It's a must!  And so simple.  Whichever you prefer: the paper cards sent through the mail or one of the many varieties of e-cards.  I've never been a fan of birthday cards to clients (which, to me, seems so "canned" and not sincere), but who doesn't like a holiday card? - but REMEMBER TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR BUSINESS at the same time.

One of the best pieces of advice I've been reminded of lately is what I was taught as a child: sit down and write a thank you note.  On nice paper; handwritten.  "Thank you very much for the pleasure of your business; I enjoyed working with you."  It need not be more elaborate than that.  It should be sent immediately after any closed transaction. But, at this holiday time, perhaps there are other special clients that deserve a lovely hand-written note from you.

Yes, times are tough. Yes, Buyers are hoping that they can really get a rock-bottom deal. But what's the point of submitting an offer that's so much lower than anything in the neighborhood? I realize that we are supposed to submit what a Buyer requests, but don't you just wonder whether the offering agent has even had a little talk with his/her Buyer about the result that is sure to come (not just a refusal to counter, but bad feelings as well)? And if the Buyer still wishes to take that approach, perhaps it's time for the agent to cut that Buyer loose; time is valuable - who wants to be constantly writing up offers that will go nowhere?

I am constantly amazed at how many agents don't prepare a Seller's Estimate Proceeds form - at several different possible selling prices - subtracting the commission, other sales costs, and the current mortgage pay-off. Even in my own office, some agents don't fill this out. Often when picking up an expired listing I ask if the sellers wish me to do one since they probaby already have one....and I shake my head when they tell me their agent didn't give them one.  When you're buying something, you want to know what the price is.  Why wouldn't a seller want to know their their expected check would be a closing?!

Not every company uses one. In Florida it's not necessary for a seller to fill one out (although Florida law requires them to disclose defects not readily observable). If they won't, I'm always suspicious. The sellers that I've worked with over the years are generally more than willing to fill it out; often they ask "should I mention the little roof leak of a year ago that was fixed?" Yes is the answer!  The more specific a seller is the better.  It's not our job, as agents, to confirm information. But as the listing progresses, if a new issue is addressed with a repair, we should try to remember to have them update their seller's disclosure. Another good policy, when an agent asks to see the seller's disclosure,is to quickly have the Seller review the form to make sure the information is current.

The little problems that are there that we all tend to ignore.  Is there a faucet that drips a little (inside or the hose bibs outside)?  Is there some peeling paint?  Is the stain still on the ceiling even after the minor roof leak was fixed?  Is there a rotten board on the deck? Look in your electrical panel; are there any slots that don't have a blank plate cover? Take a real thorough stock of your situation. Make a list of very old appliances so you can think ahead to deciding whether to give a credit to a buyer (by the way....it's always better to do a credit rather than replace yourself....what you just spend money on your buyer may just toss for a higher-end item). Forewarned is forearmed, as always.

Energy-efficient features of your listings are just the ticket these days. A new, super-efficient central air conditioning system? A tankless water heater? High-efficiency windows? Programmable climate control? These are becoming hot buttons for buyers; it your listings has some of these features, make certain that you tout them right up front in your listing write-up.

Especially in Florida, where it seems like there is just one more gated community after another in a giant urban and suburban sprawl, it's comforting to know that more folks are looking for more traditional communities (welcome back to our older neighborhoods!). The neighborhoods increasingly sought-after are those with a sense of belonging and caring, not just all about the housing stock. Kids playing in each other's back yards, biking to the local store near their community, sitting on the front porch.  And as "less is more" becomes reality, not everyone is deciding they have to have their own pool - they welcome meeting their friends at the community pool.

Note the following building design tricks so that you can use them in promotional phrasing in MLS to attract buyers. One way is for the ceiling height to be raised.  Second is to provide a straight-through view to open space; looking directly out to the yard from the kitchen/family room area means a lot. Front porches are also back in style; adding outdoor living space and a new visit from the inside living areas. We all know that buyers sometimes feel that a house is smaller or larger than the sq.ft. denote - learn how to accentuate these positives to potential buyers.

In response to consumers wanting smaller, more manageable, homes, architects and builders are eliminating from the floor plans rooms that people don't seem to use any more.  Gone are the formal living rooms and sitting rooms. Even libraries, game rooms and media rooms are becoming less prevalent. Flexible space is king. Design tricks that make a home feel bigger are now critical to new home design. Real estate agents can take this is a tip as to how to describe a home being listed in MLS. Consumers reading the descriptions online may be more likely to request information or a showing.