I am an iPhone devotee. I suffered through years of Palm Treo and various Blackberries (a Curve and two Bolds) to land, finally, in the land of the iPhone. And I couldn’t love it more. The usability and variety of the apps available for work and for play are a big part of that.
It’s the device that seems to have an app for everything (except, as the joke goes, for actually making a phone call) – and here is a list of my 10 favorite apps for my real estate business...
And yes, I’m a cheapskate – all of these apps are FREE.
Sure – the economy’s tanked, your market stinks, and money’s tight. I get it. So pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get on down South, ya’ll, for two of the best events you’ll attend all year.
If you’re like me, you’re carefully planning where and when to spend not only your money but also your time. These two events will transform your business – and they’re more than worth the money you’ll spend to get there. And these ain’t your momma’s real estate conferences – from events held in bars, karaoke nights, and live Twitter feeds teaching you almost as much as the speakers themselves, you’ll come away with more information than you bargained for — and that’s a good thing!
Whether you're new to Atlanta or a native, there's always something new to discover. Our great city is vibrant and eclectic, full of vitality and variety - and that's why so many of us love to call it home!
So newbie or native...do you sometimes find yourself yearning for something new to do? Well, how about 365 things to do?
A new blogsite started about 2 weeks ago that will give you just that - 365 things to do in and around Atlanta!
Who should not visit this site: Those of you who just want the normal, tourist-y things to do, like visiting the World of Coca-Cola and going to a Braves game. While those are cool things to do - definitely! - you can find that information anywhere!
Who SHOULD visit this site:Everyone else! Those of you who want to try a restaurant you've never been to, want to visit a place off the beaten path, find a place in this great Metro Atlanta area that's new and different to you. People who want something a little wacky (a pillow fight in Piedmont Park), a little wild (a comedy improv show) and a little wonderful (contests and free stuff)!
I had a delightful morning today with a friend of mine, Patrice Ducoffe of Ducoffe Wedding Concierge (doesn't her name just sing with sophistication?). We met at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee in Roswell, Georgia, to network and learn a little more about each others' businesses.
We realized, while drinking rich African coffee and indulging in delicious (and huge!) muffins that what we do is very comparable. Patrice is a wedding concierge - she is a hands-on wedding coordinator who can do everything for the bride from researching florists and reception venues to reminding her to write her thank you notes. Similarly, as a REALTOR®, I am the concierge of my clients' real estate transactions. I do more than just show homes- I coordinate the transaction from the first contact through the closing (meeting the home inspector, communicating with the attorney and the lender, sometimes more than the buyers themselves) and beyond closing day, including reminding them to file for their Homestead Exemption, wishing them a happy first home anniversary and continuing to provide them with valuable referrals to vendors when they need them. Those vendors who have proven themselves trustworthy and reliable and who have been referred to me by clients who have used their services.
As we discussed my own wedding experience (she can't believe I only paid $36 for my dress, but that's another story for another day!) as well as some of her recent experiences with brides, we also discussed the fact that the vendors we know and refer on a daily basis are a reflection on our own businesses. As the saying goes: a happy client will tell one person, an unhappy client will tell ten! So I constantly monitor the feedback I receive - if a client has been unhappy with a vendor or service provider whose name they got from me, I won't feel comfortable giving out that person's name again. That being said, I know that I can feel good about giving out the names and numbers of my most trusted service providers, from my painters to my electrician to my hardwood flooring contractors, and on and on. If my clients choose another vendor, I ask them to give me feedback about that person, as well as why they chose them (price, personality, referral) - I want to know whether I have another person to add to my list...or not.
Sometimes knowing someone on a personal level is different than knowing them on a professional level, but even though I haven't worked directly with Patrice or had occasion to use her services (sadly, I was married before we met - I wish I'd met her earlier!) I know that Patrice truly loves what she does and has built a fabulous business built on personalized customer service. In our two industries - where stress and strain can often rule the day - knowing that you have someone on your side to be your concierge and confidante can alleviate the anxiety and make the process what it should be - an enjoyable time to remember, whether it's your wedding day or buying your first (or second or third!) home.
A wise friend, Ira Serkes, shared this thought with me today on my Facebook Wall:
So Ira got me thinking - about 92% of my business comes from referrals: from my friends, family and clients. Many of my clients are also my friends - if they aren't my friends before we do business together, by the time we are finished, they have become friends. They stay in my life, becoming a source of future business while remaining, if not close friends, then at least casual friends who are happy to stay in touch via email, Facebook, the occasional phone call. They are, at the risk of sounding cliché, my biggest fans, at least from a professional standpoint. They are the reason my business continues to grow and in large part deserving of thanks for many of my successes!
Therefore, as Ira pointed out,they are not ever in my past. They are just my clients, plain and simple. The ones who end up being "past" clients are the rare ones who do not wish to establish a more personal relationship. Because after all, the business of real estate is more than just business - it's extremely personal. You learn your clients' tastes (and they probably learn about yours, too), their financial situation; you get a first-hand look at a husband and wife's relationship and how they deal with potentially stressful situations; you become their confidante, psychologist, counselor, decorator, negotiator, and - oh yes! REALTOR®! You wear many hats, one of which, if you're lucky, is also friend.
It's one of the many reasons that I love what I do. Every day and every client is different - it's truly a fabulous career and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
It's no secret that times are tough - money is tight and people are cutting back on expenses and spending.
And yet, there are still people out there buying homes. In fact, the federal government's new extended and expanded homebuyer tax credit is making buying a home rather attractive to a large number of potential homeowners out there, who are racing against the clock to get under contract by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30, 2010.
But for many first-time homebuyers, money can be tight - perhaps they have spent months or years saving enough for a down payment for their first home and additional expenses eat further into their savings and liquid assets. There are, however, a number of places NOT to cut costs on your real estate transaction. Yes, buying a home is expensive - probably your single largest investment - but cutting costs on these 5 items can cost you even bigger in the long run.
(This is by no means an exhaustive list - this is simply my opinion of some of the most important expenditures in your real estate transaction. Keep in mind- I am a REALTOR® in Georgia and the laws and requirements may differ widely in other states. Do not consider this post to be legal or financial advice - always consult an attorney or financial planner for legal or financial advice.)
1. Home Inspection - Possibly the single most important expenditure. A home inspection can determine whether there are serious defects with the home that may not be visible to the naked eye or obvious to you or your REALTOR®, such as faulty wiring, unsafe appliances, . You should choose your home inspector wisely, as all home inspectors are not created equal. Seek referrals from your REALTOR® or from friends or family who have recently bought a house and were pleased with their inspector.
2. Owner's Title Insurance - Your REALTOR®, lender and/or your closing attorney or title agent may talk to you about lender's title insurance prior to your closing, or it may just show up on your Settlement Statement, which might leave you bewildered by the charge. Though it is optional, it is an extremely important expenditure, especially in these times of rampant foreclosures, short sales, mortgage fraud, etc. Your homeowners' insurance will protect your physical home and its contents, but it won't protect you against financial loss due to defects in the title of the property, liens on the property, or other aspects of your financial investment. You can be sure that your lender will purchase lender's title insurance, so shouldn't you protect your own interests? You may have options when purchasing your title insurance - you can - and should - discuss those with your closing attorney or closing agent prior to closing.
3. Home Warranty - A home warranty is definitely an optional feature in your home purchase, but it can save you big down the road. In many cases, your REALTOR® may be able to negotiate a home warranty into your purchase contract, asking for the seller to purchase a one-year policy on your behalf. However, if the seller does not agree to purchase a home warranty for you, you can still purchase one for yourself. There are a number of reputable home warranty companies with various policies for you to choose from - from basic policies to those with expanded coverage. After the first year, you will have the option to renew your home warranty each year. Your warranty can cover many defects in the home, such as your hot water heater, air conditioner, furnace - but be sure to read the fine print in your contract so that you understand exactly what your policy covers and doesn't.
5. Survey - A survey is an official diagram or drawing of your property, including lot lines, public utilities on the property, easements, etc. While some lenders may require a survey, it is often optional. The seller of the home may have a seller from when they bought the house or from much earlier than that, depending on the age of the home. It is always a good idea to get an updated one, whether the seller provides you with one or not. An updated survey can tell you if a neighbor's fence has intruded over your property line or if that dead tree is your liability or the neighbor's, saving you the trouble and hassle of dealing with those issues down the road - and there can be costly issues associated with disputes over property lines and ownership. It's best to get those out of the way before you are the property owner.
Of course, there are many other costs associated with buying a home - you should consult your local REALTOR® with questions about what is the norm in your area. And if you have questions about buying a home in North Georgia and the North Metro Atlanta area in particular, call The Gebhardt Group today. We're happy to answer your questions for you and help you navigate the homebuying process!
United States Senator Johnny Isakson is a REALTOR® and a great friend to the real estate industry and a proponent for homeownership and personal property rights.
In this video, from February 1, 2010, "Senator Johnny Isakson talks about the unintended consequences to regulation and how we need to start looking at the cause and effect to help our economic recovery." I wanted to share this video because I think it's important information. I won't take away from Senator Isakson's speech and remarks by paraphrasing - you should just take a few moments to view this video.
You are representing the buyer in a transaction. The listing sheet clearly states, "Not a short sale," but you notice, while doing your due diligence and researching the property in the MLS, tax records, county courthouse records, etc. that the list price is significantly less than NOT ONLY what the seller paid for the home but also less than the amount of their loan. You ask the listing agent, "This definitely isn't a short sale?" He says, "No."
You write the offer, and following negotiations, your client (the Buyer) reaches an agreement with the Seller - they are under contract. The normal things happen from here: the inspection and subsequent repair negotiation; the appraisal; the loan package arrives at the closing attorney's office; the HUD-1 Settlement Statement is prepared and sent to all parties. You notice that the Seller needs to bring upwards of $51,000+ to closing in order to sell their home. "You're sure it's not a short sale?" you ask the listing agent. He says, "No."
And then...four days before closing, your phone rings. It's the listing agent, and he says, "I really need to talk to you."
Sure enough - the seller doesn't have the money to close. They are more than $10,000 short and have no way to come up with the money. Their bank has turned them down for a loan for the amount they need. They are a bad risk. They have asked family and friends, who have also turned them down. Suddenly, the closing that has been 45 days in the making (not to mention the time you spent showing properties to your clients) is falling apart. You feel helpless. Your buyer is confused and angry. The listing agent...well, you wonder where was he throughout this process?
The question is, what do you do when the listing agent doesn't fully do their job? As REALTORS®, our job is to counsel our clients. That includes preparing a "Net to Seller" sheet when an offer is received AND at the time of each subsequent counteroffer. It also includes talking them through the situation - do you know how much you owe on this home? Do you have the funds you will need to close? It includes requesting a preliminary HUD-1 from the closing attorney to show the seller, in black and white, what their financial obligation is at closing. It includes being brutally honest with your client about their financial obligations, as well as being diligent and DOING YOUR JOB. Our Georgia Association of REALTORS® contracts has a "Source of Buyer's Funds" exhibit and a "Financing Contingency" exhibit that sellers can use to insist on knowing the buyer's financing plan; however, there is no "Source of Seller's Funds" exhibit that we can use to protect our Buyers and be sure that the Seller has enough money to close in a situation like this one. After this week, I really think there should be.
Because this is not a hypothetical. It happened to me this week. Thankfully, we closed the loan, with some artful maneuvering on the part of the closing attorney, who was able to eek out some additional funds for the seller by netting their escrows and applying that amount to the deficit, among other things. The money was "found" and the closing happened right on schedule.
But the point it, it might not have closed. And the sad fact is that, in this market, doingdue diligence on just one side of the deal is no longer good enough. We've entered a time in which we now have to worry about not only prequalifying OUR clients, but also prequalifying the clients on the other side of the table, in case that agent has not done his or her part.
I just returned from the CyberStars Summit in Scottsdale, AZ, and WOW, was I ever blown away by the amount of idea-sharing and learning. I attend lots of conferences and educational opportunities every year - I've always wanted to be a perpetual student - and this was, by far, one of the best!
The number one takeaway that I learned from this conference was using QR Codes in my real estate business to help me sell your home.
What is a QR Code, you ask? Good question!
A QR Code is like a bar code - the ones you see in grocery stores, bookstores, almost any retail establishment. It is a code that, when read by the correct device, can provide you with information about a product - whether it's a price on a retail product, or in this case, a website and information about a home listing.
A QR Code looks like this:
It's the next wave in technology that allows you to download information in a "green" way. For example, if you drive past my listing and want more information, you would use your iPhone, Blackberry or other PDA/Smart Phone device to scan the QR code on my sign instead of picking up a paper flyer. You could then download the information stored in that code, which contains the website address for that listing and would take you to www.3003Mulberry.com - the website for my listing at 3003 Mulberry Street.
If you have a Smart Phone/PDA, iPhone, Blackberry - you can download a QR code reader. (I have an iPhone - I like the free QR Code reader app called "QR app".) There are FREE, downloadable apps for these devices that can not only allow you to be mroe "green" (i.e., not pick up and waste paper flyers) but also to have instant access to information at the touch (literally!) of a button!
Will a QR code guarantee a quicker sale of your home? Not necessarily, however, it will open up your listing to a whole new realm of possible buyers. As Gen X, Gen Y and the Millenials become the largest group of homebuyers and also the most tech-savvy, they look for more and more technologically savvy REALTORS® and real estate. The more resources we give them, the more attracted they will be to your listing.
It's an exciting time to be a REALTOR®! Call me today if you are interested in buying or selling a home - let me put our tech-savvy marketing plans in place for you today! Visit Maura and The Gebhardt Group online.
I just returned from the CyberStars Summit in Scottsdale, AZ - January 10-13, 2010. There, I was able to learn from and network with some of the top tech-savvy REALTORS® in the nation - wow! was I ever blown away!
The weather was lovely - after our unseasonably cold weather and snow/ice storms in Atlanta - and the networking and learning were even better!
Not only was I able to meet and put a face to a name with REALTORS® whom I've had the pleasure of knowing only on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networking sites, but I was also able to expand my tech-knowledge to help me serve my clients better and expand my network of REALTORS® around the nation.
How does this help you, my clients and friends?
First, it means that I was out sharing ideas with some of the top minds in the biz - my business can only improve and my service to my clients can only get better from the education I gained from my colleagues. This time, with the CyberStars®, I have learned the latest technology to help you buy or sell a home - to help me stay in touch with you - to market your home.
Second, my network of trusted REALTORS® across North America has expanded further. Every time I travel and attend a conference or an education session, I am able to get to know other real estate agents - when you are planning a move across the country or across the state, I can help you find a great REALTOR® to help you buy a new home - and I can refer him or her with confidence.
Finally, it means that I can continue to learn from and network with these great people - the brightest minds - the top producers - and now my good friends! I've found that the key to a successful real estate career is not what you know but whom you know - and knowing the best helps me strive to be one of the best.
The best tech-tip I learned at this year's CyberStars® Summit was the QR Code. Want to know more?Click here!
Thanks, CyberStars® - I am already looking forward to next January's Summit and to seeing you all again throughout the year at other conferences! And friends,I'll keep you posted on my future travels and learning! Stay tuned!
DISCLAIMER: The Gebhardt Group and all of its members disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect that may result from use of or reliance on, information contained in their blogs or for accuracy of comments or opinions of visitors to her blogs.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
two Bolds) to land, finally, in the land of the iPhone. And I couldn’t love it more. The usability and variety of the apps available for work and for play are a big part of that.
they are not ever in my past. They are just my clients, plain and simple. The ones who end up being "past" clients are the rare ones who do not wish to establish a more personal relationship. Because after all, the business of real estate is more than just business - it's extremely personal. You learn your clients' tastes (and they probably learn about yours, too), their financial situation; you get a first-hand look at a husband and wife's relationship and how they deal with potentially stressful situations; you become their confidante, psychologist, counselor, decorator, negotiator, and - oh yes! REALTOR®! You wear many hats, one of which, if you're lucky, is also friend.
learn from and network with some of the top tech-savvy REALTORS® in the nation - wow! was I ever blown away!
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