real Estate Nelson County, Va, Wintergreen Properties | Madison. Greene County Properties | Northern Va Homes for Sale | Arlington Va Fairfax | Prince William County | Rappahannock Va Land & Acreage | Middleburg Homes | Middleburg Exceptional Properties About Virginia Real Estate | Moving, Relocation Resources | Moving to Charlottesville | Home Buying | Selling Your Home Charlottesville, Albemarle Co., Central Virginia Agents & Realtors | Northern Virginia Realtors | Richmond Va Area Realtors Unique Homes | Equestrian Farms | Golf Properties | Historic Homes | Waterfront Estates | Moving to Charlottesville, Va About Charlottesville Real Estate | About Albemarle County, Va | About Central Virginia | About the University of Virginia About Madison County, Greene County | About Wintergreen | About Middleburg | About Northern Va | About Richmond SITE FEEDBACK © 2000-2005 Virginia Estates/Frank Hardy Properties, All Rights Reserved 1575 State Farm Blvd, Suite 5 Charlottesville, Va 22901 directions | disclaimer | site map

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MSN Money - 6 reasons your home isn't selling MSN Home Hotmail My MSN Sign In Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Banking Home My Accounts Bill Pay Mortgages/Loans Services Credit Reports Financial Tools Track your bills Resources Decision Centers Home Buying Guide Home Financing Your Credit Rating Financial Privacy Better Banking Credit Card Smarts Bankruptcy Guide Commentary Index Related Links Manage Debt More on Budgeting Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Tap your home for extra cash Mortgage rates in your area Your credit score in seconds Home mortgage FAQs Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site Map Recent articles by Bankrate.com: • Will I lose my frequent-flier miles? , 10/6/2005 • Should you insure your airline tickets? , 9/26/2005 • 10 after-the-disaster do's and don'ts , 9/21/2005 More... Related Articles Speed your home sale with these fast fix-ups The hidden financial truth about remodeling Smart -- and stupid -- ways to pay for your remodel The Basics 6 reasons your home isn't selling advertisement So, you're in agony because your home has languished on the market week after week. Here are some culprits that may be keeping buyers away in droves. By Bankrate.com Has your lawn grown up around that "For Sale" sign? Have the wasps moved into the lock box on your front door? Did you just receive an invitation to your real estate agent's retirement party? If so, chances are your home sale fizzled. Here are the six most-common reasons why homes don't sell and what you can do about it. Your home is overpriced Optimistic home sellers love to parrot the old adage, "There's a buyer for every home." But they often leave off the qualifier: "at the buyer's price." Find a loan that's right for you at the Loan Center The fact is that buyers, not sellers, ultimately determine the market value of a home. You can ask for the moon and set your listing price well above comparable properties in your neighborhood, but at some point it will be up to you, the seller, to accept what the buyer thinks your home is worth. Overpricing is the most common reason homes don't sell. When you ask an unrealistic price, it sets in motion a process that often works against you. Here's why: Most real estate agents, and hence most qualified buyers, will see your new listing within 30 days. If it is overpriced by as little as 5%, it will be duly noted and interest in your property will wane, especially if you show no intention of coming off your asking price. You likely already priced out buyers who might have qualified for financing at a more reasonable price. Even if you manage to find a buyer at your inflated asking price, the property may not appraise at that figure and the financing will fall apart. Your real estate agent may have approved or even suggested the inflated asking price to secure your listing. Conversely, other agents often use overpriced properties like yours to help sell their own listings. ("Here's what they are asking. Now would you like to take a second look at that first house I showed you?") "If you have a house that really should be priced at $200,000 and you've got it listed at $260,000, you are trying to compete against homes that really are worth close to $300,000 and all of a sudden your home really is not competing well," says Jeri Fisher of Jeri Fisher Real Estate in Missoula, Mont. "You want to compete with what is available out there among homes similar to yours." If your home remains on the market for too long, agents and buyers may begin to wonder if there are other, perhaps more serious reasons why it isn't selling. "It becomes shopworn, the same as a jacket hanging in the store week after week," says Fisher. "People are aware that it has been on the market a long time and agents stop showing it." Your home doesn't 'show' well Your home is competing against shiny new houses in those pristine subdivisions out in the suburbs with their attractive prices, incentives and community amenities. Face it: Even the best old house needs a little makeover if it hopes to attract a qualified buyer. The good news is most of the work will be cosmetic and relatively inexpensive: a new coat of paint, a few attractive window boxes, a thorough cleaning of floors and carpets. Voila! The place may look good enough to reconsider. A good real estate agent can advise you on where your time and money are best spent. "Price and condition are two things that the seller can do something about," says Fisher. "I always give people my 'honey-do' list. I think paint is probably a seller's best friend because it makes things smell fresh and look fresh. If it's time to paint, it's time to paint. It's the best return on investment." You're in a bad location Nothing has a greater effect on your home's value than its location. Your humble abode might be worth a king's ransom were it located in Palm Beach, Aspen or San Francisco. It might even jump thousands in value just two streets over in the next (and far superior) school district. "If you're in one of the higher-ranked schools around here, you're going to add $50,000 to $100,000 to the price of the same house," says Lenn Harley, a broker with Homefinders.com Inc. in Maryland and Virginia. The point is, location rules in real estate. If your home's location is less than desirable, your options are somewhat limited. A good real estate agent will do his best to help you accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative of your circumstances, say by using foliage to screen off offensive adjoining properties or dampen traffic noise. The best way to compensate for a poor location is to reduce your asking price or offer attractive incentives such as seller financing or a lease option with rent credit. You have a lousy listing agent Yep, they exist: Real estate agents who mislead, misfire and misbehave. Their bad advice can cost you plenty in time, money and the sheer hassle of keeping the place show-ready 24/7. The agent from hell will allow you to overprice your home ("Here's what I can get for you if you list with me!"), not market it properly, fail to screen for qualified buyers, be unresponsive to interest from other agents (if they sell their own listing, they don't have to split the commission) and keep you totally in the dark throughout the process. What's more, if your agent is abrasive, arrogant or otherwise difficult to work with, other agents may not want the hassle of showing any of their listings to prospective buyers. You are battling competition or market conditions We've all heard the terms "buyer's market" and "seller's market." In real estate, market conditions are affected by any number of external forces, some of them predictable (the weather, sort of), some of them unpredictable (the local economy, interest rates, public optimism or pessimism). In a "hot" or seller's market, homes go fast. Inventory (homes on the market) may be low, meaning less competition for you. Chances are better that you will get your asking price in a hot market; in fact, it is not uncommon to even be offered more than your listing price. But in a "flat," "cold" or buyer's market, sales slow to a trickle, inventories grow and buyers can find bargains, especially when they know the seller is motivated (i.e., paying on two mortgages). If you're trying to sell in a flat market, you're not only competing against all that vacant new construction, but against rentals as well. In this case, be prepared to settle for less than top dollar, or wait to sell until the pendulum swings once again in your favor. You have ineffective marketing Gone are the days when an agent could simply place your listing with the local multiple listing service, hold a halfhearted open house and wait for another agent to bring forth a buyer. Today's top performers launch a multilevel marketing plan that includes listing tours for area agents, newspaper and even TV ads, weekend open houses, listing fliers and placements in local real estate publications. Computers and the Internet also have changed the face of real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, today more than one-third of all home buyers use the Internet for house hunting. The best real estate agents are computer-savvy. They have your listing in color on their laptops to show clients and communicate frequently via e-mail, a particular boon when working with out-of-town buyers. Suffice it to say that if your real estate agent isn't listing your home online through the company Web site as well as with the local MLS, you may not be getting the exposure necessary to find a buyer. "There are those who just put the listing in the multiple and pray it will sell and those that put a lot of effort into marketing their listings," says Fisher. "Unfortunately, with this weird system of compensation we have, they all get paid the same, whether they know nothing or have many years of experience." 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