5 Signs that you are Using your Phone TOO MUCH...

1. You have "phonedenitis" (similar to tendonitis, it is where you are holding your phone too much and it manages to somehow get strained...I currently am suffering from this and it is WORSE than a paper cut). I now have to hold my phone in this uncomfortable claw like pose so that my finger does not ache.

2. You talk on your phone so often that you RUB off the color from your phone cover.  I actually have a bright blue cover that matched my company colors.  I used my phone lightly for a few months and it was fine.  I now talk on my phone so often that I have to ask my husband or folks in the office if I have "gone smurf" and have blue cover color on my ear and cheek. True story :)

3. You wake up in the morning and "answer" your alarm.  I set my phone to wake me up, and since I now have my phone glued to my ear...I woke up one morning and said, "Hello, 360 Realty" to my waterfall alarm.

4. You answer your business line so much that even when you know the person or are on a personal phone...you give your work greeting.  My grandma called me and I said. "360 Realty, this is Tracey". For a minute she thought she had the wrong number.

5. You talk on your phone so much that you actually send people you know to voicemail.  ONE more call is all you need, right?

Any of these sound like you guys?

Tracey G. Shrouder

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Okay everyone....here is my view on Supra Lockboxes/e-keys...

I HATE using them!

Here at 360 Realty, we do not use the Supra lockboxes on any of our homes, and have no plans to in the future. We however do show homes with e-keys and have the equipment to do so.

WHY you ask?

We feel that you limit the amount of people that will show and sell your home.  Here is a likely scenario...

I was showing 6 homes to my clients on a Saturday afternoon, and all were combo lockboxes.  I did not have my e-key with me, while showing...and we drove past a home that they fell in love with!  They walked around the home and said, "WOW, if we could see inside this home...we would most likely make an offer".  Unfortunately for me, the office was a mere 30 miles away!  We had to drive all the way back to the office, then back to the home.  The buyers were aggravated, my wallet was hurting from the gas prices, and they ended up NOT liking the home. 

Here is another scenario...

I was showing homes in a city next to mine.  The appointment desk told me that I needed an ekey.  I showed up at the home and my key would not work, and the box looked different.  It was blue and we used the grey box.  I called the office and they said that they used a different lockbox for that county, even though the MLS was the same!  So here I was with my flaccid ekey in hand and the buyer was pissed!  Not my favorite afternoon.

So can you see why I dislike using ekeys?  Anyone want to throw out another view?!

Tracey G. Shrouder

www.360realtygreensboro.com

I am hearing that many Realtors are now picking up part time jobs to supplement the income that is no longer rolling in.  So if you have a part time job, WHAT IS IT?

Tracey

This was just emailed to me by Maggie Jeffus our Representative.  Check it out...

"The Raleigh Report

 From the Office of Representative Maggie Jeffus

July 23, 2008

This past Friday, the House of Representative and the Senate adjourned the 2008 Short Session.  The next Long Session will convene on January 28, 2009 at noon.  This week, I will update you on our accomplishments for the Short Session. 

Helping Families Make Ends Meet

One of our goals this session was to ease the economic strain that homeowners are no doubt feeling.  One of the ways we intend to do this is through better mortgage foreclosure laws.  Soon Governor Mike Easley is expected to sign into a law House Bill 2263 that will require mortgage servicers of sub prime loans to send a notice to the home being foreclosed at least 45 days prior to the foreclosure. The notice must also have information about why the home is in foreclosure and phone numbers for a mortgage counselor.  This bill helps to give homeowners and banks enough time to send and receive help with foreclosures. We also agreed to expand our earned income tax credit beginning the next fiscal year."

General Assembly's website at http://www.ncleg.net.

Tracey Shrouder

www.360realtygreensboro.com

What I did today...

By: Tracey Shrouder

Woke up at 7:15am (painful and unusal...ick)

Answered the phone & checked emails...

Attended my BNI group called the "Rainmakers" from 8:30am-10:15am

Returned all the missed calls that I had (6 from the same person)...

Drove to a property 2 cities away to show it to "qualified buyers" (aren't they all? :)

Answered the phone...

Grabbed lunch and inhaled it! (less than 30 minutes)

Answered the phone...

To my office to try to check my emails

As soon as I walk into my office, get hit up to write closing checks for one of my agents

As I am writing the checks, one of my buyers drops in to say hi and go over houses

We drive to check out one of the homes (it smells of pee and is gross!)

Back to the office.  Finally check emails at 3:30pm (takes forever)

Answered the phone...

Got a new REO listing, and assigned 3 more BPO's for the banks

Got two offers faxed over on REO's that had been listed for not even 2 days!

Constantly answered the phone (everytime I tried to check voicemail, I would have 3 new calls)

Drove to take photos of all the listings and BPO's. (4:50pm-7pm)

To my office

Answered the phone (64 calls total today)...

Emails

ACTIVERAIN!!!!

Whew...I am really tired!  And tomorrow it starts again...you have to love BUSY season!

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Old School versus NEW School

Some folks like the old days, and some like the technology of today.  I wanted to see which group most people are fond of, and this is my poll...(you can be a mix of them, that is fine!)

Old School Realtors drive Mercedes and BMW's. 

New School Realtors drive Fuel Efficient Cars or Hybrids/Smart Cars. 

Which one are you?

Old School Realtors prefer the telephone for business dealings or a fax machine. 

New School Realtors use email, texting, and prefer to do business online. 

Which one are you?

Old School Realtors have the glorious Glamour Shot photos on their business card in full color.

New School Realtors have a modern black and white, or something casual.

Which one are you?

Old School Realtors save all the paperwork in files and boxes in storage.

New School Realtors back up all their files on a jump drive.

Which one are you?

Old School Realtors wear suits and ties or dresses.

New School Realtors wear high end jean and trendy casual clothes.

Which one are you?

Old School Realtors hold open houses.

New School Realtors usually do not.

Which one are you?

Let me know!!!

Tracey G. Shrouder

www.360realtygreensboro.com

This one is U-G-L-Y!!!

Looks Normal, right?

BPO's are always interesting, but some are MORE SO!

This one falls in that category...

All I can say is WOW

The vinyl has actually melted off the house!

7 Years of bad luck for somebody :(

MOOoooooooold!

 Sexy!!!

BUt.................................

Tracey G. Shrouder

www.360realtygreensboro.com

(336) 505-1080 Office

    Tips and Hints for the New Real Estate Agent:

 Disclose, Disclose, Disclose!!!!!  This is the most important part of our jobs as real estate agents.  The more you reveal, the less you are personally liable for. 

• If you do not know the answer to a question, TELL the truth.  It is much better to tell a client that you "Do not know the answer, but would be happy to find out for them".

• Be FREE to be creative!  Always look for new ways to get your name out there.  Do not limit yourself to a specific mold that someone else has made.  Find your own style and get your name out there!  Try flyers, ads in the paper, a billboard with your face on it, a magnet on your car, or something you think of.  One of the MOST important part of real estate is RECOGNITION!

• I am sorry to say, but Real Estate is a vain profession, where appearance does matter.  You yourself know that when a REALTOR has shown you a property, you automatically noticed the car they drove, the watch they were wearing, and maybe even the bag they were carrying.  This does NOT mean that you have to have the obligatory Mercedes, but you do need a nice vehicle.  Leave your plastic Garfield watch at home, shine your shoes and iron your clothes.  FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT!

• Your car.  This is very important.  Do NOT smoke in your car (or if you do smoke, do not smoke while with a client).  Keep your car washed and vacuumed, and of course it needs to smell nice.  Before you drive a client around, make sure to move all of your fast food wrappers and hide your paperwork.

• Continue your education!  There are a ton of FREE or inexpensive classes offered to help you learn more.  Attend REALTOR lunches and "coffee talks" to learn more about our industry.

• Try to figure out things on your own!  You are always welcome to ask questions, but sometimes you learn better by figuring things out on your own.  Try it one, and if you are still not clear then ask for help.

• Always be EARLY!  Being on time is one of the most important ways to KEEP a client.  Being late is one of the easiest ways to LOSE a client!  Get there a few minutes early and impress them.

• NEVER park in the driveway.  First of all, you want the client to pull into the driveway and picture this as their new home.  Secondly, you never want to get blocked in.  Safety is very important, and driving away is so much easier than running.

• SAFETY!  Our society has changed and you must always put your safety first.  Check out your surroundings before you get out of the car.  When someone calls to see a property, get their information and leave it at the office with a co-worker.  If you do not feel safe, then LEAVE!

• Do not "Pop-Tart".  In the New REALTOR training, they discuss this in detail.  "Pop-Tarting" is when someone calls and wants to see a property and you "pop" up and run out.  Get a phone number and a name.  Ask if they are working with a REALTOR.  Ask if the buyers are pre-qualified and for how much.  Do this tactfully, so as not to turn the buyer away.  If they are already working with someone, this will save you time and wasted energy.

• GO TO CLOSING!  This is a requirement of ALL real estate closings through my Real Estate company!  This seems simple, but many real estate agents do not go to closing with their client.  At 360 Realty, we feel that our obligation to the client goes beyond the closing table.  You need to be there, to show support as well as look over the HUD statement.  Getting a client is almost as important as making a sale, and going to closing will help you KEEP that client!

• When someone asks you to refer a lender to them, try to refer more than just one.  It is best to give them a few names of respected lenders, so that they can call around and ask for help.  If you only give out one number and they have a bad experience, then they are going to come looking for you.  If you gave out multiple numbers, you are not liable for what happens.  The best way to handle this is to create a "preferred vendors/lenders list" and give it to all clients.

• You never know where you will find a client.  Don't let yourself get caught up in the snooty world of Real Estate, where some think they are better than others.  Sometimes you will be surprised and the older gentleman driving the 1984 rusted out Caprice will be a millionaire who wants to purchase 3 apartment complexes.  We are different here at 360 Realty.  We want to get the word out that we treat ALL clients and customers equally.  Never let yourself assume that someone is not going to buy.  Help them to decide TO buy!

Tracey G. Shrouder

360 Realty

www.360realtygreensboro.com

Tracey Shrouder is the Broker-in-Charge for 360 Realty, located in the Heart of Downtown Greensboro.  Her background in Investment Real Estate has helped her to turn her real estate firm into one of the leading REO/Bank Owned Real Estate Firms in the Triad Area.  Tracey specializes in Investment properties, Luxury Homes, New Construction Subdivisions, and Buyer Satisfaction.  She is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer, as well as HUD certified, Wells Fargo PAS certified, and has over 8 years of experience at the age of 29!  Any opinions expressed here are just that!

STOP the 82% Law!  JOIN your National REIA!

 National REIA

(Real Estate Investors Association)

Last night I attended our local REIA group, which is called the Triad REIA.  We meet midway between 5 cities, and join together as Investors & those interested in the Real Estate Market as a whole.

It was really interesting to hear what all is happening in our market and to meet up with other local Investors, Lenders, Realtors, etc to check in.  If you are looking to become a part of YOUR Local group, go to www.nationalreia.com and see where your local chapter meets.  If you do not have one, START one!  It is a Terrific way to be a part of the Real Estate economy and to help build our market one step at a time!

I am going to re-cap last nights meeting so that you can hear a little what it is about...

• Joining the National REIA gives you great benefits and discounts at many large National organizations (Home Depot Supply, Sherwin Williams Paint, up to 80% on certain products at Office Max, Avis Rental Cars, Cybrcollect, DHL, and many MORE!)

• The NUMBER 1 Issue that the National REIA is focusing on currently is:  LEGISLATION

• (with 40,000 people behind you...things can change!)

• Our states are trying to pass some CRAZY laws, and in some cases already have!!  The 82% Law has already been passed in Maryland, which states that when you BUY a Foreclosure, FIX it up, and SELL, 82% of the FAIR MARKET VALUE goes back to the original owner that got foreclosed on!!!!

• Do you know how HORRIBLE it would be if that were passed in YOUR state?! New York has this bill on the table RIGHT NOW! 

"What New Laws Say

Several states, including Illinois (SB 2349), Maryland (SB 761), Minnesota (325N), New York (SB 4744), and Rhode Island (H 7650), have been busy crafting laws to stifle foreclosure fraud. The District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and other legislatures are considering similar legislation.

Many of these statutes are based on the oldest state mortgage fraud law, California Civil Codes 2945 and 1695. Its principal aim is to give home owners the opportunity to cancel a sale that occurs during the foreclosure process. The California law, and most other state statutes that have followed it, requires that a sales contract include a "notice of cancellation," which gives a seller a clear method for stopping the sale of a home within a certain time frame - typically five business days.

The newer laws also try to protect homeowners' equity during foreclosure. They diverge from the California code, however, in their efforts to implement this goal. The California statute prohibits foreclosure purchases that take "unconscionable advantage" of the owner in foreclosure. Minnesota's statute, enacted in 2004, broke new ground by stipulating that home owners who sell while in foreclosure must receive "consideration" that equals at least 82 percent of the home's fair market value. New York's Home Equity Theft Prevention Act followed suit in 2006.

The most restrictive of these new laws is Illinois' Mortgage Rescue Fraud Prevention Act, which took effect Jan. 1, 2007. Illinois lawmakers upped the ante by inserting an additional requirement that limits to 125 percent of the total debt owed the amount a foreclosure purchaser can make when selling the property back to the original home owner. There's no such limit if the home is sold to someone else. Most state laws apply when the documents initiating foreclosure, such as notice of default or notice of pending foreclosure, are issued. However, in Illinois, the law applies to any borrower 90 days delinquent on a mortgage.

These narrow restrictions will almost certainly make it more difficult for legitimate home buyers and investors to purchase foreclosures except through an auction process. If you or your investor clients have plans to purchase foreclosed property already owned by a bank or to buy pre-foreclosures, sometimes called short sales, exercise care.

Consult with a knowledgeable real estate attorney to determine exactly what rules your client must follow to purchase or sell such homes. In some cases, poorly worded laws may be punishing legitimate buyers in an effort to punish scammers. Don't get caught on the wrong side of this equation."      Posted from Realtor.com

JOIN your National REIA and become a PART of the SOLUTION to the Real Estate Market!!!

WRITE Your Legislator to STOP this Law & many like it!

Help your Local Economy!

Tracey G. Shrouder

360 Realty

(336) 505-1080

www.360realtygreensboro.com