Photographs Make More Connections Online - 01/25/11 12:52 PM

We’ve said before how important good, high quality photography is in marketing your listing. Remember, this is your first chance to capture someone’s interest – and the Wall Street Journal reported study findings that “quality photos increase the likelihood that a home will sell… for higher asking prices.”
Photography can also help you connect with your clients and prospects. Inman contributor Teresa Boardman recently shared her ideas on ways to use photography to differentiate yourself – and help you brand yourself as the expert in your niche market.
“Photography is a great way to demonstrate knowledge of a neighborhood. It shows … (4 comments)

2010 San Antonio Homes Sales - 01/24/11 05:09 PM
The San Antonio Board of REALTORS (SABOR) recently released the final home sales statistics for 2010. As predicted, the year turned out with 2010 home sales slightly down compared to 2009. During 2010, approximately 17,580 homes were sold. The number of homes sold during 2010 was down 2.9% compared to the number of homes sold during 2009.
Although the number of home sales were down during 2010, this statistic is actually better than it may initially sound. During 2009, a homebuyers tax credit incentive was in place for the entire year. This tax credit stimulated and/or encouraged home purchases throughout the … (0 comments)

New Niche Online Web Partners - 01/21/11 09:55 AM

Providing the most exposure for your real estate listings is our top priority. We are pleased to add two new websites to our online syndication – LakeHouse.com and GolfHomes.com. Both are part of the Dream Home Network, a suite of niche-marketing real estate websites.
Lakehouse.com is an international resource for all types of waterfront and water community real estate. GolfHomes.com is a website for buying and selling real estate on golf courses and in golf communities worldwide.
In addition, listings priced $600,000 and above are now exported to the prominent NewYorkTimes.com and its affiliate sites. This includes NYT.com/GreatHomes, International Herald Tribune and Boston Globe.
Homes & Land syndicates advertised listings to over … (1 comments)

10 Helpful Hints on Understanding Body Language - 01/19/11 02:35 PM

We don’t always tell one another what we are actually thinking. That’s why understanding body language is important.
Robert Phipps is a body language expert from Great Britain. These are ten tips from Mr. Phipps to help you understand unspoken behavior.
Maintaining eye contact shows respect and makes people feel comfortable with you. Be careful though—one hundred percent eye contact makes people nervous, like maybe they’ve got a dab of ketchup on their chin. Keeping eye contact around 60% to 70% of the time when you are engaged in a personal conversation is sufficient to convey your interest and respect. … (5 comments)

Top 12 Remodeling Trends for 2011 - 01/13/11 10:43 AM

What types of remodeling projects will 2011 bring? According to a poll by CBS Money Watch and the National Association of Remodeling Industry, the 12 hot trends for this year will be smaller, must-do projects:
Bathrooms will get more attention this year – they’re smaller and less expensive to upgrade than kitchens Must-do projects like repairing leaky roofs and siding will trump “want-to” projects Earth tones and warm colors will make a resurgence from the white minimalist look Decks and outdoor spaces remain popular as easy ways to maximize the space homeowners currently have Consumers are expected to work harder to protect … (3 comments)

Are you mis-using Social Media? - 01/07/11 02:54 PM

 
Inman’s Future of Real Estate Marketing blog contributor Kori Covrigaru offers agents good advice on how to effectively use social media. In “Back to the Real Estate Social Media Future,” Kori challenges you to take a hard look at how (and if) social media contributes to your bottom line. If you’re not sure, it may be time to get back to what you know works – real personal contact.
 
“Take a moment and reflect on how social media contributes to your bottom line. Are you allocating your time, money (time is money) and resources efficiently, or are you tweeting, 4squaring and facebooking … (3 comments)

This Months Cover Feature - 01/05/11 10:32 AM
 
This month's cover property is presented by
Rick Kuper of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty.
 

 
Historic 3 bedroom with 2 baths. Thoughtfully restored in a way that balances period charm, modern convenience, & green values. Features include French gothic picket fence, wrap around porch, mature landscape, Venetian plaster walls, exposed ceilings, original Heart Pine floors, updated plumbing/electricity. Architecturally acclaimed barn w/flagstone floor, fireplace, guest room & bath adds an additional 2005 SqFt for office, studio, or entertainment venue. Walking distance to downtown New Braunfels and top-ranked elementary school. For more information on this property call 210-240-8282 or … (0 comments)

How Would You Grade Yourself? - 01/04/11 01:58 PM

Remember your elementary school report card? In addition to the core subjects, you got evaluated by the teacher on important topics such as effort, communication, and my favorite: “Uses Time Wisely.”
Another year has ended. Did you use your time wisely in 2010? Put forth a solid effort? Make a plan and stick to it? Or did you blame the market for all of your problems and spend too much time on FaceBook?
The economy will probably only marginally improve. So if you didn’t achieve what you wanted to last year, now is the time to figure out what you … (5 comments)

10 Elements Visitors want to see on your Website - 01/02/11 03:12 PM
10 Elements Visitors want to see on your Website:
What are consumers looking for when they visit your website? And more importantly, are they able to easily find it? There’s no question that websites are a powerful marketing tool – but a poorly organized site can be just as powerful in sending your leads looking somewhere else.

Marketing advisors Alice Bredin and Kelly Cutler suggest that consumers will be “more likely to contact you if they know what working with you will ‘look like.’ ”
Michael Russer recently published their list of the top 10 things consumers want on a … (7 comments)