tips and advice: Get Your Green Thumb - 06/01/11 08:31 AM

Growing you own vegetable or herb garden can help trim the fat on your grocery bill - and your body! So are you ready to start planning? HGTV experts suggest that you consider these tips before you let your garden grow.
Start by making a list; it's easier to plot out garden beds when you put everything down on paper. Write down the herbs you commonly use and look up their soil, light and water needs. Take note of a plant's growing patterns too. For example, mint, a popular herb, tends to overtake gardens so is best planted by itself.
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tips and advice: The Un-Subscribed List... - 05/31/11 07:47 AM

Ever wondered why people randomly decide to un-subscribe to your emails?
Here's why people un-subscribe from permission e mails;
54%: Emails came too frequently
49%: Content become too repetitive
47%: Received too many emails and needed to get off some companies lists
25%: Content wasn't relevant
22%: Signed up for a one time offer
13%: Circumstances changed (i.e., moved, got married, changed job etc.)
8%: Another company provided better information
6%: They could get the information from another source (e.g., blogs, Facebook, etc)
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tips and advice: Connecting with TODAYS Buyer with Caruso! - 05/14/11 07:58 AM

Today it seems that more buyers are trying to camouflage themselves and downplay their interest in real estate, often telling agents they're "just looking".
The buyers have changed, the times have changed and the market has changed, yet real estate agents are taught to do things the way they did 35 years ago. It's insane.
The key today is to use your marketing to educate customers, not sell them. It is suggested to make sure Agents today have reports on their websites to download, hosts webinars, and use drip campaigns to periodically send e-mail reports that can address a buyers' main … (2 comments)

tips and advice: Poor Credit Scores with Caruso! - 05/11/11 08:25 AM
 

IF you want to see how quickly you can ruin a great credit score, just skip a mortgage payment.
Lenders use credit scores to measure how you handle debt. The number you'll see most often is your FICO score. It runs from 300 to 850. The major credit reporting bureaus developed a rival, VantageScore, with scores from 501 to 990.
Missed mortgage payments, serious loan delinquencies, loan modifications, short sales, foreclosures and bankruptcies all drag down credit scores. Because a mortgage is such a big slice of anyone's credit profile, it carries more weight than other loans. Both FICO … (3 comments)

tips and advice: Advertising Online with Caruso! - 05/10/11 07:35 AM

As most of you already know more people than ever now get their news online than in newspapers. It was recently found that there are one million fewer U.S. households watching prime time over last year, while the online audience has almost doubled. Then there's Facebook, where over 550 million users are attracting an overwhelming majority of today's marketers. Now you need to start thinking - it's no longer should you be online - it's where, when, and how. Here are some tips I have come across that everyone who advertises online should know!
Show up on search. This is a no … (0 comments)

tips and advice: Go Green this Mother's Day with Caruso! - 05/07/11 07:38 AM

Mother's Dayis TOMORROW. It's a day to celebrate mothers and motherhood. But why not celebrate Mother Earth/Nature as well by going green this Mother's Day! Here are some examples I have come across to help you have a Green Mother's Day!
Homemade Organic Treats and Desserts: Why not switch to something healthy for a change? It is essential to select a good range of natural and certified organic ingredients from Organic Grocery Stores before experimenting on the recipes.
Greening the household: Green plants add a splash of color and fun to the household. They not only decorate your home, but also … (4 comments)

tips and advice: Green Real Estate - 04/23/11 07:29 AM

Iridescent light bulbs, low-flow plumbing and energy-efficient windows are among the new considerations for building a home these days. "Green" real estate that is more ecologically sound and environmentally friendly is resonating with a new generation of home buyers concerned with environmental impact and utility costs. With rising prices in oil and other fuels, home buyers want to stretch their dollars as far as they'll go. Therefore, Real estate professionals must meet and address the home buyer's considerations and connect with them on the issues they care about.
Here are a few ideas for connecting with such people to tap … (1 comments)

tips and advice: Caruso's Aliso Viejo Closed Sales Report ~ March - 04/16/11 08:56 AM
 
Is the market is improving or at least stabilizing!?  We provide the latest market updates regularly, as well as personal consultation of market direction...
The Aliso Viejo Closed Sales Report for March:
The Aliso Viejo Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the 0-$500,000 Range:
2011   58 listings closed escrow             
2010   63 listings closed escrow            
The Aliso Viejo Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $500,000-$1,000,000 Range:
2011   13 listings closed escrow
2010   0 listings closed escrow
The Aliso Viejo Closed Sales Report for Homes Sold in the $1,000,000+ Range:
2011   12 listings closed escrow                   
2010   0 … (0 comments)

tips and advice: Customer Service with Caruso! - 04/12/11 07:44 AM

In today's economic climate, growing your business can be a daunting task. Leads and listings are not just falling onto your doorstep as in the good ol' days. So how can you be a top performer? First start by looking at your latest successes. How did you generate your last listing?
According to the 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, a median of 20% of all NAR members' business is referrals from past clients.
To further support this, the National Association of REALTORS® Home Buyer and Seller Survey reports that 64% of sellers chose their agent based on a … (1 comments)

tips and advice: What's Wrong with this Picture? - 04/07/11 07:36 AM

Planned open houses & Agent showing appointments will allow you time to prepare. But oftentimes, the window of opportunity to expose your property to a motivated buyer can be small. So every time you leave your home, make sure it is ready for an unexpected showing. Here are some quick and easy tips to get your home "show ready" on a last minute appointment. Let's start with the general preparation. When preparing your home, think about the techniques used to show builders model homes or what you might do to prepare for honored guests. Create as light, cheerful and serene … (10 comments)

tips and advice: Going Green at Home with Caruso! - 04/05/11 06:36 AM

With summer just around the corner, and temperatures heating up this is the time for conservation and thinking GREEN.  There are lots of ways you can contribute to making our Earth a better place to live. However, have you thought about how to make your home GREEN? To help you get started I provided you with some tips to having a GREEN home.
The first and probably most important one during the summer is to reduce air conditioning use! Air conditioning, whether a central system or an in-window unit uses tons of energy, so by using fans, keeping windows and … (1 comments)

tips and advice: April Fools with Caruso! - 04/01/11 08:54 AM






Happy April Fools Day! I am sure many of you have already participated in or had a prank done to you! In case you are still trying to figure out the perfect prank for someone at your office I listed a few funny and easy pranks to be done around the office! Have fun!
 
- Use string or wire to tie your victim's drawer shut. (You'll need to remove the drawer above to access the back so you can accomplish this.)
- This trick works great if you work in an office building … (6 comments)

tips and advice: Caruso's Green Tip of the Day! - 03/30/11 07:33 AM

 Non-biodegradable packing materials
Styrofoam packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and foam are useful during a move, but not for the environment.
To go green on your next move, try using old newspapers to wrap fragile items, and then recycle the paper when you unpack.
Wrap pieces of furniture and art with blankets to ensure they do not get damaged during the move instead of packing them in foam.
If you must use non-biodegradable packing materials, ask around to see if anyone has any from a past move to give you. Reusing is always better than buying new for … (2 comments)

tips and advice: Caruso's Green Tip of the Day! - 03/22/11 06:25 AM

With the school year almost coming to a close and summer right around the corner, parents look ahead to plenty of hot summer days out on the road with the kids in the car. Just how hot those days can be may not hit you until you open the door of a car that's been baking for hours in a parking lot. The fun really starts when the little ones have to get in. Here is where your new solar powered car gadget comes into play.
In these fuel-conscious times, when consumers may think twice before cranking the AC, one … (1 comments)

tips and advice: Moving with Kids - 03/18/11 08:22 AM

Moving can be a very exciting and fun time while others consider moving a stressful and difficult experience. Have you ever wondered though, how moving can affect your children? It can be a lot harder for younger kids to understand moving and leaving everything they know. With many years of Real Estate experience here are some tips I have found very useful to help your children deal with moving.
 
Start by making a scrapbook of photographs of the old home, neighborhood, school, church, friends, family and going away parties. Assure them that you won't forget their friends. Have a good-bye … (3 comments)

tips and advice: Cinnamon & Honey - 03/15/11 07:49 AM

Cinnamon and Honey - Whoever thought? Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. It will do what some call turning to sugar. In reality honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what I rather call "crystallizing" When this happens I loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, turn off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. … (7 comments)

tips and advice: We're All the Same... - 03/12/11 07:06 AM

 
The greatest challenge we all face in this business is - we are all the same. But aren't we are all unique human beings, with unique hopes, dreams, skills and talents?! Realtors are like snowflakes. No two are exactly alike, right?
Not according to the consumer. Unfortunately, most consumers see us all the same way. So how are we going to differentiate from one another? Consider these categories of differentiation I have come across:
Product: All the same. Do you want a Blackberry or an iPhone? They are different. Consumers have a choice. Not in real estate. We like to say that … (1 comments)

tips and advice: Your Peaceful Place with Caruso! - 03/10/11 06:07 AM

Stress; we deal with it daily. Society has been using the word stress for years now and finding a peaceful place or peaceful time for solitude is a challenge for most.  But, have you ever thought of creating that peaceful place in or around your own home? We seem to always go to places to find peace or solitude like: the gym, yoga or pilates classes, the beach, church, library, a hike, a coffee shop or quiet restaurant etc. Sometimes though, we just don't want to leave our home.
With that said, every home has enough space to create your own … (6 comments)

tips and advice: Eco-Friendly Kitchens - 03/09/11 07:13 AM

The kitchen is the heart of every home, because it provides a place for sustenance and good conversation and family pow-wows. If you're current kitchen isn't one that meets your needs, a green upgrade is probably what it could use. In addition to being able to customize your kitchen to your liking, you will also be able to decrease your electricity bill and preserve your food for longer.  
Here are some tips that can help you remodel your kitchen in an eco-friendly way.
Purchase energy-efficient appliance. Your refrigerator is a big consumer of electricity, because it has to run all … (5 comments)

tips and advice: Connecting with Referrals - 03/08/11 07:31 AM

 
To be an effective networker, you should constantly be strengthening your relationships with referral sources. The best way to go about this, of course, depends on each individual referral source and what he or she responds to.
So while there isn't one "best" way to solidify your connections with referral sources, you can take a number of actions to build good will and credibility in those relationships. Here, are some examples that I have come across over my years that should give you some ideas and get you off on the right foot.
Arrange a one-to-one meeting. Meeting a … (0 comments)

 
Michael A. Caruso (Surterre Properties)

Michael A. Caruso

Laguna Niguel, CA

More about me…

Surterre Properties

Address: 33522 Niguel Road #100, Monarch Beach, CA, 92629

Office: (949) 495-8600

Mobile: (949) 584-2300



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