david slavin: The Lake House at Cinco Ranch - 02/24/09 11:26 AM
The 76-acre Spring Green Recreation Center, features a scenic 30-acre lake surrounded by parks, greenbelts and wetland ledges. A water park with a resort-style swimming pool, 2 water slides and a children's spray park offers refreshing fun for every member of the family, and a Children's Garden invites the youngest ones to clamber over boulders and fallen timbers, explore a dry stream bed, and witness the cycle of life in a butterfly garden.
At the heart of this recreation complex is the 6000 sqft Lake House, featuring architecture inspired by historic Texas train depots. The Lake house has spacious indoor and outdoor … (2 comments)
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david slavin: Happy 18th Birthday Cinco Ranch! - 02/24/09 10:38 AM
Cinco Ranch in Katy, TX is celebrating its 18th birthday. Located in the highly acclaimed Katy Idependant School District, Cinco Ranch offers homes priced from $160,000 to over $1 million. If you're looking for new contruction then the Cinco Ranch Model Home Village with 30 decorated models is perfect for you. There are numerous pre-owned homes to choose from as well as and many different country clubs to choose if golf and socializing is your thing. Cinco Ranch has turned out to be a highly successful master-planned community just west of Houston.
You can join in the celebration at Simply Cinco information center at the La Centera shopping center (across … (0 comments)
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david slavin: The First Letter To Send in 2009! - 11/06/08 01:30 PM
By David N. Slavin, ABR, SRES www.DavidSlavin.com
Do you want 2009 to start off good for you? Of course you do! Who wouldn't? It is important to let your past clients and SOI know that you are still open for business no matter what they see in the news about the real estate market.
I always send a letter in January thanking everyone for helping me to have a highly successful year in 2008 thanks to them sending me their referrals. I continue with, I'm looking forward to helping them and/or their referrals in 2009, etc. I also send … (9 comments)
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david slavin: What Do You Do? - 10/05/08 09:07 AM
By David Slavin, ABR, SRES
This is always a tough one for many agents. In today's real estate market we must make sure customer service is a top priority and part of this is gift giving. I'm not necessarily talking about holiday gifts to clients and past clients. I'm talking about gift giving when clients don't expect it. That's when it makes the biggest impression on them and you will remain on the top of their mind. When they think real estate they think of you. But now for the big question...
What do you give them and … (24 comments)
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david slavin: Consumer Reports - Reducing Commission - 10/04/08 02:32 PM
By David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com
According to an article in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, the percentages are too close to call. They surveyed the differences among the major real estate companies for overall performance and success in attracting buyers. They did find a difference between the companies when it comes to the willingness to negotiate the agents commission. Here are the results from most willing to negotiate commissions to the least willing:
77% RE/MAX 76% Independent Agents 70% Other companies 67% Keller Williams 67% Century 21 67% Prudential 64% Coldwell Banker
… (14 comments)
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david slavin: Customer Service is a MUST! - 10/04/08 01:56 PM
By David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
In today's market, it is imperative to give the best customer service possible. By giving the best customer service, your clients will become your cheer leader. Word of mouth and referrals are THE best method for business growth. It gives you instant credibility and the willingness to work with you without interviewing other agents. This is also the most economical way to develop and gain more business. When you are trying to move your business into a referral based business, you must keep your customer service going long after the closing.
… (9 comments)
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david slavin: Office Support - 09/09/08 07:26 PM
by David N. Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
Does your office support you and help you to become successful? My office does and this is one of the reasons I love being there and being part of RE/MAX! There are a couple of top producing agents in our office that are volunteering their time to coach any agent in the office wanting coaching. These agents have paid for coaching for years and are at a different level in their careers and they are wanting to pay it forward. The broker/owners of our office are also to be commended because they are … (5 comments)
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david slavin: Does Coaching Work? - 09/03/08 10:42 AM
I have been thinking of taking my business to the next level and I don't know if coaching is the way to go. I know that any system or program must be followed and coaching provides the accountability that's needed to stay on track. You can have the best plan in the world but it is worthless if you don't follow it. This is true for anything including weight loss, real estate, etc.
If you have or are involved with or are being coached... DOES IT WORK?
David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com
… (13 comments)
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david slavin: Do You Know Why? - 08/19/08 11:43 AM
By David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.FortBendHomeFinder.com www.SellMyHouseDave.com
Do you know why popcorn pops? Here's why. Popcorn is actually a kind of corn called flint corn and it contains a minor amount ot starch. Each kernel contains a layer called the endosperm and it resists the build up of steam pressure when heated. When the temperature reach around 400 degrees Fahrenheit the kernel expands up to 30 times its original size and the endosperm violently explodes and you have a single piece of poppedcorn or popcorn.
Popcorn is not the widely familiar sweet corn we like to eat in … (3 comments)
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david slavin: A Must Do For Sellers! - 08/18/08 04:17 PM
By David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
There are so many things a seller must do to get a house sold and there are so many things a real estate agent must do to get a house sold. Why would a seller go through the cleaning, landscaping, power washing, staging, etc., etc., etc. and when an offer comes in... you want full price?
In this market, it is imperitive that a seller is willing to negotiate. I know some sellers can't afford to negotiate much then those people probably shouldn't be selling unless they are behind on … (1 comments)
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david slavin: What Kind of Seller Are You? - 08/11/08 02:39 PM
By: David N. Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
When thinking about selling your house, you'll need to ask yourself what kind of seller are you? Are you a wishful thinker? A realist? Or are you a member of the anxious and desperate?
I always tell my clients in the Katy real estate market that there are three prices to every house. 1. The price the seller WISHES to sell the house for... 2. The price the buyer WISHES they could by the house for... 3. Then there's reality or the price the house actually sells for.
… (2 comments)
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david slavin: Thoughts of a Transaction Fee? - 08/10/08 02:51 PM
By: David N. Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com
There are more and more real estate professionals struggling with daily expenses so they are turning to the Transaction / Processing fee. Most of the time I have seen this used strictly with sellers but now I'm seeing this used with both buyers and sellers. The fee can range from $100 to $500 or more per transaction side closed.
With the price at the pump so high that you double the value of your car every time you fill up. Those of us that use our vehicles to … (18 comments)
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david slavin: Internet Videos & Real Estate - 08/09/08 05:31 PM
By: David N. Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
I'm not technologically advanced... at all. So I'm asking for your help.
I am interested in creating videos to put online and on my real estate websites & blogs, etc. but I don't know the first thing about how to do it or what I'll need to make this happen. I hope ya'll (sorry I'm a Texan) can help answer some questions for me.
What kind/brand of camera do I get? What software will I need for editing? Where do I upload the videos once I get the first two questions figured out? … (22 comments)
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david slavin: What Would You Do in this Room? - 08/02/08 12:33 AM
View from the Entry hall
View From the Kitchen
Please help me stage this room for the sellers. It's a large family room (15X20) and I think it could look even larger and more appealing to potential buyers. I had a couple of comments from an open house that said to move the second couch to the TV wall so you don't see the back of it when you walk into the room. If we do this where do we put the TV and the chair to the left of the TV? What are your suggestions?
Thanks, David Slavin, ABR, … (23 comments)
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david slavin: How to Get 10 More Deals! - 07/30/08 08:15 PM
I went to a FREE (nothing is free) seminar today about how to get 10 more deals a year guaranteed. First of all, I enjoy going to these sales pitch seminars because many times they have good information and they have to at least sound like good ideas to entice you to purchase what they are trying to sell. This one was selling coaching. One of the biggest things they were talking about for prospecting(which is THE most important part of a Realtor's business) to reach 10 more deals sounds logical and easy to stick with. All you need to do is use … (18 comments)
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david slavin: Improve to Enjoy... then Sell! - 07/28/08 08:40 PM
I have never understood why people will fix up their house and then leave it. Why not make improvements to your that you can enjoy for a year or two and then move. There's no reason for you to live in a house that hasn't been updated but then you update it for the buyers. This doesn't make much sense does it? This way the investment that you make in the improvements will be worth while and it won't cost as much.
Why won't it cost as much? This is an easy question. There are two … (2 comments)
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david slavin: Learn From Your Mistakes! - 07/27/08 03:16 PM
We must learn from our mistakes. If you keep repeating the same mistake your going to get the same result and this just makes your a fool. The only way to not make the same mistake is to change what you are doing. If it works, don't fix it! If it doesn't work then and only then, Fix it! If you like losing money then keep making the same mistakes. Some mistakes are more expensive than others so you want to make sure you don't make very many of the expensive ones.
Once you figure … (4 comments)
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david slavin: If It's Broken... FIX IT! - 07/20/08 01:54 PM
Buyers are looking for reason NOT to buy your house. If you have any obvious problems, then fix them. It doesn't matter how minor you think the problem is, because to the buyer it is major and they'll move on with giving you an offer. Don't give them a reason to leave. If the buyer just doesn't like the neighborhood, the floor plan, or the size of the rooms then don't worry about it. These are items you can't change but there are items you can and you should.
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself when … (7 comments)
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david slavin: SRES Designation - 07/19/08 04:07 PM
I just completed all of the requirements and now I am proud to say I have the SRES designation. For those of you who don't know about this designation, then I invite you to visit www.seniorsrealestate.com ! This is the future of our industry and it is important to learn how to better serve this growing segment of our real estate business.
I would like to encourage the Active-Adult community to use agents with this designation. You will be glad you did.
David Slavin, ABR, SRES www.SellMyHouseDave.com www.FortBendHomeFinder.com
… (13 comments)
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david slavin: Neutral is BEST! - 07/12/08 02:01 PM
Neutral colors are also best to get a house sold in the quickest amount of time in today's market. Bold colors will usually make the house take more time to get it sold. Neutral colors will go with everyone's furniture. Most people are visual and it if the potential buyer has to repaint before they can picture their things in the house, they will go to the next house before making an offer. If you have your has painted with neutral colors, buyers can picture their furniture in the house and they are more likely to make an offer over a house with … (3 comments)
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