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Do you use an e-mail signature?
You know the "tag" on every e-mail with your contact info? Including your website and AR blog, etc.
You should. Why? Because if you rely solely on business cards for people to contact you you are relying on the "4 Miracles of a business card" as taught by Brian Buffini.
Miracle #1 The person can't lose your card.
Miracle #2 That person needs to have your card with them when they need to reach you or refer you.
Miracle #3 If that person does refer you, the referral can't lose it.
Miracle 4 That person too, needs to have your card with them when they need to reach you and not forget who you are. "Who's this guy and why do I have his card?"
I probably cut-n-paste more links to my online referral directory or e-mail signatures from peoples' e-mails in order to refer my service providers than I hand out their cards these days. But I never got to a networking event without 20-30 cards in my pocket.
With today's technology, most folks have a phone that gets e-mail, a tablet or i-pad, etc. Your info online today is as crucial as your business card used to be....and still is. I'm not by any means saying we don't need them. I give out $2,500+ per year, I know because I reorder that amount about every 11 months. But we need to support those cards by giving others many ways to find us.
MLS Status & What It Means
To Buyers & Sellers
ACTIVE =
Seller: “what a seller hopes to get for a sales price”
Buyers: available property, possibly no offers yet (but we always call & verify because agents do not always update the MLS as fast as things happen).
CONTINGENT =
Sellers: “what a lien holder is considering as a loss”
Buyers: 50/50 chance available property, there are offers in on it, but the seller may accept a backup offer from us.
PENDING =
Seller: “what properties are actually selling for”
Buyers: property is in escrow, too late for more offers now.
(But keep an eye on it if it's a favorite, properties do fall out of escrow).
SOLD =
Seller: “what homes were historically selling for”
Buyers: Already SOLD, GONE!
CANCELED =
Seller: “seller changed their mind about selling”
Buyers: NO LONGER FOR SALE.
WITHDRAWN =
Seller: “seller needs a break from the process”
Buyers: temporarily off the market, but will most likely come back. (We see this a lot during the Holidays).
EXPIRED =
Seller: “failed to sell @ the current price with the current agent”
Buyers: no agent assigned to sell this property at the moment, worth a call though to see if still for sale.
The good life is built, it's not handed to us. Time "management" is more discipline than organization:
1. Manage Your Priorities
- #1 source of stress for humans is when their ACTUAL values and the DESIRED values are in conflict.
- Desired Values of what we want for ourselves and how we want others to see us as.
- Actual Values are where we really are: as indicated by our day planners, checkbooks and credit card statements. Where we spend most of our time & money is where we actually are. What do we want to be involved in? Are we on purpose or drifting? Are we engaged or "plugged in and tuned out?"
- Evaluate your calendar: how are you spending your day, your week your month, etc.. How do you spend the $ hours?
- If your boss, mentor or #1 client were to shadow you this week, would they be impressed or baffled about the way you spend your day?
- Ask yourself "why are you doing this?" on each task, it helps the prioritizing, because the answers to each "why" defines the importance and the order.
2. Manage Yourself (because time is actually not managed, rather we invest our activities into our available time to achieve a result.)
- Manage your energy. Work in 90 minute blocks, then take a break. You need to recharge the batteries throughout the day. Your day is a series of sprints, not a marathon.
- When your at work be at work during your "making money hours" with making money activities. Guard your schedule from the time bandits. "B" and "C" activities during "A+ & A" activity time (money hours) equals missing your child's game, or not being able to take Sunday off, etc. Thinking of it this way helps place the importance on your activities.
- When you are home be at home. Engage your family, your pets, your personal interests...this is the recharge.
- Get sleep-7.5 hours is the minimum recommended for proper health & rest. You owe your clients to be healthy and to be alert. You wouldn't go to a brain surgeon that only sleeps 4 hours a day, your clients have those same concerns of you.
- If you are taking a day off (and I recommend you take at least one each week) commit to it. Shut off the work phone & e-mails and have a true day off.
- If a client wants to "invade your recharge time", make them exhaust their schedule before violating your evening or day off. If you are managing your time at work, this becomes a guilt free policy because "you gave at the office". By the way when my bank is closed, I never call the manager at home to ask him to open up.
- Understand the heightened value of a single day: What does the structure of your day look like? Does it fit your life? If you set out to win the day, you don't have to win the whole day to win.
- What is your plan and when do you plan it? The night before, the day of or as you go?
3. Adjust to A Lower Stress Life (Staying Up In a Down World).
Top 12 Productivity Tips for 2012
"Being busy doesn't always mean real work. Seeming to do is not doing" Thomas Edison
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Stay healthy. The first wealth is health. Eat right, adequate sleep, exercise & drink water! Feeling good =more sales. What you eat, what you drink, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch all falls under "garbage in, garbage out".
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Schedule your week. Have a daily action plan. Purposeful Activities. When are you starting work, ending your day, family time, appointments, calls, etc. Create focus, save energy, live on purpose. Go to work with a purpose & a plan. Avoid the torment of last minute choices. Take your 2012 calendar and put in all your personal events now before you have an "uh-oh!". Block out your lunch hour, birthdays, anniversaries, days off, vacations, kids school/sports events etc. Schedule all your regular meetings now too. This prevents from double booking or missing the priorities.
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Work in time blocks. Concentrate and focus for designated periods of time. 90 minute increments are what Top Producers do, then they take a short break. 90 minutes is the optimal work to rest ratio.
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Eliminate Distractions. How long can you go without your cell phone? A computer mouse? i-Pad? Technology is a tool and a gift to the productive who knows how to use them properly and a curse for the amateur. Can you commit to only 90 minutes per day with no cell phone or computer while you focus on an "A" activity like lead generation during your money hours?
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JUST SAY "NO". The disease to please. Protect your time and say no to interruptions. Put a "do not disturb" sign on your door, phone, e-mail, etc.
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Avoid office energy drainers: DRAMA! Don't be seduced by drama. Your energy is better focused on activities that get results. But focus on the activities, not the results. Avoid the gossip and "misery loves company" club.
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Steer clear of time zappers. These prevent productivity: voicemail, e-mail, social media, surfing the net, answering text & calls as they come in. All these make you feel like you are working, but there is a big difference between ACTIVITY and PRODUCTIVITY. Time block when you'll reply to messages & e-mails, it takes far less time to return calls, texts & e-mails than it does to answer them as they arrive.
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Concentrate on the most important, not the most urgent. HUH? Yep, most emergencies solve themselves an hour later in our industry. The urgency is only in the moment. Important focus is energizing, urgent focus is draining. First things first as S Covey says in Habit #3 of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
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Recharge. 24/7 is for amateurs. When you are off, be off. I don't answer my work-phone past 6PM weekdays nor on Sundays and my clients know it. My clients get me 12 hours a day, 6 days per week; my family about 3-4 hrs during the workdays, but all day Sunday; I feel no guilt. (Yes, I start at 6AM). Take a day off each week. I don't work Sundays, haven't in 9 years. The world, nor my career has ended. In fact I've out performed every year in business since 2008. It took me that long to follow this advice I know share with you. You can't give your best, if you are not at your best.
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Invest in yourself. If you aren't willing to invest in the person standing in your shoes, why should others? You are your biggest asset, invest in you! Books, classes, seminars, etc.
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Don't go it alone. Ask for help. Get a coach or an accountability partner. Find or create a mastermind group, networking group or industry alliance. The only self made man is the one who forgets who helped him along the way.
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Enjoy the journey. There's no actual finish line except the one we're all trying to avoid-the dirt nap. So take it in along the way or you may miss it-life. Don't die with your music still in you, sing like no one is listening as the saying goes. If you love someone, tell them now. If you need to thank someone for making a difference in your life, tell them now. If you need to lose weight, start now, etc. We all get only so many heartbeats and then we're gone. How many do you have left?
Focus on the Practical, Not the Pretty!
Great advice for many common circumstances:
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Home buyers need to look at the practical first: condition of the property, location, commute time to work, schools, parking, lifestyle vs. floor plan, crime stats & sex offenders database, etc. You can always update your home as budgets allow. You can't change the neighborhood or the view so focus on what is out of your control first, because that is what you'll be living with permanently. The “pretty” (paint & flooring, etc.) is easily changed, crime, freeway noise or the neighboring condo directly opposite your living room window are fairly permanent.
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Fix-n-Flippers need to work on the red flag items from a certified inspector before they start installing the lipstick & makeup that dazzles buyers like granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and gardens. Yes you are in business to make a profit, but not by selling unsafe homes (or homes where major issues are hidden under “band-aids”. That buyer is going to have an inspection that will reveal what you hide and stall or kill the deal-that costs you time & money that could be saved upfront by doing it right. Don't buy a rehab project that exceeds your budget. Which means you have to have a plan and a budget before you buy your project house for “fix-n-flip” or “buy-n-hold” purposes.
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Homeowners need to “think from the outside in” when it comes to home maintenance, renovations and upgrade-priority lists. I see so many people do the “fun/pretty” projects, while neglecting the practical. Why renovate your kitchen when the skylight above it is about to leak or the roof is ready to cave in? How is your roof and drainage? Structure? Insulation? Windows & doors? How are your major systems like: plumbing, HVAC, electrical,etc. 
- DIY-Measure twice, cut once: be practical about your DIY (do it yourself) projects means knowing what you can and can't do without professional help. I often work along side my contractor, basically serving as his grunt, “go-fer” and apprentice, when I have a project beyond my skill, available time or craftsman level. Some projects, like electrical and plumbing, I don't even mess with...I hire a licensed professional. By they way: take the time to pull permits where required, it insures the project is done right the first time by the right professionals and you won’t have future concerns from your buyers/tenants when you resell or rent.
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As a Realtor I see so many bad DIY projects. Expensive tiles with bad grout-lines or not level, granite with bad cuts, cabinets not level or with doors that can't open all the way, crown molding installed poorly; in general new materials with poor installation, damage or worse...unsafe! It's a money & time saver every time you do it right the first time! HGTV and other DIY & Real Estate channels are great sources of info and entertainment. But one 30 minute show and a couple articles on the internet do not qualify most for construction or real estate investing. Nor do they show you the real time and work that goes into running comps & CAP's (CAP rates) when buying a home, flipping a home, renting a home, etc. Build a relationship with professionals and as my hero, Mike “Holmes on Homes” says; make it right the first time!
If you were to ask experts to select the #1 key to success, what do you think most would say?
You can find out by watching this thought-provoking 3 minute movie. Just...
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
You don't make resolutions, you set goals. You check in with them weekly, not just 12/31 each year. Your goals will take you places you never imagined!
Video Provided by: Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths
Simple Truths, LLC.,
1952 McDowell Road, Ste. 300,
Naperville, IL 60563, USA
Phone: 800-900-3427 / 630-946-1460
© 2011, Simple Truths, LLC. All rights reserved.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Per SB 183 “As of July 1, 2011, Carbon Monoxide detectors will be REQUIRED in houses that are being sold if they have any of the following:
Any gas appliances such as a gas stove, gas furnace, gas fireplace, gas water heater, etc.
A fireplace (even if it only burns wood, pellets, or any other material).
An attached garage (even if there are no gas appliances in the house!). Cars continue to emit CO even after they are shut off.
ANY rental dwelling that meets the criteria listed above. Yes this means that if you own a house, condo, or townhouse that you rent to another human being, you are REQUIRED to install Carbon Monoxide detectors.”
Expect to see this new inspection item in your home inspection report. Home inspectors will be required to report on the presence or absence of a working Carbon Monoxide detector just like they report on Smoke Detectors, and water heater strapping.”
To read more click on the following:
http://sdinspections.com/new-law-regarding-carbon-monoxide-detectors
Now You Can Substitute a New Buyer for One Who Walked Without Restart
As an example of our commitment to improving the short sale process, Bank of America now allows real estate agents to submit a backup offer on a transaction if the original buyer has walked away from the sale. This means you will no longer have to initiate a new short sale; instead, you can continue with the original transaction in Equator and still work with your same short sale specialist. This change will save you time by not having to repeat a number of process steps.
When a Backup Offer Is Ready
You should send a message to your short sale specialist via Equator when the original buyer is no longer interested in the property. Your short sale specialist will then respond to you within two business days and ask if you have a backup offer ready to submit. If you have another buyer prepared to make an offer, the short sale can proceed without having to repeat the short sale initiation steps. The short sale status in Equator will change to "Marketing," and you will be directed to complete the following tasks within 14 business days:
· Complete the "Listing Data" task.
· Provide the marketing description.
· Review the marketing plan.
· Upload the offer. (To do this in Equator, locate "My Properties," then "Offers" and select "Place New Offer.")
If the "Listing Data" task is not completed and the new offer is not uploaded within 14 business days, the file will be closed.
When No Backup Offer Is Ready
This new process applies only if there's an available backup offer when a buyer walks. If you do not have a backup offer ready to be submitted, the short sale will be declined. In that case, you should return to marketing the property and initiate a new short sale in Equator once you receive another offer.
A new educational guide, How and When to Submit a Short Sale Backup Offer, is available to explain the backup offer process. If you have any questions, please contact your short sale specialist via Equator or call Customer Care at 1.866.880.1232.
Visit the Real Estate Agent Resource Center at www.bankofamerica.com/realestateagent for additional educational guides, news and resources to help you complete short sales at Bank of America.
If You Serve VA Buyers
USAA Mortgage has some exciting updates that impact the Movers Advantage® network:
· The formation of Pods for all of USAA Mortgage Fulfillment. A Pod is a mortgage team that hasco-located processors/underwriters/closers on the same team in order to deliver an exceptional member experience USAAPods Concept.
· We have right-sized processor pipelines to ensure an improved member experience.
· We have selected 35 high performing processors assigned exclusively to Movers Advantage® mortgage transactions. Mortgage processing-locations: San Antonio, Phoenix and Tampa.
· All MoversAdvantage®agents will receive an introductory call from a processor on USAA Mortgage transactions in order toform a partnership to provide an exceptional experience to our member.
· We are building the Movers Advantage® skill into our processor career path.
· The agreed upon closing date is very important to all involved with a Movers Advantage® transaction. A closing date cannot be changed on a MoversAdvantage®USAA Mortgage transaction without manager approval. Our USAA Mortgage Executive team will be monitoring this report.
· All Movers Advantage®transactions within USAA Mortgage will only be assigned to USAA employees, not surge partners(contractors).
· USAA Mortgage now has an FHA product offering that is now available in all 50 states (since February 1, 2011).
San Diego County Recorder's Office 2012 Legal Holiday Schedule
Consult this list of upcoming Recorder's holidays to
help you plan your escrow closing date:
New Years Day
Monday, January 2 (observed)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Monday, January 16
President's Day
Monday, February 20
Cesar Chavez Day
Friday, March 30
Memorial Day
Monday, May 28
Independence Day
Wednesday, July 4
Labor Day
Monday, September 3
Veteran's Day
Monday, November 12
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 22
Friday, November 23
Christmas
Tuesday, December 25
IMPORTANT TAX DEADLINES:
December 31 - For all S-Corporation owners (or LLCs' taxed as an S-Corp), it's important you file a year-end Payroll report and determine exactly what your payroll allocation (if any) should be. This is the month to get the paperwork done and the reports will be due in January AND any necessary deposits. Please call the office and let us know if you need help with this if we haven't already been in touch with you.
December 31 - If you want to make future contributions to a 401(k) or Defined Benefit Pension Plan for 2011, the plan must be set up before December 31, 2011. Also, the Employee (or your personal) deferrals or contributions into the plan must be made before January 1st, 2012. However, please note that company contributions to the plans can be made next year up until the tax return filing deadline, including extensions. AS ALWAYS THIS ALSO INCLUDES SELF-DIRECTED 401(k) PLANS!
December 31 - Final due date to convert a Traditional IRA to a ROTH IRA. Remember, you can make contributions to your IRA up until April 15th, however, you can't make the conversion to a ROTH after January 1st.
Resource:
Mark J Kohler, CPA, JD PC 7700 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 800 Irvine, California 92618 United States 888-801-0010
To speak with one of our Tax Consultants at Kohler & Eyre CPAs, or NumberWon Accountants, or our Lawyers at KKOS Lawyers, please call 888-801-0010. To get a copy of either of Mark's books with Free Shipping, visit www.markjkohler.com. Have a great week!!
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Thomas J. Nelson
San Diego,
CA
More about me…
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Address: 2655 Camino Del Rio North, Suite #450, San Diego, CA, 92108
Office Phone: (619) 686-5570
Cell Phone: (858) 232-8722
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