[top]

Why advertise on Private-Listings.com? For quite a few reasons, in fact...

1. Cost

• No Commission! We are not a real estate agency. When you list your property on Private-Listings.com you only make a one-time payment. There's no commission to negotiate; you know exactly what you pay and, in doing so, you...

• Save thousands of dollars that a real estate agent will pocket for doing something that you can do yourself, and...

• Save hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars more that you could be throwing away by buying small-print classified ads in your local newspapers. Learn why...

2. Market Exposure and Performance

• When you list your property with us, your listing is posted on a highly-visible website.

• Private-Listings.com is a well visited ad vehicle which is continuously, and systematically, supported by a dedicated web marketing team and a well established online directory.

• We absorb all the web marketing costs related to search engine submisions, postings on other sites, etc.

3. Service Quality and Support

• You get all the web space you need to post the information you have - property's description, photos, contact info, etc.

• We absorb the costs for all web marketing and online promotions for your listing.

• No Contract! When you list your property on Private-Listings.com you are not locked into an exclusive listing contract, or any other type of agreement with us. You are free to advertise your listing anywhere else, at the same time you advertise it with us. You can cancel your listing at any time and there's no penalty whatsoever.

• You have total control over the selling process. We don't tell you what to do, or how to do things while you are selling your property.

• You get all the web space you need for the information you have. Your listing is made up of a display ad which is linked to a full web page that can include up to ten photos of your house, condo, lot, etc.

• Your listing stays online until you sell your property! There is no renewal fee after a certain period of time.

• Free updates. Your listing gets free updates on photos, contact info and/or description at any time you decide that you need them.

• YES, we will give you a free "For-Sale-By-Owner" yard sign. No deposit required and you don't have to return it. If you are located outside Greater Vancouver, or British Columbia, we will make every effort to send you the sign by mail or courier, at our own expense.

4. New Buying Habits

• As mentioned in a previous section, today over 77% of the home buyers use the internet to locate their next buy. Among them, there are an increasing number of global investors who are searching real estate values in multiple markets. Private-Listings.com is listed on a number of specialized directories in North America, Asia and Europe.

[top]

How much do the listings cost and how do I pay for them?

For current listing packages and rates please visit our main page.

Payments can be made by both personal and company cheques, CDN/USD Money Orders, and online by PayPal. You DON'T need a PayPal account to use PayPal. You can make your payments online at the same time that you submit your listings, or mail them to us along with one of the submission forms which you can print from our site. (see this.) Each online submission page contains complete, how-to, instructions.

[top]

How much space do I get for my listing on Private-Listings.com?

Your listing on Private-Listings.com is made up of two ads: a BOXed ad, which appears on the current listings page and is a summary of your listing, and the actual ad listing for which you get at least one full web page. Depending on the submitted information, you may also get additional pop-up windows at now extra charge. (see the actual listings » for exact details).

[top]

How long does it take to have my listing published?

Your submitted listing is published as soon as we receive your payment.

[top]

For how long is my listing published on Private-Listings.com?

See listing packages »

[top]

What benefits do I have when I list on Private-Listings.com?
Here are 10 reasons why you should list on Private-Listings.com ...

1. Save thousands of dollars that a real estate agent will pocket for doing something that you can do yourself.

2. Save hundreds of dollars more that you could be throwing away by buying small-print classified ads in your local newspapers. Learn why...

3. Today 79 percent of home buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. When you list your property with us, your listing is posted on a well visited, highly-visible website. We absorb all the online advertising costs.

4. No Commission! We are not a real estate agency. When you list your property on Private-Listings.com you only make a one-time payment. There's no commission to negotiate; you know exactly what you pay.

5. No Contract! When you list your property on Private-Listings.com you are not locked into an exclusive listing contract, or any other type of agreement with us. You are free to advertise your listing anywhere else, at the same time you advertise it with us - unless, another contractual agreement prevents you from doing so. You can cancel your listing at any time and there's no penalty whatsoever.

6. You have total control over the selling process. We don't tell you what to do, or how to do things while you are selling your property.

7. You get all the web space you need for the information you have. Your listing is made up of a display ad which is linked to a full web page that can include up to ten photos of your house, condo, lot, etc.

8. Your listing stays online until you sell your property! There is no renewal fee after a certain period of time.

9. Free updates. Your listing gets free updates on photos, contact info and/or description at any time you decide that you need them.

10. Yard Sign. Of course! When you list with us, we'll also give you an all free For Sale By Owner yard sign. No deposit required. You don't have to return it.

[top]

How do I submit my listing?

You can submit your listing either online, or by printing one of the submission forms and sending them to us by regular mail along with your payment and the photographs of your property.

[top]

Exactly, how does advertising on Private-Listings.com work?

Before you decide to buy a listing on Private-Listings.com, in order to sell your property, you need to make sure that the online advertisement that we publish for you does not interfere with another promotion or contractual agreement such as a Listing Agreement that you may have in effect at the same time, and for the same property, with a real estate agent or listing service (such as MLS) that specifically refers to an exclusivity arrangement that prohibits you from advertising elsewhere. Pacific Webcard, the parent company of Private-Listings.com, does not check for other listings you may have with other advertising parties, nor do we prohibit you from advertising your property elsewhere at the same time.

Once you submit your information to Private-Listings.com, and your payment cleares, we design an ad for you and post it online. We will then send you an email informing you of the status and location of your ad. You check your listing/ad and, should you need to, send us any corrections that you may have. We correct or edit the ad according to your specifications. Then, you go to the phone and make sure that is works. You wait... The phone rings... SOLD! That's it! (Please, smile! We are trying to cheer up your day in more than one way...)

[top]

Is Private-Listings.com a local or global marketplace?

Private-Listings.com is both a local and global marketplace. We concentrate on local markets for obvious reasons and we reach them by both online and offline advertising.

We are also a global marketplace because, while most people still buy properties in order to make them a home, an increasing number of global buyers are looking at properties as investments, and not necessarily as zip codes where they may receive their mail. As real estate has become for many a more feasible alternative to owning stocks, and in addition to targeting traditional home buyers, Private-Listings.com also targets investors in search for real estate values in multiple markets.

Private-Listings.com is listed on a number of specialized directories in North America, Asia and Europe. The selection between local and global buyers is made by customized search definitions and geographic modifiers that we embed in your listings and by supporting, target-specific ad placements.

[top]

Does Private-Listings.com assist in the selling process?

No. Private-Listings.com and its parent company, Pacific Webcard, do not get involved in the selling/buying process between you, the seller, and the buyer, nor do we participate, negotiate, mediate or facilitate this process/transaction in any way. It is your sole responsibility to deal with the buyers and their offers and to ensure that you bring the transaction to a successful conclusion. Having a lawyer's phone number laying around, would probably be a good idea. Just in case. Check our resources page to see if you find there a real estate lawyer in your area.

Should any disputes arise during, or as a result of your real estate transaction, you understand and agree that you cannot hold Pacific Webcard/Private-Listings.com responsible for any and all possible damages that you, or your buyer may incur, whether direct, indirect or consequential.

[top]

Can I send you photos for my listing? How? How many?

Yes, you can send us up to eight photos of your property by email. You will find all the necessary info on the submission form.

[top]

What do I need to know in order to sell my house by myself?

While there are a number of things that you should be aware of when you decide to sell a property by yourself, don't over-complicate matters. What, in fact, you really need are a handful of services:

• the proper legal form(s) for your state, or province
• a notary public (or lawyer)
• good market exposure

[top]

I already listed my property with an agent.
Can I still list it on Private-Listings.com?

Not if you signed an exclusivity listing agreement with an agency.

If you already listed your house with a real estate agency, chances are, that you signed an exclusivity listing agreement which, most likely, prevents you from listing you property with another party while it is in effect. So, if your house is currently listed with an agent/agency and is part of an MLS system, we advise you not to submit your listing to Private-Listings.com

Pacific Webcard/Private-Listings.com do not have a way to verify the legal status of your listing, thus, should you breach a relationship with an existing agency by also submitting a listing to Private-Listings.com, you understand and agree to not hold responsible Pacific Webcard/Private-Listings.com for any and all possible damages that you and/or the other agency may incur - whether direct, indirect, or consequential - as a result of advertising with us.

Contractual Agreements. Please observe them!

Private-Listings.com ads are not intended to breach or interfere in any way with other already existing agency agreements.

By submitting a listing for the property you sell to Pacific Webcard's Private-Listings.com website, you do so with the understanding that the online advertisement that we publish for you does not interfere with another promotion or contractual agreement such as a Listing Agreement that you may have in effect at the same time and for the same property with a real estate agent or listing service (i.e. MLS) that specifically refers to an exclusivity arrangement that prohibits you from doing so.

However, even if you are locked in such a contract, that agreement does have an expiration date after which you have new options. Also, such a contract with an agent can be cancelled at any time, providing that both parties agree on it. Check with your agent for complete details.

[top]

How about advertising my house with classified ads?

If you don't already have experience with small classified ads, let us give you here a few hints before you pay for them. If, however, you did buy classifieds before, chances are, you will agree with us. Here are some of the issues with classifieds...

Cost. A small, 4-line classified ad which is published for only 3 days, will cost you between $70 and $300! (depending on the size and location of the publication). Bold print and photos are not included.

Visibility. Your local paper may not have a dedicated "For-Sale-By-Owner" category in its classifieds section. So, since your ad gets buried in the real estate section among hundreds of ads from realtors, its chances of being seen are extremely small!

Readability. You are familiar with classifieds, so you know that your ad copy is printed in a very small typeface. One common reason why readers/prospect buyers do not follow-up on an ad is because they can't read it - that is, if they don't miss it altogether.

[top]