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The Top 5 Most Useless Real Estate Listing Headlines - 04/23/11 01:36 AM
This is an excellent post by Donna. I want to add one to the list here - "Handyman Special", when the price is at or near market value. COME ON!
Via Donna Ross - One Day Redecorator (Room Remedy Interiors, Sydney, Australia):
1." Owner Says sell!"
Really? Thanks for pointing that out. Stating the bleeding obvious may well be the absolute truth of the matter, but it's still completely useless.
2. "Beautifully Appointed"
I hate this term cliché when I see it and I see it a lot. Go into Google now and key in the search term ‘beautifully appointed'. It's been done to … (2 comments)
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What's the Difference Between WordPress and WordPress.com? - 04/21/11 12:26 PM
It occurred to me that there might be a few folks out there that do not know the difference between using the WordPress system and using WordPress.com.
WordPress is an open source blogging platform that you can download and install on your own custom server. It enables you to have your install, which you can customize to your heart's desire.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, is a service offered free to users, allowing them to have a WordPress enabled blog that is hosted on WordPress.com. The main benefits here, are that you can have a free blog, and the install is … (8 comments)
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Do You Have Your Listings Walmart Priced? - 04/18/11 10:04 AM
I never really thought about the main point here, which is to try and price your listing so that it comes up in two different ranges (aka. $150,000 so that the home shows up for a search of $100k-$150k, as well as a search for $150k-$200k), which gives it more exposure, and a better chance for selling.
Via Connie Goodrich,CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas (Keller Williams Realty):
Attention Walmart shoppers, today in aisle 4, the home product section, we have our featured home on special today. Like all of our homes, we have all our homes with a discount priced special value and we … (1 comments)
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Video: How to Sell 101 - 04/18/11 08:39 AM
In this short video, I want to give you some basic tips on how to sell, with, of course, an example in real estate. The key thing to focus on here is the client's perception, and the desired benefit they have in mind.
It's nothing personal, but the typical client really doesn't care about the agent or broker, we are only a means to end for them to get the property they want. So don't try to fight that, just go with it, and deliver to the client what they want!
I am very interested in your success, particularly in your … (5 comments)
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Tips for Last-Minute Filers - 04/17/11 11:45 PM
Here's a high quality list of things you should definitely keep in mind if you are scurrying around at the last minute to file your income taxes. Enjoy!
Via Henry Pailles - houseINsandiego Realty (houseINsandiego):
The tax filing deadline is just around the corner. The IRS offers 10 tips for taxpayers still working on their tax returns:
File Electronically IRS e-file: It's safe. It's easy. It's time. IRS e-file is now the norm; not the exception. The number of e-filed Form 1040 tax returns is approaching 1 billion after 20 years of safe, secure service. In 2010, 99 million people - 70 percent … (2 comments)
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Is It Just About Price? - 04/17/11 11:40 PM
Phoebe gives some great tips on getting a home ready to stand out and sell during the spring months. Some of these things are hard for sellers to do, so as an agent, we've got to push them to make sure they do it!
Via Melissa Barkalow (Palladian One Realty):
As we are in the spring market, there are more homes coming onto the market for sale. As a seller, you need to make sure your home is in the best shape possible and priced correctly to be sold in the least amount of time. Your home should show well, make sure it … (2 comments)
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Are Realtors Worth Their Commission? - 04/16/11 08:34 AM
Karen provides a great list of things she's observed about real estate professionals. I really think that good agents, the ones who last, learn about all the aspects of the field, because clients want answers, and they want them immediately, not tomorrow!
Via Karen Bernetti (Staging4Smooth Transitions):
Are Realtors worth their commission? I used to be one of those part-time Realtors [that full-time agents love to hate]. During my years as a Realtor® I found the really good seaonsed agents intimidated me A LOT. Why? Because they seem to know EVERYTHING about everything. I was in awe - and by the way, I … (5 comments)
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The 5 Golden Rules of SEO & Online Marketing - 04/14/11 09:39 AM
So today I want to give you a quick video outlining the most relevant and high impact things you should be doing to promote the online side of your business.
While this is an overview, I think it may help some of you to re-align your thoughts and strategies regarding online marketing, and get back to the most important and basics tasks of promotion.
Earning points on AR is good, earning money promoting your business is online better!
Get more free videos and tips from me by signing up for my free 12 step system to a traffic getting real estate … (5 comments)
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Simple Math Behind ActiveRain Membership - 04/11/11 01:24 PM
Prayful elightened me with this post, saying that there is a possibility for achieving a "free" rainmaker account, which I was not aware of. So check it out, it's something to look forward to if you are serious!
Via Praful Thakkar (Keller Williams Realty):
Simple Math Behind ActiveRain Membership! Did you read a recent post from Kerrie about new guidelines for ActiveRain membership? I am sure you have. It was featured (of course, it should be) and was re-blogged by me and several other members. So, what do you think after reading that post? Doesn't it sound simple to be a member of ActiveRain community? … (7 comments)
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Why I might not refer you again - 04/11/11 01:07 PM
Cindy makes a good point here, that referrals should be appreciated, to the point of acknowledgment. However, I do believe there is room for genuine good will, which doesn't require any acknowledgment.
Via Cindy Westfall ABR,GRI (Prudential NW Properties, Portland Metro & Suburbs, Oregon):
Why I might not refer you again.
Ever use someones services that you loved and referred them out to others? Sure right..we do this all the time with contractors, suppliers, business associates, and of course other agents. But there are times when I am hesitant to refer you again and it comes down to just a few things.
1. … (4 comments)
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Mondays Don't Always Have to Feel Like Mondays - 04/11/11 12:43 PM
Sometimes it just stinks looking at a whole week ahead, and possibly not having many appointments for the week, but cheer up, this week is what you make of it!
I am in Thailand at the moment, and this week is a holiday for the Thai people. They call it "Songkran", and it is the traditional Thai new year celebration (before they moved to the international dateline starting in January).
The Thai are a fun loving people, and they celebrate this week by going out into the streets and having a huge water fight! It's hilarious, just driving around today we … (2 comments)
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How Many Links on My Page are Too Many? - 04/09/11 08:02 AM
I received a question about linking from one page to another within a realtor's website yesterday, and I thought it would be valuable to give everyone the answer here.
In general, Google says that a web page should limit the number of links on it to around 100. So definitely, don't put more than 100 links any one page of your website. That's all links included, i.e. navigation, sidebar, footer links, etc. in addition to your links within the content of the page.
Additionally, I would make the statement that you shouldn't really link to a page on your website without … (10 comments)
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Prospecting on Facebook - 04/09/11 07:59 AM
This is a really great post offering resources and services that can help you connect with your prospects, thus putting you in front of your competitors when it comes time for that prospect to become a real estate client.
Via Kelle Sparta, Real Estate Trainer and Coach (Sparta Success Systems):
Have you ever considered growing your mailing list? I'm sure you have. However, finding people interested in buying a home now or in the near future can be challenging. But what if you could grow a list of people who wanted to hear from you? People who may not be looking right now, but … (2 comments)
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Are you QR ready? - 04/09/11 07:50 AM
I really do think that QR (quick read) codes are going to be the next big technilogical thing for the real estate industry. Once enough people are savvy on using them with their cell phones, it will really get interesting. This a great post offering some free resources for getting setup with your own QR code.
Via Emily Lebow (Realtor Assistance):
I've been in the real estate industry since 1989, have watched the business evolve and technology take over. When I began, I was ahead of the curve, online and technology savvy. Today, I sometimes feel as though I'm running in place to … (3 comments)
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Free Property Advertising Site - 04/09/11 07:15 AM
I like how Greg not only gives us a free property listing resource here, but also tells us about the use-and-throw-away privacy email address that comes with each listing, protecting your real email inbox from spam!
Via Greg Gardner (Blithernet Online Classifieds):
As members of the real estate business, in an economy that can be challenging, we should be looking for as many marketing opportunities as are available.
ActiveRain provides a source of ideas that have helped me sell houses, rent apartments, find buyers, and acquire new business. This has been an invaluable tool for growing my business and getting my name out … (3 comments)
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Are You Targeting ANYBODY Who Can Buy or Sell? - 04/08/11 11:36 AM
Joshua tells us in this post that having a network of other agents is highly condusive to good business, and I totally agree. If you think so too, then I have a free gift for you, a 12 step course I wrote on developing a real estate site and getting traffic to it.
Check it out here.
Via Joshua Harley (Fathom Realty - A Tech-Savvy Real Estate Brokerage):
Knowing who your Community is will make generating leads so much easier!
“Your Community” is just the new catch phrase for Target Audience. Who are you trying to Generate Leads from? … (2 comments)
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There is a Fungus Among Us!! - 04/08/11 08:19 AM
There are some good tips here about keeping the mold growth down in your home, but basically, it just comes down to good old fashioned maintenance. Keep your home up, and the chances for mold over-population decrease dramatically.
Via Mechelle Cranford Residential Real Estate-Wilson Realty (Sell, Buy, Invest, Relocate, Distressed Properties):
Molds 101:
I decided to blog about Mold…nasty subject that it is. I am also a Registered Respiratory Therapist, for the last 20 years of my life. I could be extremely intensive with this article, but my plan is to keep it simple. I want people to realize how potentially … (1 comments)
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What SEO Information Would You Like to Know More About? - 04/08/11 08:09 AM
I really want to be of service and help the ActiveRain community. I have several years experience with seo and online marketing, and I want to ask you, what more would you like to know about this topic?
Here are some suggestions:
1. How to create high quality content that will get people's attention and deliver value.
2. How to get backlinks.
3. How to automate the getting backlinks tasks.
4. What kind of links do the search engines weigh the most?
5. What are some services out there to help create content or acquire backlinks to your site(s)?
6. What … (3 comments)
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FAQ #11 for Sellers: How Important is My Assessed Value? - 04/08/11 07:57 AM
This a great post discussing the assessed value of a property versus its market value, and some thoughts around how different people view these numbers.
Via Karen Feltman, Relocation Specialist (Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, IA Skogman Realty):
This is one of those questions where the answer really depends on WHO you ask! The seller wants the value to be as low as possible...since this is the amount that their TAXES are based upon. The buyer however, looks at this number differently. So the question beomes:
How Important is My Assessed Value? In some areas, the assessed value used to be a good indicator of … (2 comments)
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10 Reasons to Invest in Real Estate - 04/07/11 10:04 AM
This is great stuff. A well thought out, well written list of reasons to become active in real estate investing. Now all you have to do is go do it!
Via Karen Rittenhouse (Triad Residential Solutions):
10 Reasons to Invest in Real Estate
Really? Do you need more reasons?
Well, foreclosure rates remain high, mortgage lending continues to tighten, job growth and wages are still down, homeownership is declining.
So why do I continue to sing the praises of owning real estate? What makes property such a great investment? You cannot shake my faith. As a landlord or a … (0 comments)
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Mobile Home Investing: Lower Risk & Increased Profits - 04/07/11 09:30 AM
I have been around the real estate world for quite some time, and what I have noticed through my investing is...mobile homes are far better for generating low risk, high profit rental income streams than single family homes.
Let me give you an example. I am in a market where home values are far less than that of big cities, however, I was still astonished when I compared the cost / income of a low cost, single family investment property to that of a similarly sized mobile home.
I bought the 2/1 single family home and repaired it for about $50,000, … (4 comments)
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SEO: Do You Ping Your Real Estate Blog? - 04/06/11 09:35 AM
This is a great post, and I highly recommend pinging after you post new content to your blog. If you are setup on WordPress, I recommend using this plugin to automate the job. It will help to keep you from over pinging and getting banned in the pinging services.
Via Orlando Masis (Appraisal IQ in Austin Texas):
Sometimes we work, sometimes we play, but when we get bored, we go find ways to drive more traffic to our site.
After writing a blog post, we ping. Do you?
Er, ah, what does it mean to ping a blog?
In a … (4 comments)
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It's Not Personal....It's Business And We Need To Protect Our Seller !!! - 04/06/11 09:27 AM
These are some really good thoughts on transactional chains. I think Barbara has a point here, just a little due diligence to make sure the seller is protected is not a bad thing. Documentation is just so important when it comes to actually being able to close a deal.
Via Barbara Todaro (RE/MAX Executive Realty in Franklin, Ma):
After reading a post (written to members only) regarding a listing agent requesting some details from a buyers' agent about her buyers' transaction, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this topic. We are listing agents and have received offers from agents who are anxious … (4 comments)
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The new builder/developer model of 2011 yields higher profits with lower risks! - 04/06/11 08:30 AM
I have worked this business model, and let me tell you, it is indeed a money maker, while at the same time improving neighborhoods all across the country!
Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate:
During the heyday of new home construction, builders and developers were transforming huge tracts of raw land into shiny new subdivisions rife with brand new abodes for the myriads of buyers that were eager to snatch them up as fast as they were built.
Those days are long gone, and now the tract builder has been replaced by entrepreneurs that see the glut of … (2 comments)
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Do You Need to Find Contractors for Fixer-Uppers Quickly & Easily? - 04/06/11 08:26 AM
I wanted to give y'all a cool tool that you can use in conjunction with your clients and perhaps your own fixer-upper projects.
It's a website called Fixr. And it's kind of like eBay, but for contractors.
With it, all you have to do is:
Fill in the description of the project and post it to their site (free). You'll receive estimates from qualified contractors in your area (yes, they do have a local feature). Then simply pick the best contractor based on your normal parameters (price, reputation, etc.). I think this is a site that can really help some home … (5 comments)
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Top 5 Real Estate Website Necessities - 04/04/11 09:12 AM
So today I wanted to give you the top 5 most important things that you really must have on your real estate website if you want to be successful.
Now, to be clear, I am not referring to SEO or traffic strategies with this post. This is about what a client or potential client sees when they hit your website. So to sum it up, we are really talking about conversions with regard to what you need to show a person when they land on your page.
So without further ado, here's my video on the Top 5 Real Estate Website … (6 comments)
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Need Help Generating Content Ideas for Your Real Estate Website? - 04/01/11 10:59 AM
It is inevitable, we develop a list of articles or other content and post them to our blogs or websites, then we run out of ideas. Now those of us who are involved with ActiveRain, can easily find new posts and things other people are talking about in order to get more content ideas. And what a great thing.
But what if you still can't come up with good ideas?
Well let me give you 2 more great resources you can use to further generate ideas and get the juice flowing to your brain again.
Realty Times CNN Real Estate Both … (3 comments)
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